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John P. Hicks
HICKS, JOHN P. Conference Relations: Licensed to Preach 1866; Admitted on Trial Methodist Episcopal Erie Conference 1867; Full Member
1869; Deacon 1869, Ames; Elder 1871, Simpson; Retired 1910. Deceased: February 3, 1912 in Big Run, PA. Buried in Fairview Cemetery, Big
Run, PA. Appointments: Venango City/Oil City: Grace Assistant 1867-1868; North Washington Assistant 1868-1869; Tionesta Assistant 1869-1870; Paradise/Meade Chapel 1870-1871; Reynoldsville/Meade Chapel 1871-1872; Kane 1872-1873; Sugar Grove 1873-1874; Irving 1874-1875; Arkwright 1875-1877; Tidioute Mission 1877-1878; Fagundus 1878-1881; Tionesta 1881-1884; Centerville/Riceville 1884-1886; Volusia 1886- 1888; Phillipsville 1888-1891; Greenfield/Mina 1891-1893; Falls Creek 1893-1895; Luthersburg/Home Camp/Sykesville: Grace 1895-1899; Emerickville/Meade Chapel 1899-1901; Putneyville 1901-1902; Clarington 1902-1905; Luthersburg/Home Camp 1905-1906; Glenhazel 1906- 1908; Valier/Frostburg/Hamilton 1908-1910. John P. Hicks, was born in Cornwall England. March 4, 1838, and died at Big Run. Pa., Feb. 3. 1912. He came with his parents, Charles and Elizabeth Hicks, to America when he was but four years old, and settled near Cleveland, Ohio. They belonged to the New Connexion branch of Methodism. Brother Hicks was licensed to preach in 1866, admitted on trial in 1867, into full connection and ordained deacon by Bishop Ames in 1869, and elder in 1871, by Bishop Simpson. He married Miss Priscilla Syphrit, Sept. 4, 1873. One child was born to them, Mrs. Eva Hicks Jeffers, deceased. He leaves his wife, three grandchildren, one brother and two sisters. He labored as a faithful minister of the Gospel of Christ forty three years; and even after his superannuation in 1910, he was in constant activity and labors in the church he loved so well. He was called by the District Superintendent at various times to supply work in different places on the District. Last fall [1911] he was asked to go to Clarington, one of his former charges, and he had one of the blessed times of his life. They brought to him their children—nineteen in all—that he might lay his hand upon them in holy baptism and bless them. God gave to him some souls of large helpfulness. T. D. Collins, of Nebraska, Pa., the liberal giver to our Missions, was among his converts. This instance, referred to by Mr. Collins, himself, on the Conference platform about twenty years ago, gave the writer his first sight and knowledge of him whose memoir is here written. He began his work in the itinerancy at Venango City and closed it at Valier having served twenty-three charges. Last summer he and his faithful wife settled at Big Run, to remain the latter part of their life. Both he and Mrs. Hicks labored with the church here in all its services. He taught a class of boys in the Sunday School, was always with the pastor in the pulpit, and assisted in the services, attended the special meetings, and on Friday night before his death, which occurred on Saturday evening, his prayer at the altar will not be forgotten for its exultation and pleadings. He was at the parsonage nearly every day, to inquire after the health of the pastor and his family, as he was the day of his death, to inquire after the health of the pastor’s wife, and to leave his parting advice and blessing We loved him, and miss him as a friend and father, as a man of God who had but one work, for he said: "When I entered the ministry, I did so for life, only to preach Jesus Christ unto the world to save sinners." He was faithful to this "calling" unto the last. He "walked with God," and died the “death of the righteous.” He took his leave in haste, without a farewell spoken. He went at the summons of his God. By W. P. Lowthian,
Journal and Yearbook, Erie Conference, 1912, pages 110-111 |
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Crawford County Clergy