The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 645

ALFRED HICKS.

Alfred Hicks, one of the prominent orchardists in the vicinity of Grandview,
having thirty acres planted to apples, has readily adapted himself to
conditions and opportunities of the northwest and through indefatigable effort
and energy is winning substantial success in his business affairs. He comes to
this section from Illinois, being a native of Jo Daviess county, that state,
where his birth occurred January 3, 1866. His father, Henry Hicks, was born in
Cornwall, England, as was the mother, who bore the maiden name of Hester Ann
Ingram. They were married in their native country and their wedding journey
consisted of a trip to the United States. Making their way across the country,
they settled in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, about 1845, becoming pioneer
residents of that district, where they spent their remaining days. The father
secured land and began farming, winning a place as the years passed among the
progressive, substantial and highly prosperous farmers of his region.

Alfred Hicks acquired a business college education after completing his public
school work and then concentrated his efforts and attention upon the work of the
fields upon the old homestead. He was thus engaged in farming until he reached
the age of twenty-four years. Disposing of his interests in that way, he then
turned his attention to the grain and live stock business at Scales Mound,
Illinois, where he remained for five years. In 1896 he went to Alaska and spent
ten years in the far north, traveling all over that section and making trips up
and down the Yukon. He won fortunes and lost them in that country but came out
with some money. In 1906 he arrived in Benton county, Washington, and purchased
forty acres of land near Grandview, in the direction of Prosser. He now has
thirty acres planted to apples and the remainder to hay. His is a highly
cultivated and improved ranch and he is meeting with most gratifying success in
fruit raising. Upon his place are produced some of the finest apples grown in
this section of the Yakima valley and his shipments are very extensive.

On the 3d of July, 1903, Mr. Hicks was united in marriage to Miss Rachel
Bellend, who was born in Norway, a daughter of Rasmus and Annie Bellend. The
mother has passed away but the father still resides in Norway. Mrs. Hicks went
to Alaska in 1899 and they were married at Dawson, she having spent seven years
in that northern country. To Mr. and Mrs. Hicks have been born three children:
Esther Olene, born at Dawson in the Yukon territory, April 22, 1905; George
Alfred, born at Prosser, Washington, February 16, 1907; and Martha Bellend born
at Grandview, October 16, 1912.

Fraternally Mr. Hicks is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern
Woodmen of America. His political allegiance is given the democratic party and
while he has never sought nor desired political office he served for six years
on the school board and did everything in his power to advance the cause of
education in this locality. He is actuated by a spirit of enterprise in all that
he undertakes and his progressiveness is manifest in the excellent results which
have attended his efforts as an orchardist of Benton county. His experiences
have been broad and varied and especially interesting are his reminiscences of
his sojourn in Alaska. His activities at the present time are being
intelligently directed and the results achieved are most gratifying.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.