Judge John H. Hicks - Nominated for County Judge - 1907

John H. Hicks

Nominated to Succeed Albert F. Gladding as County Judge

Utica Saturday Globe, January 1907

 

John H. Hicks

1851 - 1923

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  The nomination of John H . Hicks of Norwich to succeed Supreme Court Justice Albert F. Gladding as county judge and surrogate was made by Gov. Hughes and confirmed by the State Senate on Wednesday morning.

The selection came as a great surprise, the first intimation being a telegram of congratulation from Postmaster William R Willcox, of New York.  This was followed by a telephone message from State Senator Allds to his law partner, Henry R. Follett, telling of the appointment. while Mr. Hicks has not been active in politics recently, he is not unfamiliar with political work, having had considerable experience during the campaigns when now United States Judge Edward B. Thomas was a successful nominee for State senator and later a defeated candidate for attorney general.  Mr. Hicks has been a candidate for public office but once before.  In 1892 he was selected by the Young Republican Club of Norwich as its candidate for justice of the peace, was nominated by the caucus and elected by a handsome majority of about 200, when several other Republican nominees on the town ticket were defeated.  In his appointment for county judge Mr. Hicks had the endorsement of Judge Thomas, and Judge Ray, of the Untied States Court, former county judge now Supreme Court Judge Gladding and Senator Jotham P. Allds.

 

Mr. Hicks was born in the town of Norwich and has always resided here with the exception of four years spent in new York.  He is a graduate of the old Norwich Academy and after working as a civil engineer and surveyor for a time after graduation entered the law office of E.B. Thomas, now United States judge, where he read law until he was admitted to the bar in 1880.  He continued in the office of Judge Thomas until his defeat for attorney generalship in 1885, when Mr. Thomas moved his law office to New York and became counsel for the New York Arcade Railway Company.  Mr.  Hicks continued with Judge Thomas in new York from February, 1886 until May 1889 when he returned  to Norwich, remaining here until the following winter when he accepted a position in the offices of the firm of Kernan Bros. & Quin, 10 Wall street, New York.  Returning to Norwich in the fall of 1890 he has since that time been associated with H.D. Newton in his law office on South Broad street.  Much of Mr. Hicks' legal practice has been in the work of settling up estates, surrogate's matters and the handling of railway litigations of all kinds.  He is on this account exceptionally well qualified for the position of county judge and surrogate.

 

Mr. Hicks was married in 1865 to Miss Flora Hawkins, then a teacher in the public schools of this village.  Mr. and Mrs. Hicks have one daughter, Gertrude, now a sophomore in Wellesley College.  Mr. Hicks is a trustee and also secretary and treasurer of the Norwich Cemetery Association.