From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, page 704.
Brant & Fuller, 1890. 

W. B. HICKS

W. B. Hicks, of Cameron, one of the prominent merchants of Marshall 
county, of which he is a native, was born January 10, 1844, the son 
of Robert A. and Esther (Sampson) Hicks, well-known early settlers.  
The father was a farmer and an enterprising citizen.  He died in 
1886, aged about sixty-four years, and his wife died in 1846.  Five 
children were born to these parents, four of whom are living.  Three 
are residents of Marshall county and one of Washington county, Penn.  
Robert A. Hicks was married a second time, about 1847, to Lavina 
Messicker, by whom he had seven children.  She survives at the age of 
fifty-eight years, and six(?) of her children are living:  Albert, 
Harrison, Charlotte, Agnes, Margaret, Charles and Emma.  The names of 
the children by the first marriage are:  Wilson T., George W., Sarah 
J., W. B. and James W.  The subject of this mention, before he was of 
age, enlisted in the Fourth Virginia cavalry, and served six months, 
and then re-enlisted in the Seventeenth West Virginia infantry, with 
which he served until the close of the war, being honorably 
discharged in June, 1865. On returning home he embarked in general 
merchandise and the buying of grain, and having continued in this 
since he was twenty-one years of age, is now one of the most 
prosperous merchants of the county, and carries the largest stock of 
goods in Marshall county.  He has a comfortable home and is respected 
by all.  In 1868, Mr. Hicks was married to Emma V. Anderson, and they 
have two children:  Wilson F., who died at the age of two years and a 
half, and Lutie.  Mr. and Mrs. Hicks are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, of which he is trustee and steward and class 
leader.     

(Linda Fluharty)