He moved with his parents to Wisconsin in 1851, settling in Little Chute. He attended Lawrence College (1865-1867), and began his journalistic career in 1867 as city editor of the Oshkosh Northwestern. In 1870 he became co-owner of the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, and in 1886 acquired full ownership. He incorporated the John Hicks Publishing Co. in 1889, which published the Daily Northwestern until Hicks' death. A Republican, he served as minister to Peru (1889-1893) and minister to Chile (1905-1909). He contributed numerous articles to his newspaper based on his travels, and was the author of two novels, The Man from Oshkosh (1894) and Something about Singlefoot (1909). He donated several works of art to the city of Oshkosh.

Source: Wisconsin Historical Society

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Col. John Hicks is Dead

Col. John Hicks, publisher and editor of The Northwestern, and one of the most noted and successful newspaper men of the United States, departed Oshkosh for the south some six weeks ago. The colonel

for decades had been a sufferer from a bronchial affection. That had directed that he flee the rigorous winters of Wisconsin and spend those months in the south. The colonel passed away at 5:30 p.m. Thursday evening at his apartments at the St. Anthony hotel..

No other single Oshkosh citizen thus far in the history of the place has done so much for public beautification as did Colonel Hicks. It was his desire to have tbe public enjoy his gifts without reserve and he chose to carry out his plans while he lived rather than wait until he had passed away. This city can claim some of the most notable works of art in the United States for a place of its size and the

donor presented them without any desire or thought of reward beyond the esteem of his fellow citizens for his philanthropic interest...

—Oshkosh Daily Northwestern; Friday, December 21, 1917

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Funeral of Col. Hicks on Thursday

Oshkosh, Wis., Dec. 24 — According to arrangements completed by wire, between here and San Antonio,

the funeral of the late Colonel John Hicks who died Thursday at San Antonio, will be held from Trinity

Episcopal church at 11 o'clock on Thursday morning, Rev. E. W. Todd, present pastor, and Rev. John

Greenwood, pastor emeritus, of Trinity church officiating. The body will reach here from Texas on

Christmas day. Interment will be made in the Hicks family lot at Riverside cemetery.

—Sheboygan Press; Monday, December 24, 1917

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Survived by second wife Mary Powers Hicks, whom he had married about four years prior to his death, one son John Hicks Jr. of Appleton, WI and a brother, Henry Hicks of St. Paul, Minn

Source: Oshkosh Northwestern, January 1, 1918 page 3

--Contributor: JAZ (48097722)