CSA VET
Kiker, John M., (Private / 2nd Lieutenant), born in Georgia,
son of Sarah Kiker; enlisted at age 20 at Murphree's Crossroads 4 Feb 1862; on
company muster-in roll at Shelby Springs 13 Mar 1862; on muster roll from 4 Feb
to 30 Feb 1862; on regimental return for Jun 1862; return for Jul 1862 of troops
stationed at the Post of Gainesville, Alabama reported he was in the hospital
department; muster roll for Jan and Feb 1864 reported he returned from furlough
21 Jan 1864 and elected 2nd Lieutenant 23 Jan 1864, and reenlisted for the
duration of the war at Dalton, Georgia; inspection report dated Lovejoy Station,
Georgia recorded he was wounded 18 Sep 1864

Father: Benjamin Franklin KIKER b: 15 MAY 1794 in Mecklenburg Co,North CArolina
Mother: Sarah Ann "Sally" Ingraham HOWELL b: 2 OCT 1802 in ,,Mecklenburg,NC

Marriage 1 Serena Rhoda Ann HOWELL b: 1 APR 1847 in ,,Randolph,GA
Married: ABT 1868 in ,,Etowah,AL
Children
Sparks Alonzo KIKER b: 13 JAN 1869 in ,,Etowah,AL
Newton Walter KIKER b: 20 JUL 1872 in ,,,TX
James Henry KIKER b: 16 JUN 1874 in ,,Erath,TX
William Omer KIKER b: 16 MAY 1875 in ,,Erath,TX
Thomas Oliver KIKER b: 20 FEB 1877 in ,,Erath,TX
Mary Dora "Mamie" KIKER b: 22 SEP 1878 in ,,Erath,TX
Nettie Lee KIKER b: 20 OCT 1880
Benjamin Franklin KIKER b: 25 JUL 1882 in ,,Erath,TX
Verna Narcissus KIKER b: 23 JUL 1884 in ,,Erath,TX
John Clinton KIKER b: 25 OCT 1886 in ,,Erath,TX
Beulah Catherine KIKER b: 28 JAN 1889 in ,,Erath,TX
Infant KIKER b: 23 JAN 1891 in ,,Erath,TX
Mary Elizabeth KIKER b: 1 NOV 1892 in Greens Crk,Erath,TX

Marriage 2 Carolina Virginia NOLES b: 9 AUG 1846
Married: AFT 1894
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Alonzo and Walter Kiker returned from Erath County on Friday where they had been at the bedside of their father before his death. J.M. Kiker was one of the old pioneers, not only in Erath County but all this part of the West. He was born in Georgia and came to Texas in 1873. He spent one year in McLennan County and then moved to Erath County settling on the place where he died. Brother Kiker was married to Miss Serena Howell in 1870. To them, 13 children were born, 10 of whom survive. Mr. Kiker was a member of the Masonic Lodge, holding membership in Dublin, and his brother Masons buried him with Masonic honors. Mr. Kiker was a Christian since early childhood and held membership in the Southern Methodist Church. He was an ex-Confederate veteran, having followed the fortunes of Lee and Jackson until the surrender. He was seriously wounded in the war, being shot through, and was left for dead. A soldier came along and saw him struggling for life and gave him support and he survived.

Bronte Weekly Enterprise
April 24, 1924
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Greens Creek, a small community northeast of Dublin was the site upon which Kiker's Gin was built in the early 1870s. John M. Kiker and his brother, Newton P. Kiker, originally from Georgia, moved to Texas in 1870 and shortly after, built a cotton gin. This gin, known as Kik«r's Gin, remained in constant use until the early 1940's. For several years the life
of the community centered around the gin. It provided jobs for many. Several of the families in the community today are there because their forefathers moved into the community in search of work at the gin.