This is my Granny standing in front of her home in Stonecoal, near Garrett, in Floyd County Kentucky. She and Pap moved there from the farm on Ball Branch in 1919. They had two new babies in Stonecoal--my mother, Nova and baby sister Olga. The oldest son, Daniel, had just left to fight in WWI when these last babies were born.
Mother used to say that Uncles Rob, Joe, and Rich were a little embarrassed when Granny got pregnant in her 40s, but they all ended up doting on the two little girls.
Aunt Olga Hicks Trusty still lives next door to granny and Pap's place, like she always has. It's good that some things never change. Aunt Olga is our one remaining touchstone for the John A. and Lizzie Hicks family.
Granny's story was told to me over the years by my mother and my aunts. The genealogy may not be totally accurate. I welcome feedback, additions, corrections and comments.
Elizabeth Gunnells was born in 1881 to George Washington and Florence Patton Gunnells. George was a veteran of the Civil War, having served with the Floyd County Regiment of the Union/Confederate army. Granny was only 5 when her mother died of cancer. It is said that her step-mother was mean, treated her badly and that little Lizzie "didn't have no step-ins".
She was taken in by Ike and Fannie May who lived on Stephens Branch. The story goes that Ike and Fannie were freed slaves who were very good to Granny. Then one of her maternal aunts, whom she called "Aunt Darkie" married Jack May and little Lizzie went to live on the May Farm somewhere near Prestonsburg. Jack eventually took the bar and became a prominent citizen of Floyd County.
Granny worked in the field, did washing and later began to ride out of the holler on a log truck to help cook for the loggers at the work camp.There she met my grandfather, who was a 17 year old boy working in the timbers. John A. Hicks, my Pap, said he'd never forget how pretty she was with those big brown eyes, like two burnt holes in a blanket. He grinned at her and that was it. They fell in love listening to the workers sing "Skip to my Lou" and were married May 24, 1894 when Elizabeth Gunnels was only 13 years of age. She had a long and happy 60 years with John A Hicks. They were called Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Johnny.
Their four sons were:Robert, Daniel, Richard, and Joe; their seven daughters were:Alpha, Mae, Jay, Nova, Olga, Hattie, and Oga.
Pap was well known for his good looks, Biblical wisdom, logical thinking, and integrity. =
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