Biographical Sketch of Pvt. James R. HickeyPalmyra, Wayne County, NY
* Seven months after his departure, his family and community received the sad news: Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Friday, September 27, 1918 First Palmyra Boy Palmyra, Sept. 26- James R. Hickey is the first Palmyra man to be killed in action in the present war. His father, Morris Hickey, is in receipt of a telegram from Acting Adjutant General Harris informing him that his son was killed on August 23d. Mr. Hickey left this village on February 25th last, with other selected men; and went to Camp Devans where he remained about three weeks and was then sent overseas. He is survived by his father, five brothers, John, Daniel, Morris, Patrick, Michael, and three sisters, Mrs. George Crawley (sic), Anna and Catherine Hickey. The Lyons Republican, Friday, September 27, 1918, page 6 A telegram received by the father Wednesday told of the death of James R. Hickey of Palmyra on a battlefield in France. Mr. Hickey is the first Palmyra boy to be killed in action and the second from Wayne county. He is survived by his father, five brothers, and three sisters. * Five days after Mr. Hickey's receipt of the telegraph, the community held a memorial mass at St. Anne's Church. It appears that it had been a month between James' death and his family receiving notification. The Lyons Republican, Friday, October 4, 1918, page 6 All business was suspended in Palmyra Monday from 10 o'clock till noon in honor of James R. Hickey, who was killed in action in France August 23. Requiem mass was celebrated at St. Anne's Church, Rev. James E. Hartley officiating, who paid a glowing tribute to the young man's worth and upright character. The Knights of Columbus, Red Cross Society and the business men marched to the Church. * A year and a half later, Palmyra's veterans honored their fallen comrade. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Friday, July 16, 1920 Legion Post Changes Name. Palmyra, July 15.- The American Legion post of Palmyra has changed its name from "Rear Admiral Sampson Post" to "James R. Hickey Post." When the young veterans met to organize the name of Admiral Sampson was temporarily taken, as he was Palmyra's most famous son of modern times. As the membership of the post increased, it was voted to rechristen it with the name of one of the comrades who made the supreme sacrifice. As James R. Hickey was the first to fall in battle, his was the logical name to be chosen. * It was anticipated that the bodies of James and other local soldiers were soon to be returned from Europe. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Friday, April 22, 1921 Expect Remains of Soldiers to Be Palmyra, April 21.- Bodies of Palmyra soldiers who were killed in the World War will be returned, but the date for their arrival has not yet been set. It is believed, however, that the bodies will reach here before fall. As soon as they are shipped from France the families will be notified. Word will also be sent here when the bodies reach New York and it is probable that James R. Hickey Post, American Legion, will take charge of the funeral. James R. Hickey and Charles Beck were killed in action and Nelson Harmon and George Smith died of pneumonia. * But Palmyrans were to wait another five years for James to come home to rest on native soil. He'd left Wayne County just over 8 years before: Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Wednesday, March 24, 1926 Military Funeral Palmyra, March 23.- Business was suspended here to-day during the funeral services of James Raymond HIckey, at St. Anne's Catholic Church at 9:30 o'clock. Rev. E. J. Imyer (Imoyer?) was the officiating clergyman, assisted by four others from out-of-town. The Church was filled to capacity with relatives and friends of the World War veteran. Hickey was born in this town on November 2, 1888, left for Camp Devans on February 23, 1918, and was killed in battle in the Vale Sector, France, on August 23, 1918. He was a private in Company M, 308th Infantry. He was given a full military funeral by James R. Hickey Post, American Legion, which was named in his honor. The body was carried from the home of his sister, Mrs. William O'Brien, in Fayette street, to the church, and thence to the Catholic cemetery for burial on a government gun carriage drawn by horses. Flags on the many staffs in Main street were flown at half mast. The survivors are his father Maurice Hickey, five brothers and three sisters. * Prior to James Hickey's return for burial at home, a captured war relic was given to the local post. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Monday, December 28, 1925 Palmyra Post Gets Gun Palmyra, Dec. 27.- A German trench mortar, captured during the World War, and given to the James R. Hickey Post, American Legion, by the government, has been received here. As soon as a foundation is completed it will be placed in the Church street cemetery. This cemetery is the last resting place of many former soldiers as well as pioneers of the town. Private James R. Hickey rests with his parents and other family members in St. Anne's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Palmyra. However, his middle initial is in error on the almost 70-year-old burial list, and his parents' birth years on the list appear to be incorrect as well. Their ages in their obituaries correspond with birth years given in the 1900 census. St. Anne's Roman Catholic Cemetery Hickey Daniel 1852-1918 Mary A. Cavanaugh, wife 1854-19 * James' mother had passed away in 1917. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Friday, July 6, 1917, page 3 Bridget Hickey. Palmyra, July 6.- Mrs. Bridget Hickey, wife of Maurice Hickey, died at her home, on the Limerick road, Palmyra, at a late hour Thursday afternoon, in the sixty-first year of her age. She leaves, besides her husband, nine children, six sons, Maurice, Patsey, James, Michael and John Hickey of Palmyra, and three daughters, Anna and Catherine, of Palmyra, and Mrs. George Crowley of Clifton Springs. The funeral will be held on Monday morning at St. Anne's Church, Palmyra, at 10 o'clock, Rev. James E. Hartley celebrating the loss, burial following in Palmyra cemetery. [note: son Daniel wasn't listed] * After James' death in the war, brother John was the next of the siblings to pass away. Wayne County Journal, Thursday, January 17, 1929, page 5 John S. Hickey John S. Hickey, 49 years old, died at the home of his father on Division street on Monday. He is survived by his father Morris Hickey, four brothers, Michael of Detroit, Patsy, Morris, Jr., and Daniel all of Palmyra, and three sisters, Mrs. George Crowley of Clifton Springs, Mrs. Katherine O'Brien of Palmyra and Miss Anna of Buffalo. The funeral was held from the home of his sister Mrs. Katherine O'Brien of FAyette street and from St. Anne's church at nine o'clock this (Thursday) morning. Burial in St. Anne's cemetery. * James' father passed away in 1932. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Saturday March 12, 1932 HICKEY- Morris Hickey died Friday morning, March 11, at Clifton Springs Sanitarium, after a long illness, aged 73. Survived by four sons, Daniel, Morris Jr., and Patrick of Palmyra, N.Y. and Michael of Detroit, Michigan; three daughters, Mrs. George Crowley of Clifton Springs, Miss Anna Hickey and Mrs. William O'Brien of Palmyra and nineteen grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Ellen McGuire, Palmyra. - funeral Monday morning from the home of his daughter, Mrs. William O'Brien, at 8:30 and from St. Ann's Church at 9 o'clock. Burial in St. Ann's Cemetery, Palmyra, N. Y. This large souvenir photograph of Private Hickey may have been given out at the first memorial mass on September 30, 1918, or at his funeral on March 23, 1926. PRIVATE JAMES R. HICKEY The first Palmyra boy to give his all for his Country on Like the true blue soldier that he was he faced the supreme test Back to Wayne County Family Bios Page Back to Wayne County Military History Page Created: 1/23/09 Digital Images Copyright © 2009 - 2011 M. Magill Wayne County NYGenWeb This site is a County Site of the USGenWeb Project All Rights Reserved. |