Hicks Campbell
Hicks Campbell was born January 21, 1835, in Schoharie County, New York. Looking for opportunity, he moved west along the Erie Canal, landing in Romulus, Seneca County by 1860. He worked for Jonathan Ogden, a wealthy farmer in that town. He joined the Normal School Company in August 1862, and reported with the other "Seneca boys" to Camp Ellsworth in Albany. He remained with the 44th NY through all of its subsequent campaigns, and was slightly wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness on May 5, 1864. He returned to the regiment shortly after the injury, and continued with the 44th until its disbandment, when the remnants of the Normal School Company was transferred to the 140th NY. He was mustered out with that regiment on June 3, 1865.
He returned to Seneca County, and moved to the town of Varick. By 1870, he had married Augusta Huff, born on August 15, 1851, and lived as a laborer with Enoch Emens. Their first son, Eddie, was born in 1872, but died in 1877 at the age of 4. Hicks and Augusta eventually had 7 other children, 4 boys, William, Charles, John, and Arthur; and 3 girls, Carrie, Myrtle, and Anna. Augusta Huff died January 15, 1892, leaving Hicks to raise the children, including little Anna, who was less than a year old at the time. Hicks remained in Seneca County until his death, August 9, 1916, at the age of 81.