In 1842, E. N. Hicks came to this township, where he still lives.

Ebenezer Newton Hicks, one of the most successful men, financially, to be found in McDonough county, and a resident of Hire township at this time, is a native of the state of Ohio, Ross county, Union township, and was born March 10, 1816.  His father, Willis Hicks, was born in Maryland, as was also his father, Ebenezer's grand-father, who was named Joseph Hicks, but whose birth-place is uncertain; however, the family were of German extraction, and originated in Holland.  Willis Hicks served in the war of 1812 for some time.  From Ross county the family removed to Madison county, the same state, and became wealthy.  Willis Hicks was born March 25, 1792, and died August 26, 1867.  His wife, Frances (White) Hicks, was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Small) White, and was born November 17, 1792, and died April 6, 1869.  She was born in Delaware.  Ebenezer Hicks lived in Ross county until 1842, when he emigrated to Illinois, and purchasing the southwest quarter of section 33, in Hire township, settled, where he is still a resident, making, at the present writing, a continuous residence of 43 years on one spot.  When he purchased this place there was but 16 acres broken and a small shanty built.  He improved this farm and subsequently built a good house and other buildings necessary.  Mr. Hicks has been a man who always attended strictly to business, driving all before him.  He had a very strong constitution, or would ere this be laid away with the fathers.  In a short time he commenced buying more land, as he was able to pay for it, some costing $1.25 per acre, and later on even $50, and he now owns about 4,000 acres, scattered around in various townships, especially in Hire, Tennessee, Colchester and Scotland.  The most of this is rented; only about 1,000 acres is retained for the management of his sons.  Mr. Hicks oversees the whole thing, thereby causing him much hard labor, although not doing muscular work, the task of taking care of this amount of land and other property, is very laborious to him.  Stock-raising is the especial feature, and large herds of cattle roam over his dominions.  Much stock is bought for feeding and shipping also.  Mr. Hicks was married to Jane C. Robinson, May 23, 1844.  She was the daughter of John Robinson, of Ross county, Ohio, but whose native place was Fayette county, Pennsylvania.  John's father, Joshua, was killed by the Indians in Ross county, Ohio.  She was born May 22, 1816, and is at present as active as most younger women, doing her own work and taking an active part in her husband's business.  Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hicks--John Willis, born July 5, 1845, and died September 25, 1864; Mary Frances, born August 31, 1847; Darius Hicks, born May 5, 1850; Franklin Pierce, born October 4, 1852; Eliza Jane, born January 26, 1855, died February 4, 1857.

The Hicks children were all born in what is now Hire Township.  At the time of their births, however, the area was named Rock Creek Township:

i.	John Willis Hicks, born July 5, 1845, died September 25, 1864, burial at Friendship Cemetery.
ii.	Mary Francis Hicks, born August 31, 1847, died June 20, 1898, burial at Friendship Cemetery.
iii.	Darius Hicks, born May 5, 1850.  He died by his own hand on June 15, 1908, and was buried at Friendship Cemetery.
iv.	Franklin Pierce Hicks, born October 4, 1852, died January 6, 1899, burial at Glade City Cemetery, Blandinsville, McDonough County.  A news item regarding the death of Darius Hicks stated that Franklin had committed suicide.
v.	Eliza J. Hicks, born January 26, 1855, died February 4, 1857, burial at Friendship Cemetery.

Ebenezar M Hicks, 34, male, farmer, value of real estate 1000, born OH
Jane E, 34, female, born OH
John W, 5, male, born IL
Nancy F, 3, female, born IL
Durias, 6/12, male, born IL

Ebenezer Hicks, 49, male, farmer, value of real estate 12350, value of personal estate 2400, born OH
Jane, 43, female, born OH
John, 14, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Mary, 12, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Darias, 10, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Franklin, 7, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Milten Parker, 16, male, born IL

Hicks, E N, 54, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 100,000, value of personal estate 6000, born OH, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Jane C, 54, female, white, keep house, born OH
Mary F, 22, female, white, born IL
Darius, 20, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Frank P, 18, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year

Hicks, E Newt, white, male, 64, married, farmer, born OH, father born DE, mother born MD
Jane C, white, female, 64, wife, married, keeps house, born OH, father born PA, mother born VA
Franklin, white, male, 28, son, single, works on farm, born IL, both parents born OH
Fields, Fulton, male, white, 23, servant, single, works on farm, born IL, both parents born IL