WILLIAM SLICK, deceased farmer of Greensfork township, Randolph county, Ind., was born in Seneca county, Ohio, in July, 1829; he is the son of David and Eleanor (Messler) Slick, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Maryland. The parents were married in Pennsylvania, and there had born to them three children, viz: Joseph; Margaret and Jacob; thence they moved to Seneca county, Ohio, rented a farm, and there William was born; in 1847, they came to Greensfork township, Randolph county, Ind., purchased eighty acres of land and here were born four children, viz.: Mary; John; Rebecca and Mahlon. Here the father died in 1858, and the mother in 1885.

William Slick was reared on the home farm, and remained at home until twenty-four years of age, when he was married October 16, 1854, to Armecy Elliott, who was born in Wayne county, Ind., May 10, 1835; she is the daughter of Miles and Frances (Newburn) Elliott, who were native of North Carolina, the former born in March, 1795, and the latter in May, 1803. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott came to Indiana in 1828, and located at White Water, in Wayne county, resided there one year, and then came to Greensfork township, Randolph county, and bought eighty acres of land, which, after a short time, they sold, and bought 120 acres, and later on moved to Lynn. They were the parents of eight childlen, viz: Mary, wife of Lorenzo Anderson; Rachel, wife of Alfred Price; Richard, deceased; William E., a farmer; Armecy (Mrs. Slick); Sarah, wife of Joseph Stuttler; Anna, wife of Luther Cox, and Josiah Elliott, merchant. The mother of this family died August 4, 1867, and the father April 7, 1879. The latter had been in life a dry goods merchant, and later a farmer, and he and wife were members of the Baptist church. To William Slick and wife were born eight children, six of whom are living, viz: George W., born October 22, 1856; Perry, November 22, 1860; Anna J., March 29, 1863; William H., March 20, 1866; Mary F., September 4, 1867; and Amanda E., September 6, 1870. Miles, the eldest born, died when two years old, and James R., the youngest, died in infancy. George W. married Sarah Coning; Perry, married May Thornburg; Anna J. became Mrs. William A. Coning; William H. married Laura Baily; Mary F. was married to Daniel Egan, who died May 14, 1892, and Amanda E. to Everett Hunt.

William Slick after marriage settled on a farm of sixty acres, but, by economy and careful husbandry, soon began to add to his estate, accumulating acres after acres until, at the time of his death, which occurred March 23, 1893, he possessed fully 523 acres, all in good condition. He was a great admirer of horses, and had the reputation of keeping the finest in the country. He was noted for his kindness to the poor, and Fortune seemed to smile on him, for every two or three years he was able to add another eighty acre tract to his already large estate. A few years ago Mrs. Slick inherited quite a large amount from her father, and this, too, was invested in land. At the death of Mr. Slick the greater part of the large farm was divided proportionately among the children, with an abundance left the widow. Mr. Slick was always active in maintaining the pikes in his neighborhood in good condition, the main one, east of his place, having cost him over $2,000. He never aspired to public office, and never held one higher than that of supervisor. He was however, very popular as a member of the Christian church, while Mrs. Slick is equally well respected as a member of the Untied Brethren church. He never sued nor was sued, believing it to be better to give than to take. The family are honored for their integrity and upright lives, and for their openhanded charity.

        A precious one from us has gone;
        A voice we loved is stilled;
        A place is vacant in our home
        Which never can be filled.
        God, in his wisdom, has recalled
        The boon his love had given,
        And, though the body slumbers here,
        The soul is safe in Heaven.



File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Gina Reasoner
GReasoner@prodigy.net
December 23, 1999

A Portrait and Biographical Record of
Delaware and Randolph Counties, Ind.
A.W. Bowen & Co., 1894.