James A. Hickey is a pioneer who was present at the meeting on Jan. 2, 1855, when the town site was named Topeka. He is a native of Ireland, and came to America when a small boy. He found employment in New York state and in Vermont until 1854, when he came to the present site of Topeka and has resided there continuously since that time. He served three terms as undersheriff of Shawnee county and as deputy sheriff for over twenty years. He was a member of Captain Horn's company, which did effective service during the Price raid, On Sept. 20, 1870, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Ophelia Deming, a Kentucky lady of culture and refinement. She was the widow of Dr. Augustus E. Deming, late surgeon of the Fifteenth Kansas cavalry during the Civil war. Her parents were James and Maud Caroline (Muir) Allen, old and respected residents of Kentucky. Dr. and Mrs. Deming reared two daughters, Caroline, now residing with Mr. and Mrs. Hickey, and Anna Augusta, the wife of Allen D. Gray, a prominent official of the Santa Fe railway system, at Topeka. Mr. and Mrs. Hickey are residing on their ten-acre fruit farm in South Topeka, where they expect to end their days. They are both members of the Presbyterian church, while he is a charter member of Topeka Lodge, No. 40, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.