Alfred Hicks, a native of Cornwall England, died on Aug. 29, 1896 of consumption at 43 years of age. Consumption or tuberculosis as it was later called was the leading cause of death at the time and by the beginning of the 19th Century the disease had killed one in seven people that had ever lived. Miners who often had lung issues due to poor ventilation and other issues in the mines were particularly susceptible to consumption.
Mr. Hicks had been afflicted for some time and when the awful ravages of the disease became apparent to his friends he visited famous specialists in New York and London, without relief, and returned to Silver City and passed away about a month after returning. The source of the disease was discovered by Robert Koch in 1882, but it wasn’t until the 1940s and later that treatments were widespread.
Alfred came to the US when he was 16 and to Silver City two years later in 1871. In June 1889 he was united in marriage to miss Emma Grete, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Grete. During his long residence in the city, Mr. Hicks had been actively engaged in mining. He had unbound faith in the mineral resources and had extensive plans for the development of War Eagle Mountain.
Alfred left a mother, sister and brother in England; a brother in South Africa, and one in Montana to mourn his untimely death along with Emma and their three girls Mary, age 5, Louise, age 4, and Olive age 2. Emma later remarried O.D. Brumbaugh who ran the Idaho Hotel for many years with her help.
