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==Biography==

==Biography==

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Hickman was born in [[rural]] Fillmore, Louisiana  in eastern Bossier Parish to William James Hickman (1830-1900) and the widow, Mary Jane McDade Barnett (died 1902). He and his brother, W. B. Hickman (born 1860), worked with their father in the operation of the Red Chute Plantation in the census designated place] of Red Chute, also in Bossier Parish. In 1892, at least one hundred acres of their crops were flooded. After the parents' deaths, W. B. Hickman ran the family farm, and Thomas Hickman was employed by the Foster Plantation before he moved by 1910 into Bossier City.<ref name=rootsweb>{{cite web|url=http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/LABOSSIE/2000-11/0974659832|title=Hickman Family of Bossier Parish|publisher=archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com|author=Clifton D. Cardin|date=November 19, 2000|accessdate=January 5, 2015}}</ref> ​

Hickman was born in [[rural]] Fillmore, Louisiana  in eastern Bossier Parish to William James Hickman (1830-1900) and the widow, Mary Jane McDade Barnett (died 1902). He and his brother, W. B. Hickman (born 1860), worked with their father in the operation of the Red Chute Plantation in the census designated place] of Red Chute, also in Bossier Parish. In 1892, at least one hundred acres of their crops were flooded. After the parents' deaths, W. B. Hickman ran the family farm, and Thomas Hickman was employed by the Foster Plantation before he moved by 1910 into Bossier City.<ref name=rootsweb>{{cite web|url=http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/LABOSSIE/2000-11/0974659832|title=Hickman Family of Bossier Parish|publisher=archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com|author=Clifton D. Cardin|date=November 19, 2000|accessdate=January 5, 2015}}</ref>  

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In 1902, Thomas Hickman married the former Della Hickson (born c. 1880), the daughter of the Reverend J. M. Hickson and his wife, Dora (born c. 1858). Thomas and Della had one daughter, Jessie, who later married Charles Kyzar (both born 1907).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archives.com/1940-census/tom-hickman-la-13967040|title=Tom Hickman in the 1940 Census|publisher=archives.com|accessdate=January 5, 2015}}</ref> The Kyzars had two children, the Hickmans' grandchildren. Once in Bossier City, Hickman engaged in [[real estate]] and the mercantile business. From 1913 to 1917, he was the postmaster in the Allendale neighborhood in Shreveport. He was active in the Masonic lodge and the [[Methodist]] Church.<ref name=bio/>​

In 1902, Thomas Hickman married the former Della Hickson (born c. 1880), the daughter of the Reverend J. M. Hickson and his wife, Dora (born c. 1858). Thomas and Della had one daughter, Jessie, who later married Charles Kyzar (both born 1907).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archives.com/1940-census/tom-hickman-la-13967040|title=Tom Hickman in the 1940 Census|publisher=archives.com|accessdate=January 5, 2015}}</ref> The Kyzars had two children, the Hickmans' grandchildren. Once in Bossier City, Hickman engaged in [[real estate]] and the mercantile business. From 1913 to 1917, he was the postmaster in the Allendale neighborhood in Shreveport. He was active in the Masonic lodge and the [[Methodist]] Church.<ref name=bio/>​

 

Hickman became mayor two years after the community was changed from a village to a town.<ref>Rita Fife, ''Bossier Press-Tribune'', Commemorative issue, August 9, 1981, p. 3.</ref> On June 23, 1925, shortly after Hickman had been mayor, a fire destroyed about a third of Bossier City, with damage in excess of $100,000, a then significant loss representing 1.46 million in 2019 dollars. Mayor Hickman's feed barn and store were destroyed. The fire was not quickly curtailed because Bossier City had no municipal fire department. The city instead waited for assistance from Shreveport firefighters, who had to cross the Red River to reach the blaze. During his tenure as mayor, Hickman obtained approval of ordinances to establish the first city water system and a non-volunteer fire department.<ref name=bio/>

Hickman became mayor two years after the community was changed from a village to a town.<ref>Rita Fife, ''Bossier Press-Tribune'', Commemorative issue, August 9, 1981, p. 3.</ref> On June 23, 1925, shortly after Hickman had been mayor, a fire destroyed about a third of Bossier City, with damage in excess of $100,000, a then significant loss representing 1.46 million in 2019 dollars. Mayor Hickman's feed barn and store were destroyed. The fire was not quickly curtailed because Bossier City had no municipal fire department. The city instead waited for assistance from Shreveport firefighters, who had to cross the Red River to reach the blaze. During his tenure as mayor, Hickman obtained approval of ordinances to establish the first city water system and a non-volunteer fire department.<ref name=bio/>