ELIZABETH KATHERINE "BESS" HICKLE

Class of 1914

A news article about the Class of 1914 states that this graduate was "Elizabeth K. Hickle, Fairchance, Pa." The Alumni Association has her name as "Hinkle," which is incorrect.

Bess Hickle, born January 31, 1880, was the daughter of Aaron Hickle, a Blacksmith, and Arabella "Belle" O'Donovan of Fairchance, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. In the 1900 census, Mrs. Hickle had given birth to 9 children, 8 of whom were living. The six Hickle children remaining in the home in 1900 were Mary, Lenard, Bessie, William, Camden, and Belle.

In 1910, a son, Hugh R. Hickle, and daughter, Belle E., were living with the parents. Bess was not at home, and is probably the Bess Hickle who was employed as a nurse at Braddock Hospital at the time of the 1910 census.

After Bess graduated from the school of nursing at St. Francis in 1914, she moved back to Fairchance to be with her widowed mother, her father having died in 1912. In the home with Mrs. Hickle in 1920 were her children, Bess K., Camden E., Edith B. and a granddaughter, Ellen B. Hickle. Bess, 39, was a "Nurse, Private Family."

The mother, Belle O'Donovan Hickle, died in 1929.

A news article from the Daily Courier (Connellsville, Pa.), Oct 19, 1937 -- "UNIONTOWN, - Bloody fingers may prove to be an important clue in the apprehension of the intruder who Monday night attempted to enter the Fairchance home of Miss Bess Hickle. They tried to force the window of the dining room and it crashed. The breaking window awakended the sleeper. Onlyu blood stains could be found. Chief William Ruble of Fairchance is conducting an investigation."

There are numerous news articles about Miss Bess Hickle's activities, including her shopping trips to Uniontown.

In 1930, Bess, 50, was still in Fairchance, residing with her sister, Belle, 41, as well as a niece, Ellen B. The three still lived together in 1940, at which time Bess was still a Private Duy Nurse and Ellen B. was a School Teacher.

Bess died December 14, 1960 and was buried at Maple Grove Cemetery, also called Fairchance Cemetery, Fayette County. Her sister, Belle, died in 1966, and her niece, Ellen Belle, in 1974. The three names are engraved on a single gravestone at the cemetery. A number of her family members are interred there.

Hickle



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