Verner Hicks was born in Woodlawn, Illinois on September 21, 1887 to Elizabeth (Trout) Hicks. Verner’s father died while he was at an early age, forcing Verner and his widowed mother “Lizzie” to seek the support and shelter of her brother James Trout, a farmer, living in Shiloh, Illinois which is where they were found in the 1900 census. Continue reading