Portrait from the Birmingham News, June 9, 1930.
Lifelong Alabaman Cunningham Wilson Hickman was a Birmingham based attorney who, following his serving one term in his state's legislature, advanced to the post of judge of the court of common pleas of Birmingham. The son of former Jefferson County treasurer William Peyton (1827-1926) and Elizabeth (Hamilton) Hickman (1831-1900), Cunningham W. Hickman was born in Trussville, Jefferson County in 1860. His early education was obtained in the county of his birth and from 1883-84 was a student at the University of Alabama.
Although he did not complete the university's academic course, Hickman continued studies at the university's law school and in 1886 graduated with his bachelor of laws degree. He soon relocated to Birmingham to begin practice. He married in 1902 to Flora Buell (1873-1960), who survived him upon his death in 1930. The couple would have six children, William Peyton (died in infancy in 1903), Cunningham Jr. (died in infancy in 1906), Paul (1906-1919), Frances (1908-1989), and Flora (1911-2008).
Hickman entered politics in November 1902 with his election to the Alabama House of Representatives, and during his one term (1903-07) sat on the following committees: Agriculture, Banking and Insurance, the Judiciary, and Municipal Organizations. Hickman would also have some strange name company amongst his fellow legislators, serving alongside Genubath Coke Williams, Littleberry James Haley, Cleophas Rhett McCrary, and Boswell DeGraffenreid Waddell, who was profiled here in November 2017.
Several years after leaving the legislature Hickman returned to political life with his election in July 1914 as judge of the Birmingham Court of Common Pleas, 1st division. Succeeding outgoing judge Isaac Benners, Hickman served on the bench until his death on June 9, 1930, at his family home in Trussville. He was survived by his wife and two daughters and was interred at the Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham.
From the Dothan Eagle, June 10, 1930.
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