OLD HICO: Old Hico Mill was located near FM 1602 about two miles east of HWY 281 and eighteen miles north of Hamilton. The first Hico--Old Hico/Honey Creek Trading Post-- was built on the banks of Honey Creek about 2 ½ three miles southeast of the present Hico at the point FM 1602 crosses Honey Creek. 

The first eight families to settle on the banks of Honey Creek in 1856 were those of John Quincy Anderson, M. A. Fuller, James G. Barbee, James R. Fuller, Henry Fuller, Isaac Malone, Sr., Thomas Malone and Isaac Hollingsworth Steen.  Isaac Steen, born 5 May, 1826, came to the Honey Creek area of the soon-to-be Hamilton County about 1856.  Isaac was the son of Robert Steen of Union County, SC, and the grandson of William Steen from Coleraine, Ireland. Isaac Steen was the County Treasurer from 1862 to 1864, was Tax Assessor from 1864-1866, was District Clerk in 1871, and was County Clerk from 1876 until his death 26 February, 1881.

In 1870 Uncle Ike Malone and Faggard and Day owned stores in Old Hico. Mr. Clemens owned a saloon and "Rock" Martin had a hotel. The hotel was one log room with a shed room across the back. The kitchen and dining room was a cabin in the back yard. By 1879 there were eight business in Old Hico. J. C. Hutchingson, W. A. Barkley, and Ike Malone each operated a store. Tom Shafford was the proprietor of a blacksmith shop. Two gins were built at Old Hico. J. G. Barbee built a corn mill and a cotton gin powered by horses. J. C. Hutchingson’s gin used twelve horses to supply its power.

In 1879 plans were made to build a railroad from Waco to Red Gap (now Cisco in Eastland County) to connect with a projected extension of the Texas and Pacific Railway. Initial plans for the railroad were changed from Duffau to a site about three miles north of Old Hico on Honey Creek.