The family name of Quick is considered to be of English origins. It is attributed to several origins. It may have derived from the Cornish word “gwyk” meaning woods, the Old English words “cu” and “wic” meaning cow and remote settlement, the Middle English word “quik” meaning lively, the Old English word “cwice” meaning crouch grass, the Old English word “cwicbeam” meaning popular tree or the Old English word “cwictreow” meaning popular tree. This name would have been given to people with these characteristics or geographical locations.

There were persons by this name in New England by 1651. In 1651 Richard Quick was in Virginia. In 1656 there was John Quick also in Virginia. There seems to be an English Branch to this family as well as a Dutch Branch. There was Thenius Thomas Quick in New York as early as 1664. Tenius Thomas Quick settled in New Jersey. Thenius Quick was from Naarden in the Netherlands. The name was sometimes spelled Kwick in the Dutch language, as they did not have the letter "Q" in their alphabet. The earliest Quick that my research has revealed is James Quick in London, England in 1515. In 1614 there is a reference to William Quick who was a grocer in London. In Devon County, England there is a reference to Charles Quick, the son of John Quick.

There was a Peter Quick in Sussex County, New Jersey in 1773. There was also a Peter Quick in Somerset County, New Jersey in 1784. There was John Quick in Sussex County, New Jersey in 1773 and John Quick in Somerset County, New Jersey in 1794. These are very likely relatives. The New Jersey families are thought to be descendants of Thenius Quick. In 1790 there was a John and Peter Quick in the state of New York. By 1850 there was a John Quick in Berrien County and Peter Quick in Cass County, Michigan who were from New Jersey. I believe these are all the same family group and were descendants of Thenius Quick.

Others of the Quick name in Somerset and Sussex Counties of New Jersey prior to 1806 were:

Abraham Quick

Andrew Quick

Benjamin Quick

Beynear Quick

Cornelius Quick

Garret Quick

Hendrick Quick

Henry Quick

Jacob (Jacobus) Quick

James Quick

Joachim Quick

Reynear Quick

Richard Quick

Samuel Quick

Tunis (Tenius) Quick

William Quick

In New York State in 1790 there were several families named Quick:

Abraham Quick

Andrew Quick

Benjamin Quick

Cornelius Quick

Elijah Quick

Ephriam Quick

Girardua Quick

Hendrick Quick

Jacob Quick

Jacobus Quick

John Quick

Lewis Quick

Matthew Quick

Peter Quick

Phillip Quick

Thomas Quick

Wilhelmus Quick

Many of these names are the names in New York are the same as those in New Jersey. Of particular interest is Lewis Quick. John Quick of Berrien County, Michigan named his son Lewis in 1845. In 1840 there were still many by the name of Quick in New York State. The counties in New York where John, Peter and Lewis Quick were mentioned are Chemung and Ulster. It is likely that the John and Peter Quick who came to Michigan did so from one of these counties.

In Pennsylvania in 1840 there were several Quick families:

Bernard Quick

Charles Quick

Cornelius Quick

Daniel Quick

David Quick

Franklin Quick

George Quick

Henry Quick

Jacob Quick

John Quick

Joseph Quick

Joshua Quick

Peter Quick

Samuel Quick

Stoddart Quick

Stephen Quick

Thomas Quick

Timothy Quick

These Pennsylvania families were located in counties adjacent to those in which the Quick families in New York were living. Several of the names are similar.

There was a Peter Quick in Cass County (next to Berrien), Michigan as early as 1850. Peter Quick died in Cass County in 1857. This is close to the year that John Quick died or disappeared? Peter Quick was married in Sussex County, New Jersey in 1804. Peter would have been born about 1784. This may have been John Quick's father or older brother but this relationship has not been established. There was also Robert B. Quick and Elihu Quick in Lagrange Township of Cass County in 1840. These are thought to be Peter's sons.

In 1824 there was Dennis Quick in Royal Oak Township in Oakland County, Michigan. Dennis would have been born about 1804 in New Jersey. In 1887 there was A. V. D. Quick who died in this same township. It was recorded that he was born in Somerset County, New Jersey. It is obvious that several Quick family members came to Michigan from New Jersey. They may have come to Michigan via New York or Ohio as many of the pioneers did?

John and Catherine Quick were married in Berrien County, Michigan on 17 Aug 1842 at the home of J. Critzer (Kreitzer). John Quick was 30 years of age and Catherine was 18 years of age. According to this document Catherine's maiden name was Raver. John Critzer and Eli Raver witnessed this marriage ceremony. The record clearly shows the spelling is Raver as written by the clerk. This name later appears in Berrien County as Raber.

The 1850 census of Berrien County includes John and Catherine Quick with their children:

Mary Quick age 7 years

Lewis Quick age 5 years

Elizabeth Quick age 5 years

Isaac Quick age 3 years

Caroline Quick age 2 years

Margaret Quick age 2 months

The census states all these children were born in Michigan. Lewis and Elizabeth may have been twins. John Quick must have come to Michigan before 1842. The census states John is 39 years of age. John Quick would have been born about 1811 using the age at marriage and he was born in New Jersey. Catherine is recorded as being 27 years of age. These ages match their ages at the time of their marriage. Catherine would have been born about 1823 in Ohio. John may have been married before this marriage as he was 30 years old when married to Catherine Raver.

The 1860 Census of Berrien County does not include John Quick. Mary Quick is also not listed but may have been married by this time. Interestingly, the census does include the six youngest Quick children. The children are living with separate families in Oronoko and Lake Townships of Berrien County. Elizabeth Quick, age 16 years and William Quick age 6 years are living with the John Kritzer family. Lewis Quick age 16 years is living with the Horace Godfrey family. Isaac Quick age 13 years is living with the John Storic family. Caroline Quick age 12 years is living with the G. W. Lake family. Margaret Quick age 10 years is living with the Jerusha Marsh family. William Quick would not have been born when the 1850 census was taken. John Quick had died or disappeared between 1854 and 1857.

On 23 Sep 1857 Catherine Quick remarried John Dyer. Catherine was 36 years of age at this time and John Dyer was 26 years of age. They were married in Lake Township of Berrien County. The 1860 Census lists John Dyer as being from England and as living with the Joseph Cooper family. There is also a listing for John Dyer as living with D. Jared. The Joseph Cooper family is also recorded as being from England. In the 1860 census Catherine Dyer is living with John and Margaret Raber and their children. In 1860 Catherine has a daughter, Sabra J. Dyer, who is 2 years of age. Apparently the marriage to John Dyer did not last.

The Raber family lived in Oronoko Township also. John Raber was most likely Catherine’s brother or uncle. John and Margaret Raber are buried in the Hinman Cemetery. Margaret Raber may have been Catherine’s sister.  It has been found that Catherin'es mother was Elizabeth (Everhart) Raver.  It is believed she was married 1st to Conrad Raver of Stark County, Ohio.  In the 1830 census Elizabeth raver is living next to her father George Everhart with her children.  Conrad Raver may have died in 1826.  Elizabet (Everhart) Raver married 2nd in 1831 to John "Kritzer.  Since Catherine was born prior to the 1831 marriage she was a Raver, not a Crietzer.  John and Elizabeth (Everhart) Crietzer moved to Berrien County, Michigan.

Lewis Quick died 08 Feb 1863 in Louisville, Kentucky. Lewis Quick enlisted in company "F" of the 25th Michigan Infantry on 12 Aug 1862. He mustered on 11 Sep 1862. He died of "disease" and is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.

Catherine Quick married George Lake on 20 Nov 1869. The problem with this record is that Catherine’s maiden name is given as Critzer not Raver. This is the Catherine “Raver” who married John Quick and then John Dyer.

Mary Quick married A. B. Herman on 13 Nov 1860. Lewis Quick died of “disease while serving in the Civil War. Caroline Quick married George Swink on 01 Apr 1878. Margaret Quick married George F. Thayer on 03 Dec 1869. These marriages took place in Berrien County, Michigan. William Quick was living in Lake Township as late as 1870. In 1880 William Quick can be found in Jefferson Township of Jewell County, Kansas and living with him are his mother Catherine Lake and her husband George W. Lake. No record of Isaac Quick has been found although I have seen record of Isaac Quick in Kalamazoo County, Michigan.

Elizabeth Quick married John Harner on 25 Feb 1862 in Lake Township of Berrien County, Michigan. Their daughter was Jennie Harner.

Jennie Harner married William Upson in Berrien County, Michigan in 1897. During this marriage Jennie had an affair with a man named O’Dean and had a daughter.

Their daughter Cora E. Upson married Walter M. Brackett in Berrien County, Michigan in 1915.

Their son Harold Earl Brackett married Arvena Daniel (nee Hambrick) in Berrien County, Michigan in 1947.

Their son William Brackett married Jane Hauch in Lakeside, Berrien County, Michigan in 1970.

In searching for Catharine Quick’s maiden name an attempt was made to track her children.

Sabra J. Dyer Catharine’s daughter with John Dyer is last seen in the 1860 census of Berrien County, Michigan. She may be the Jane living with Catharine in the George Lake home in 1870.

Elizabeth Quick married John Harner and they lived their lives in Berrien County, Michigan. She died here in Berrien County and her death record says her father was John Quick and gives her mother’s name as “unknown”.

William Quick, wife Martha and son Lewis last seen in 1880 in Jewell County, Kansas living with them was his mother and step-father George and Catharine Lake.

Mary Jane Quick married A. B. Herman, a Physician, and is last seen in the 1870 census of Weesaw Township, Berrien County, Michigan.

Caroline Quick married George Swink. She died here in Berrien County and her death record says her father was John Quick and her mother is listed as “unknown”. An obituary for Caroline (Quick) Swink was carried in the Buchanan Record on 06 Jun 1901 and it reads: “Mrs. Carrie Swink Miss Carrie Quick was born in Berrien Co. Mich. August 6, 1846, and died at her home in Niles township, May 31, 1901, aged 51 years, 9 months, and 25 days. She was married to Mar. George Swink April 4, 1878, at the home of Andrew C. Day, in Buchanan. Her life was devoted to make her home a pleasant place. She leaves a husband, son, two sisters, and three brothers. ‘Sister Carrie thou hast left us And the loss we deeply feel,And if God has thus bereft us He will all our sorrows heal’ The funeral services were held Sunday at ten o’clock, at their home, conducted by Rev. J. F. Bartmess, and was largely attended by a host of sympathizing friends; after which the remains were taken to the Dunkard cemetery, in St. Joe county, Ind.”

Margaret Quick married George F. Thayer in Berrien County. In 1880 they were living in Independence in Montgomery County Kansas. In 1900 they had moved to Ora Township in Nelson County North Dakota. In 1910 they were living in North Payette Township in Canyon County Idaho. In January of 1920 they were still living in North Payette but it was now in Payette County, Idaho. Maggie (Quick) Thayer died on 31 Mar 1920 in North Payette Precinct of Payette County, Idaho. Her birth date is given as 25 Jun 1850. George Thayer died there also on 09 Dec 1924. His birth date is given as 15 Mar 1845. Maggie Thayer’s death record says her father was John Quick and her mother is recorded as “not known”. An obituary for Margaret (Quick) Thayer was carried in the Payette Enterprise on 01 Apr 1920 and it reads: “Just before going to press we learn of the death of Mars. G. F. Thayer which occurred at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Frank Prindle, at seven o’clock last evening after an illness of six weeks. Her death was caused by influenza complicated with heart trouble. The funeral will be held tomorrow, at 2 o’clock from the Prindle home. In our next issue we will publish an appropriate obituary.” Payette Enterprise 08 Apr 1920: “Through the divine dispensation of ‘Him who doeth all things well’ there has been removed from our midst, Mrs. Maggie Quick Thayer, who passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mark Prindle, in Payette, Wednesday, March 31st, at 6:55 p.m. The subject of this sketch was born at Buchanan, Michigan, June 25th, 1850, and was united in marriage with G. F. Thayer August 19th, 1869 at Buchanan, Michigan. Three children were born to the union, Eva May, who passed away at the age of ten months; Carrie Mabel, wife of Mark Prindle, of Payette; and Fred are left without the kind care and comfort of a wife and mother. Col. and Mrs. Thayer came to Payette from Aneta, North Dakota, fifteen years ago and cast their lot with the people who had chosen the Payette Valley as their home, and ever since have been ever diligent in building up the great commonwealth of Idaho. About three months ago Mrs. Thayer was stricken with influenza which later developed heart complications, and to which she finally succumbed. Mrs. Thayer was of that kind of people who chose to work in a humble way, who sought not fame or fortune, but who was in deep earnest about doing the thing that needed to be done today. No finer thing need be said to her than that she was the kindest, the most helpful of neighbors, patient in all things, generous to faults. Her husband testifies in strongest terms of her fidelity, her genuine companionship and her unswerving loyalty to the doing of the helpful acts that she found in her patient, daily toll. Her neighbors feel a distinct loss because she has gone away. The community bears testimony to her quiet, unassuming worth. She was rich in the qualities that stand for all that is stable in life's realities. Many a traveler on life's way has found refreshment and cheer, been inspired with new hope, his doubts in the final issue of life dispelled by her touch. ’I see from my house by the side of the road, By the side of the highway of life, The men that press on with the ardor of hope, And the men that are faint in the strife. And I turn not away from their smiles and their tears--Both parts of an Infinite plan. Let me live in a house by the side of the road. And be a friend of man’.”

Isaac Quick was born about 1847 and he is seen in the 1850 census of Berrien County, Michigan and then not again.

Lewis Quick died from disease while serving during the Civil War. He enlisted in Lake Township with the Twenty-fifth Michigan Infantry on 12 Aug 1862 for three years at the age of 18. He Mustered on 11 Sep 1862 and died at Louisville, Kentucky on 08 Feb 1863. He is buried in the Cave Hill National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.