My Genealogy Hound

Elijah M. Hicks, a prominent citizen of Grant County, was born in Marion County, Tenn., on August 10, 1840, to the marriage of Elijah M. and Sarah (Fowler) Hicks, natives, respectively, of Tennessee and Kentucky. The parents were married in Tennessee, and made that their home till 1840, when they moved to Marion County, Ark., where the father died the same year at the age of forty. Soon after her husband’s death, Mrs. Hicks returned to Marion County, Tenn., remaining till 1857. Then coming to Saline County, Ark., she died in 1887 at the age of seventy-seven years, having been married the second time to William Hamilton. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the time of her death. By her first marriage she became the mother of seven children, of whom but two survive: the principal in this sketch and his sister, Martha Tate, of Grundy County, East Tenn. Elijah M. Hicks, the younger, was educated in East Tennessee, making his home with his mother until he was ten years old. At this early age, on account of a disagreement with his step-father, he left home, remaining with his sister two years and with an aunt one year. Living thus with relatives till the year 1857, he came to this locality after a stay in Benton County of one year. Upon locating here he began farming, and has followed it ever since, owning at the present time a fine farm of 525 acres. In 1887 he went into the mercantile business at Mooneyville, continuing at this branch of industry with marked success till the year 1884. He has since been extensively engaged in the stock trade. He has served two years as justice of the peace, being a Democrat in politics. He has been successful in everything to which he has directed his attention, and as a result of his successes is one of the most prosperous citizens of Grant County. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the Eleventh Arkansas Infantry Regiment, Confederate army. At New Madrid he was captured and taken to Camp Douglas, Chicago, where he was detained a prisoner for ten days, and at the expiration of this time, in company with Joseph Hamilton, made his escape by crawling through a hole in the barracks. One thousand miles from home, Rebels in a country filled with Unionists, with but $1.25 in their pockets, the two escaped prisoners, by dodging and enduring innumerable hardships, traversed the whole distance on foot. After thirty-six days of wandering, they reached home and loved ones, without a serious mishap. Remaining home but a short time, he rejoined his regiment at Port Hudson, where he was again captured, but soon paroled. After this he served in Poles’ battalion for a short time, then came home. He took part in many battles, Port Hudson and others. On December 23, 1859, he was married to Mary Ann Black, daughter of Joseph Black, of Alabama. She was born in Alabama on September 18, 1837. By this union there were five children: James T. (teaching school), Laverna J., Joseph D. and Andrew M. (at home); Sarah Ann having died October 12, 1886, at the age of twenty-six. Mr. Hicks, wife and two eldest children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father is also a member of the Masonic order. Sarah Ann, the daughter whose decease is noted, was the wife of Thomas G. Wylie, a farmer of Grant County, also dead. She was the mother of four children, two now living: Florence and James A. The two deceased were Alice and Ammie G.