Elijah Hicks (1875-1946), a teacher, community leader and a store keeper for
over 30 years, was born on Knob Bottom of Ball Creek in Knott County. He
attended Professor Clarke’s school while working for room and board with the
John Bailey family.

Elijah Hicks carried the mail from Hazard to Hindman on horseback for $1 per
day before teaching school for two or three years at Big Branch. He traveled
32 mountain counties on horseback for R. G. Dunn Co., a firm now called Dunn
and Bradstreet. Around 1910, he purchased the John W. Combs Store. As a
store owner, he was known to be very compassionate person who helped
people in financial need. He was one of the most generous persons ever to live in Knott County.

He was one of the organizers of the Bank of Hindman in 1903 and served as a
director for approximately 40 years. Hicks was the bank vice-president at the
time of his death. Elijah Hicks was on the board of directors of the Hindman Settlement School. He was a strong supporter of the settlement and education in Knott County.

Four of his children are: Clarissa Hicks of Radcliff, Ky., Hassie Martin of
Hindman, John C. Hicks of Litt Carr, and Cleo Carroll of Kailva, Hawaii.

Submitted by Corbett Mullins