Benjamin E. Hicks, a banker of New York City and member of the firm of Hicks Brothers, in business at Nos. 59-61 Wall Street, New York, was born in Dey Street, that city, January 12, 1843. His parents, George E. and Mary Morrell (Hicks) Cock, were both natives of the island, and Mrs. Cock was the daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Morrell Hicks. In the year 1875 our subject’s name was changed to Hicks in order to perpetuate the name of Hicks, as the only son, Benjamin Hicks, had died in childhood. The father of our subject was engaged in the wholesale dry goods business in New York under the firm name of E. & W. Cock & Co., and carried on one of the most extensive enterprises of the kind in the city. In 1863 Mr. Cock retired from the active duties of life and made his home in Great Neck, L.I.

Our subject’s boyhood days were passed in New York City during the winter and on the old home place of the Hicks family in the summer season. He was educated at the Friends’ Institute in New York, also Columbia grammar school, and the school taught by Mr. Quackenboss. He took a classical course and later began clerking in an importing dry goods store to learn the business, getting no salary the first year. While still clerking he was sent to Manchester, England, and assumed full charge of the business of buying for the firm by which he was employed as clerk. He made over sixty trips across the ocean, the first in 1866. In less than five years he was a partner, but in 1875 the firm dissolved partnership, and after that he embarked as a wholesale dealer in domestic goods.

In 1883 or ‘84 Mr. Hicks and his brother, George Embnee Hicks, formed the present partnership. In polities our subject is a Republican of the stanch protective kind, but he has never cared to hold office. He is a birthright Friend, but attends the Episcopal Church at Great Neck, though holding to the views of the former. Fraternally he is a Mason, a member of Crescent Lodge No. 402, New York City. He has never married, but his brother, who is with him in business, wedded Miss Louise Firth, of Bradford, England. Our subject, his brother, George, and his sister, Elizabeth (Mrs. Thomas Stewart) are the only living grandchildren of Benjamin Hicks, for whom our subject was named.

Benjamin Hicks was born at Hempstead, L.I., June 14, 1791. About 1823 he bought the old Hicks property from the Morrells, and made his home on the same the remainder of his days. He was married in 1817 to Miss Morrell and this union resulted in the birth of seven children, five of whom reached mature years, but only two are now living. Mary M., the mother of our subject, died in 1892, leaving three children; Sarah Titus died in 1879; Susan M. died in 1851; Caroline, widow of Dr. Amos W. Rogers, resides on the old homestead; and Phoebe, who is single, also lives on the old homestead.

Benjamin Hicks, Sr., was an earnest, upright citizen who despised public display and who impressed all with whom he came in contact as a man of great energy and public spirit. No worthy movement was allowed to fail for want of support on his part and he was a strong believer in the principles of the Society of Friends, as was also his estimable wife, and they were well and favorably known for their benevolence and hospitality. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks died in 1883 and 1878, respectively, and they are interred in the Friends’ Cemetery at Manhasset. Mr. Hicks was a near relative of Elias Hicks, who led in the division of the Society of Friends, and Sarah Cook, our subject’s paternal grandmother, was clerk of the woman’s branch of the meeting at the time of the separation. They were members of the Hicksite Society of Friends.

Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record of Queens County (Long Island) New York"
(Copyright 1896 by Chapman Publishing Company)

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