Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-09
A VETERAN RAILROAD NAN.
A Talk With the Oldest Railroad
NtOckhOlder in America-HOw W
He Made His Fortune.


Mr.. Benjamin Hicks, the veteran
farmer and railroad man, was found
to-day by reporter of the Telegram m
seated in his we'll appointed library
at his beautiful country home at Great
Neck, i. |. Surrounded by the com
fort that wealth can give and by a
loving family, this man, whose life has
been an eventlul one, rising from OBJ
scurity and poverty by dint of energy
and perseverance to wealth and infu
ence,i now nearing the close of we'll
spent life. Although nearly 100 years
Of age Mr. Hicks intellect is unim
paired. His memory is unclouded
and his energy is remarkable. He still
directs the work that is done on bis
farm Of 200 acres.
THE OLDEST HOLDER OF RAILROAD
STOCK.
Mr.. Hicks is the oldest stockholder
in railroads known in this country
He was one Of the original incorpora-
tors Of the Long Island railroad fifty
years ago He was the first person to
solicit the people to purchase stock in
the Flushing and North Shore road,
and rode on the first locomotive that
ran over the Long Island railroads He
has been largely instrumental in build
ing other railroads, aud is now a
large stockholder in no less than fii,
teen different roads. Mr.. Hicks has
upward OF $3.50, 900 invested at pres
ent in railroads. He was for many
years one of the board of directors OF
the North Shore railroad of Long
Island. His first railroad venture
was the investment Of $500 in the
Utica and Schenectady. Among the
roads in which he now holds stock are
the Utica and Schenectady, the Chi,
cago, Burlington and Quincy, Long
Island, New Jersey Central, Penn.
sylyania, Northern Pacific, Chicago
and Northwestern, Chicago and Rock
Island, Delaware, Laokawanna aud
Western, New York and New England
and the New York, New Haven and
Hartford.
HIS EARLY LIFE.
Mr.. Hicks began life as a farmer
boy. When seventeen years old he
was runninga farm and was support,
ing his widowed mother and several
brothers and sisters. He was mar
ried when a little less than twentysonC
years Of age. Mr. Hicks said to the
reporter: IL owe my success in life
largely to the noble influence OF q
good wife, in whose death three years
ago lost the better part Of my lie
was born" said Mr.. Hicks, "in tht
month of June, 1890, and, should
live until my next birthday, will bl
ninety four years old. | hope to liv,
to be 100 years of age, but | am pre-
pared to 60 any time. / wa
born at Trimming Square, nov
incorporated into the village o
Hampstead. My father was Benja
min Hicks, a farmer, who wa
too poor to send his children to schoo
more than three months out of tn,
year. There we're no free school
when l was boy, and what littl
learning could be got at a countr
school, had to be we'll paid for"
FARM LIFE.
Mr.. Hicks was one of FIVE children
When about twelve years Of age, b
left home TO seek his fortune. Takin
all his earthly possessions with him il
a small gripsack, he worked as a chor
boy among the Quaker farmers, unit
at the age Of seventeen years he be
came foreman on the farm at Grea
Neck, whereon the Hicks homestea
is now situated.
81 accumulated my first $1,000 a
farming" said Mr.. Hicks. "Fo
twenty years | raised and carted ha
to the New York aud Brooklyn maj
kets. | was on the road night and DAY
and by this means kept ahead Of th
markets and other farmers. | mad
two trips a day, while my neighbor
ing farmers made but one. | hay
driven all night in order to be at IN
stand 10 Brooklyn at daybreak.
have often plowed by moonlight"
Mr. Hicks married Miss May MOI
rell, Of North Hampstead, i. l. II
is one Of the prominent member Of th
Society of Hicksite Quakers in III
State, and is one of the largest rel
estate owners of Long Island, II
also owns considerable real estate ]
this city. Notwithstanding his grei
age Mr.. Hicks enjoys comparative
good hoalth. and loves COMPANY.