The History of Hickox

The original Hickox was the father of Jim Hickox. He was a soldier in the Confederate Army who deserted and went into the Okefenokee Swamp until the Civil War was over. After the war ended, he came out of the swamp and married Lucy Green and Settled at Hickox. His son (Jim Hickox) carried on with his developments. He had the cotton gin, turpentine still and grits mill. He processed the corn into grits and meal for surrounding farmers.

CHURCHES

The odest church in Hickox is the New Hope Primitive Baptist Church and cemetery. Constituted in 1845. Mr. David Hickox, who was borne January, 1798 and died February, 1887, and wife Sarah, who was born 1812 and died February 2, 1884, were in the organization. The land for the building was given by Allen D. Highsmith. This church still exists. Most people in the south were Primitive Baptists back in the 1800’s and early 1900’s.

The Hickox Missionary Baptist Church was established in 1908. The first preacher was Rev. Littles. The land was granted by Frank Highsmith. This church still exists.

The Nazarene Church was started in 1921 in a tent by Sister Rice and Sister Dean. The Building was built around 1924. It ceased to exist about 1930

SCHOOLS

1^st School – The land was given by Levi Herrin. When they decided to move the school, he got the old building back. This was a square building devided equally into four rooms. It was later occupied by Mr. Everett Knox and wife Grace; Mr. Russell Thomas and wife Nora. These wre the son-in-laws of Levi Herrin. At the present Mr. Andrew Turner lives there.

2^nd School – This was a two store building with two rooms downstairs and a stage and auditorium upstairs. It was latter added on to in the back and became a high school. Jess Allen later bought it and built his farm house.

3^rd School – This was a stucco one story building. The school was used until 1955 when the students were transferred to Nahunta.

BUSINESSES

The Jesup Short was built and ran from Jesup to Folkston. The first expedition was in 1902.

The Peter S. Knox Sawmill came to Hickox and was built beside the railroad track as a form of transporting his lumber. He used ten to twelve oxen to pull the logs from the Okefenokee.

The Gautier Retort Co. came later and was built near the sawmill. They used the fat stups and knotty tree tops to produce tar that was shipped north by train. They used a coal-like substance left from the trees for heat and also in the blacksmith’s shops. This company was said to be the foundation of Hercules Power Company in Brunswick.

The Coca Cola Company was owned and operated by Mr. Copland. He bought gas to produce the coca cola’s from Atlanta. It was shipped to Jesup and on to Hickox on the Jesup Short. The business was operated in the back room of a two room house with the cement foundation. The business later moved to Brunswick and started the Coca Cola Bottling Company there.

Britt’s Still – Originally owned and operated by Randal Anderson, who was born October 2, 1855 and died March 12, 1924. Later sold to Mr. C. R. Britt. Tyson Harvey was the woods runner that was over the Negro workers. He latter married Mr. Britt’s daughter and took over as a telegraph operator in the place of Mr. Harvey Mattox, who was sent to the penitentiary for mail fraud.

Post office – Levi Herrin operated the first post office. He latter left his wife and daughter and went to Missouri to live with his son. Mr Mattox took his place as postmaster and became telegraph operator when the depot was built and lost his job because of mail fraud. It was at about this time that Hickox was incorporated, August 20, 1906. The government consisted of mayor (Levi Herrin) and five aldermen (1) J. J. Johns, (2) P. S. Knox, (3) A. J. Courson, (4) I. D. Hones, and (5) Jasper F. Highsmith. The yearly election was to be held the second Wednesday in January.

Depot – Tyson Harvey went on strike with the raildroad and was replaced by Kaye Allen, as scab operator.

Blacksmith Shop – Owned and operated by Jabe Rowell.

Jail was located beside the blacksmith shop. Mr. Owen Johns was sheriff. Later Jasper Johnson served as sheriff.

Stores

(1) A. J. Courson had a store behind the depot. He sold out to “Turkey” Hayes. (2) Bashea Rozier had a store in Levi Herrin home. Geneva Raulerson later bought the store from Rozier. Mrs. Pickern owned it after that and it burned to the fround. (3) Ivey Dowling had a big store beside Dr. Moore. (4) Jack Johns had a general Merchandise store on the corner of Highsmith and Buffalo Streets.