Jay Russell Hickox Biography This biography appears on page 1701 in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. JAY RUSSELL HICKOX, of Deadwood, is a scion of staunch old colonial stock, and is himself a native of New England, where was cradled so much of our national history. He was born in South Britain, New Haven county, Connecticut, on the 3d of April, 1865, and is a son of Henry P. and Julia E. (Bradley) Hickox, both of whom were likewise born and reared in that state, being of English lineage, and there they still retain their residence, the father being a farmer by vocation. The subject secured his preliminary educational discipline in the public schools and then entered Yale College, where he was graduated in 1886, with the degree of Ph. B. Thoroughly equipped in scientific knowledge of a general order and with practical skill in a technical way, in the year of his graduation Mr. Hickox became identified with the engineering department of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, and first came to the Black Hills in 1889, to take charge of the construction of the northern end of the Deadwood branch of the line of that road, from Edgemont to Deadwood. After the completion of this work he was prominently identified with extensive operations in connection with the development of the irrigation systems of the state as well as of Nebraska, until 1899, when he took up his residence in Deadwood and opened a general engineering office. His services have been in requisition in connection with much important work in the line of his profession, while from the time of locating in Deadwood he has held the office of United States deputy mineral surveyor, and has done all of the engineering work for the city. In politics Mr. Hickox is a staunch supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and fraternally is identified with Deadwood Lodge, No. 7, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he served as worshipful master in 1902. On the 28th of November, 1895, Mr. Hickox was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Harding, who was born in Diamond City, Montana, on the 16th of November, 1869, being a daughter of John A. and Matilda (Kline) Harding.