Benjamin F. Hicks
1847-1925
Born six miles north of here near Courtland in the Berlin-Ivor District of Southampton County, African American Benjamin Hicks made his living by farming. Highly respected for his industrious and creative talents, he used the anvil, forge, and woodworking devices in his machine shop to improve peanut farming methods. By 1902, Hick had received a patent for his invention of a gasoline-powered machine for stemming and cleaning peanuts and is noted for his contributions to the development of the peanut harvester. Hick's picker is believed to have helped revolutionize farming in Southampton and the peanut growing area. He is buried on his farm.
Marker is at the intersection of Ivor Road (Virginia Route 616) and St. Lukes Road (Virginia Route 633), on the right when traveling south on Ivor Road.
Courtesy hmdb.org
