William Abraham Hicks (1769 – c. 1837) was a wealthy farmer and leader of the Cherokee Nation. In a time of crisis, the National Cherokee Council named Hicks the interim Principal Chief in October 1827. He served in that capacity until October 1828. Hicks succeeded his older brother Charles Hicks, who died in office in January 1827, two weeks after coming to the position. Hicks became a farmer in the Oothkalooga valley of present-day Georgia. He was of mixed race and supported European-American education for his and other Cherokee children, as well as the opening of a mission and school in the valley. He and his family were baptized into the Moravian Christian faith. Early life and family Charles and William's father was Nathan Hicks (1740–1829), a trader. Their mother is unknown. William was the youngest of the family. His siblings included Sarah Gosaduisga (1758), Elizabeth (1759), Mary (1760), Nathan Jr (1764), Elizabeth (1766), and Charles (1767). Career and community William Hicks developed a farm in the valley of the Oothkalooga Creek, along with Cherokee leader and neighbor, Major Ridge, and turned it into a recognized "garden spot" (near present-day Calhoun in Gordon County, Georgia). During these years Hicks became allied with Major Ridge. They shared some ambitions for their children and the Cherokee people. They both sent sons to study with the Moravian missionaries, the Gambolds. In addition, Hicks became baptized as a Christian, as did his wife. About 1822 Ridge and Hicks urged Father Gambold to open a mission at Oothkalooga (Ustinali) and establish a missionary school, as they had more children to be educated. Leadership role William's older brother, Charles, was the assistant to Principal Chief Pathkiller, who held that title from 1811 to 1827, but was in fact, after 1813, the head of the people in name only. Charles acted as chief in Pathkiller's name. He officially became Second Principal Chief of the Cherokee in 1823 or 24; so after the death of Pathkiller, Charles Hicks succeeded him to the office. Barely two weeks into the position, however, Charles died (January 20, 1827). At this time, Major Ridge was Speaker of the Council; he assumed leadership of the lower house. John Ross continued as President of the National Committee, or upper house. With a policy of increasing centralization of tribal leadership ongoing for almost a decade, in 1827 the Cherokee changed their government to a constitutional