Lewis Ezra Hicks was born in 1839 at Kalida, Ohio. About his early life we know very little, but as a young man he entered Denison University. While he was still engaged in courses, the United States Civil War broke out. Hicks, like many young men, left school and served as a lieutenant colonel in the Union army for the entire duration of the war.

After the war, Hicks returned to Denison University and finished his education, continuing on to obtain further schooling at Harvard university. He then returned to Denison University and served as a professor of natural sciences there until 1884, when he accepted the same position at the University of Nebraska. In addtion, Hicks was given the honorary title of State Geologist for Nebraska, as well as director of the State Museum. 

Hicks was influential for the state in that he was one of the first to recognize groundwater's importance in Nebraska's natural resources. He lobbied to survey and investigate groundwater resources in Nebraska, and encouraged the use of groundwater to irrigate crops. Hicks promoted Nebraska's potential as a breadbasket for the nation, and stressed the importance that groundwater resources would play in that future. His writings on the subject helped to change federal policy at the time to include surveying for groundwater, and not just surface water resources.

Geology was Hicks' preferred field of study, and as such the majority of the museum's collections during his direction were new collections of minerals or invertebrate fossils. At this time the museum consisted mostly of minerals and invertebrate fossils, with a few taxidermied specimens of Nebraska wildlife. Again, the museum was not open for public display, but was rather for teaching materials in the natural science courses.

Hicks left the University of Nebraska during a wave of resignations in 1892. E.H. Barbour had arrived at the university the year previous, and subsequently was given the title of State Geologist, and presumption over Hicks. Given these conditions, Hicks resigned from the university.