Traveled with his mother and step-father, Cyrene Hicks Knapp and John Knapp. The birth of younger brother, Orson Knapp, in Wyoming in September 1861 proves that his family, including siblings Smith Hicks, Anna Hicks, William Hicks, George Hicks, and Starks Hicks, traveled to Utah in 1861. Further research is needed to determine the name of the company they traveled with.

George's birth date was recorded on in the Lehi Ward records on the date of his baptism, 1 July 1866, though the death certificate lists the birth date as 7 February 1856. Some census records spell the surname as Hix.