The Ricord Family of Johnson County, Iowa

EDWARD R. RICORD. The subject of this sketch, was born February 17, 1814, in the state of Delaware. His father, Thomas Ricord, settled in Iowa City in 1840. Edward settled on Old Man's creek, in Iowa county, one mile from the Indian boundary line, on section 3, township 78, and lived upon his claim until 1870, when he moved to Washington county with his post-office address, Amish, Johnson county. He was married January 9, 1839, to Miss Jane Gilliand, in Fayette county, Indiana. They have the following children; Mary, lola, Ann, Laura, wife of Walter M. Stover; Addie, wife of George W. Stover, of Marengo, Iowa; Jennie, Race, and Lee. Mrs. Ricord died March 11, 1877, and September 5, 1880, he married Almira Patterson, but the angel of death was near, and on the 23d day of June, 1881, after a well-spent life, passed to his reward. He was the veteran pioneer of Iowa county, being the first settler he made the first claim, built the first cabin, and broke the first prairie. The first election held in Iowa county was at his cabin, and he was elected one of the first county commissioners, and helped organize the county. It was the first and only office he ever held or would ever have. He was for twenty-five years one of Iowa county's most prominent and enterprising citizens.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JACOB RICORD, the present popular and efficient postmaster of Iowa City, was born September 26, 1816, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Thomas Ricord, moved from the state of Delaware to Philadelphia in 1815, and in 1817 settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife and two children, Edward and Jacob..The journey was made over the Alleghany mountains in a wagon drawn by one horse, taking them six weeks. From Cincinnati he moved to Dearborn county, Indiana, and on the 4th day of March, 1840, we find him and his family in Iowa City. Mr. Ricord was a shoemaker by trade when he came to Iowa City, and became a merchant dealer in boots and shoes and carried on that business in Iowa City until June 14, 1880, when he was appointed by President Hayes the postmaster of Iowa City. He was mayor of Iowa City in 1875. 76, and 1878-79, and was for several years a member of the city council. During his service in the city council the principal streets were greatly improved by macadam. He was soundly abused for it, but in due time the principal fault-tinder were the loudest in his praise, and speak words of commendation in his behalf for the valuable services he had rendered in carrying forward important public improvements on the streets. During his term of service in the city council he was chairman of the finance committee. The city being heavily in debt and suffering from heavy taxation, caused by taking railroad stock, it became absolutely necessary to do something to relieve the over-burdened taxpayers of the city. Mr. Ricord, by prudent management, brought relief. His financial plans proved a success. He refused to pay the ten year accrued interest on the railroad bonds, and resisted the collection in the courts and was finally successful, and it was to his good judgment, acting under the advice of legal counsel, that the people are indebted for getting them free from paying about $10,000 of interest. Mr. Ricord during the first year he was mayor, collected about $4,600 for fine and licenses. He enforced the Sunday law, and all violations of law that came under his control were dealt with in a rigid manner; the lawless element and the vicious attempted to control him, and after failing, they made threats of violence, but they found him stern, unyielding and equal to every emergency. Mr. Ricord is a republican and has always proved himself a valuable party worker in all important campaigns. Mr. Ricord was married Mav 12, 1847, to Miss Emily Evans, of Iowa City. They have four children, to-wit: Charles J., Emma, Arthur F., and Gennevie. It is not out of place for us to say right here that Jacob Ricord was the first assessor of Iowa county, and made the first sale and transfer of land in Iowa county to Henrv Lutchen, February 27, 1846. Mr. R. is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Iowa City. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Her parents belonged to the best families of Missouri. She was born April 19, 1829, on Easter Sunday, in St. Genevie, Missouri. In March, 1833, with her father moved to the coal mines in what is now Dubuque county. In the year 1840 they settled in Johnson county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ELISHA H. RICORD, son of Thomas Ricord, now a resident of Dallas, Texas; was born October 16, 1818, in Dearborn county, Indiana; came to Iowa City with his father's family in March, 1840, and made a claim adjoining his brother Edward, in Iowa county, and assisted in building the first log cabin on Old Man's creek, in the Ricord settlement; he made his home with his brother Edward, and assisted in making rail fences and breaking the prairie for their farms, and assisting in building cabins until the breaking out of the Mexican war, when he enlisted in the Fifteenth United States Infantry, and remained until the close of the war. He came home and made a new settlement in Fillmore township, Iowa county, section 1, township 78. He was married in December, 1849, to Miss Catharine Butler. He built himself a house and barn on his claim, and lived there until 1872, when he sold out, and in 187;> went to Texas. The family consisted of three sons and two daughters; one son died in infancy; Augustus died in St. Louis at the age of 17, and Thomas is married and lives near Red Oak, Iowa, and his two daughters are living with their father in Texas.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.