In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1821
From The history of Jasper county, Missouri : including a condensed history of the state, a complete history of Carthage and Joplin, other towns and townships : together with numerous portraits of prominen (1883)
, section 17, post-office Knights. This lady has the distinction of being the oldest settler of Jasper county now living. Youngest daughter of William Brown, one of the pioneer settlers; is a native Missourian, born in St. Genevieve county, Jan. 15, 1821; came with her parents to what is now Jasper county in 1834, and settled on Spring River, being then but thirteen years old, since which time she has spent her entire life here, as maid and matron. Was married June 13, 1837, to Jacob Rickner, a native of Switzerland, born near Berne, in March, 1808. Immigrated with his parents to North America in 1818; were in charge of the Hudson Bay Company, and landed on the shores of Hudson's Bay. Moved into the interior and lived several years in Manitoba, on the Red River of the North; came to Washington county. Mo., at an early day, where his parents died and are buried. He came to Jasper county in 1836; was of a discontented moving disposition and ever had a desire, amounting almost to a mania, of visiting the unexplored regions of this great country, and during his life traveled over a great portion of the West, always by his own conveyance or on foot. His first trip after becoming a resident of this county was to Texas; returning, made a trip to the British Possessions and the Northwest Territory. After a short stay there he returned to Jasper county; next crossed the plains to Oregon Territory and returned in 1841; went overland to California in 1849, returning via New Orleans in 1850. During his many trips he rode or walked over every county in the great state of Missouri, long before the days of railroads; and a great portion of Arkansas and Texas. He was a tanner by trade, and established a tannery in Jasper county at an early day. He died at his home in this county Sept. 5, 1880, leaving a family of nine children: James, Martha, wife of D. E. Mottley; Francis, deceased; Ethan C, Moses P., Elizabeth J., deceased; John W., deceased; Mary E., wife of T. E. Melugin; and Lola Y. Ethan C, and Miss Lola reside with their mother on the farm.
As printed in The history of Jasper county, Missouri : including a condensed history of the state, a complete history of Carthage and Joplin, other towns and townships : together with numerous portraits of prominent (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1883. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.