Reuben Rickey

As printed in 1887

EUBEN RICKEY, a farmer and stock-raiser.

resides on section 33, Lime Creek Township.

He is a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, where he was born Dec. 28, 1831, and is the son of John and Ruth (Dick) Rickey, the former a native of West Virginia, and the latter of Ohio., and a daughter of Jacob and Sarah Dick, who were natives of West Virginia. They had a family of seven children: Reuben, the subject of this sketch; Thomas, who died in Lime Creek Township in 1850, at the age of seventeen years; AVilliam was a soldier in the war for the Union, and has since died; his widow is still living in Lime Creek Township. Mary, now the wife of Henry Nicola, resides in Mahaska County; Samuel, a soldier in the late war, was a member of the 7th Iowa Infantry, and killed at the battle of Corinth; Wellington died in IS.iO; Murat was a soldier in the war for the I'uion, a memliei of the 30th Iowa Infantry; he was taken prisoner, and after having been held as such for some months was exchanged, and started for Annapolis, Md., and was supposed to have died while en route, as he was never heard from afterward. John Rickey emigrated from Airginia to Ohio about 1815, and there lived until 1849, when he came with his family to Washington County, and settled on section 33, Lime Creek Township. He died in September, 1850, at the age of forty-six. His wife died in September, 1853, at the age of forty-tvvo.

Reuben Rickey, the subject of this sketch, came with his parents to this county in 1 849, and remained with them until his marriage, which occurred March 2, 1853, to Ruth E. Ayer, a native of Baltimore County, Md., and daughter of John Ayer, also a native of that State. Her father was a.soldier in the War of 1812. He was among the earliest settlers of Washington County, and here died about 1874. His wife preceded him to the spirit land. Mr. and Mrs. Rickey have been the parents of seven children, namely, Victoria, now the wife of William Haller, of Dayton, Washington County; Jenny Lind, the wife of Henry Schultz, of Cedar Township; Benjamin Franklin, now engaged in farming in Lime Creek Township; Irene R., the wife of Isaiah Oldfieltl, of Cedar Township; Laura A. and Viola, at home; Clara A. died in infancy.

Mr. Rickey is one of the representative men of Lime Creek Township. He commenced life a poor boy, and at the time of his marriage was in very limited circumstances. He is now the owner of 152.acres, all of which is under cultivation, and well improved. All that he has is the result of his own labor, together with that of his wife. He has been Township Assessor and Trustee for a number of years, and has held various other township offices. His wife and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Democrat, t one who is well informed, and who takes great interest in public affairs. He is a public-spirited and enterprising man, a firm believe in compulsory education, believing that in the education of the children lies the hope of the perpetuity of the Union.

MBROSE HART resides upon section 23, Clay Township, where he is engiiged in farming and stock-raising. He was born ill Trumbull County, Ohio, Jan. 20, 1824, and is the son of Amos and Sophia (Bushncll) Hart, both of whom were natives of Connecticut, Amos Hart moved from Connecticut to Ohio about 1818. and there engaged in business as a niorchaiit.. Forming the acquaintance of Miss Sophia Itiisbuell, they were uiiitod in marriage Nov. 20, 1820. They became the parents of seven children: Dennis, deceased; Ambrose, the subject of this sketch; Louisa, the widow of William I'single, now residing in" Clay Township; William, a farmer residing in Harrison County, Mo.; Seth, a farmer in Clay Township; Austin, deceased; Huldah, the widow of G. W. Draper, resides in Colfax, Whitman Co.. Wash. Ter. The father died Sept. 27, 1 885, at the age of eight'-eight, and the mother Dee. 24, 1878. She was a member of the Congregational Church at Brighton. While not a member of the Church himself, Amos Hart was a liberal giver to all Church work, and was a charitable man in every' respect. In 1840 the family settled in Clay Township, where both parents died.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Washington County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and (1887). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.