T. W. Rickey

As printed in 1909

T. W. RICKEY.

T. W. Rickey is well known in Crawfordsville and throughout Washington county, for though he is now living retired he was long associated with business affairs as a representative of both farming and banking interests. He ever manifested an intelligent appreciation of opportunities which he utilized to the best advantage and now his invested interests are sufficient to bring him a substantial annual revenue. Mr. Rickey was born in Harrison county, Ohio, November 2, 1840, and is a son of Benjamin and Susan (Williams) Rickey. The father was born in Ohio and in 1852 arrived in Iowa, locating in Louisa county, where he made his home until his death in 1877, his remains being interred in the village cemetery at Crawfordsville. His entire life was given to general agricultural pursuits and his persistent labor constituted the basis of his success. In antebellum days he was a stanch abolitionist, being greatly opposed to the system of human slavery as practiced in the south. When the republican party was formed to prevent its further extension in northern territory, he joined its ranks and continued one of its stalwart advocates until his death. He held membership in the United Presbyterian church which in former years was know li as the Scccders church. His wife was a native of Ohio and they were married in that state. She survived her husband for about ten years and died in Louisa county in 1887. In their family were five sons: Samuel W., who now follows farming in Crawford township; William, a soldier of the Civil war, who formerly carried on general agricultural pursuits hut is now living retired in Sheriilan,

Iowa; T. W., of this review; John, who was a soldier in the Union army and IS now deceased; and Joseph, who Hkewise defended the old flag but has now passed away.

T. W. Rickey spent his youthful days in his parents' home, accompanying his father on their removal to Iowa when a youth of twelve years. He acquired his education in the district schools of his native county and in Washington county, Iowa, and gave his father the benefit of his services until twenty-one years of age, when he began farming on his own account in Louisa county. He continued to till the soil in Louisa county until 1894, when he put aside the work of the fields and removed to Crawfordsville, where he erected a building that has since been known as the Crawfordsville Savings Bank. He established a banking business which was the first in the town and he remained sole owner of the enterprise until 1908, when he organized a stock company and withdrew from active connection with the bank. While he carried on farming he engaged extensively in feeding and shipping stock and this proved a profitable branch of his business. He is still the owner of valuable farm property, including one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land in Louisa county and two hundred acres in Crawford township, together with two hundred and ninety-six acres in Arkansas. He likewise owns town property in Crawfordsville, also has realty holdings in Chicago, so that his extensive invested interests are amply adequate to his needs and also bring to him an income sufficient to supply him with all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.

In 1861 Mr. Rickey was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Purbis, a resident of Louisa county, Iowa, and they have two sons: James R., now a banker of Crawfordsville: and John F., who follows farming in Henry county, Iowa. The wife and mother died in 1891 and was laid to rest in the Crawfordsville cemetery. In 1897 Mr. Rickey was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Maggie Adams, nee Gordon. In his political views Mr. Rickey is a republican while his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. His life has been well spent and without ostentation or display he has commanded the respect of his fellowmen by reason of his enterprise, the reliability of his methods in business affairs and the substantial support which he has given to all matters of progressive citizenship.

As printed in History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.