| PeterW. Rickard |
PETER W. RICKARD, an intelligent and progressivefarmer of Cass county, Illinois, residing in township 19, range 9, wasborn in Windham county, Connecticut, August 26, 1823.His parents were Peter and Mary (Healy) Rickard,both natives of Massachusetts, the mother’s birth having taken place inDudley, of that State. The father died one month previous to the birthof the subject of this sketch. Grandfather Rickard was a brave and efficientsoldier in the Revolutionary war, and died in the service. The Rickardfamily is of French ancestry and took a prominent part in early Colonialtimes. Our subject’s mother was a daughter of Stephen and Rhoda (Marcy)Healy, also natives of Massachusetts, both of whom were related to oldand respected families of that State. They died in the Bay State betweentile ages of seventy and eighty years. Both her father and grandfatherwere distinguished soldiers in the Revolutionary war, although the fameof her grand father, Major Nathan Healy, rather outshone that of her father,the elder gentleman receiving a liberal pension from the Government forhis able services in that memorable struggle. The Healys were originallyfrom England, and, as far as known, were successful farmers. On the maternalside, Mr. Rickard’s mother was an own cousin of William L Marcy, at onetime Governor of New York. Their revered parents had eight children, ofwhom our present subject is the sole survivor; some of these were tradesmenand successful merchants. The mother died in Windham county, Connecticut,aged about sixty-nine years, universally lamented for her kindly ways andChristian character.
The subject of this sketch lived with hismother until he was eight years of age, when he went to live with a brother-in-law,with whom he remained until he was fourteen. He, then, found employmentby the day or month, and at the same time diligently prosecuted his studiesin the free school, which he continued to attend until he attained theage of twenty-one.
He then started for the West, Illinois beingthe objective point, then on the extreme frontier. In these days of rapidtransit, it is interesting to note, by way of contrast, the time consumedby the journey. He went by cars and boat to New York city, and thence,via the Erie canal and Cumberland stage route, to Philadelphia and Wheeling,which took four weeks’ time. He thence proceeded by the rivers to Beardstown,Illinois being twenty days en route, arriving at the latter place in thefall of 1844. He taught a subscription school for several terms, afterwhich he taught a free school, continuing thus for many years, teachingin the winter and farming during the summer. He first purchased 120 acresin his present township, on which he settled soon after marriage. He afterwardkept a general store for a year in Chandlerville, when, in 1857, he soldhis first farm and bought 240 acres, on which he now resides. He livedon the old farm while the present one was being prepared for occupancy.Besides this valuable and extensive property, he owns a fine tract of fortyacres in this vicinity, all of which is devoted to mixed farming, in whichhe is very successful, being numbered among the most prosperous farmersof the county.
Mr. Rickard was first married June 22, 1846,to Miss Elizabeth Pease, an intelligent lady, and a native of Ohio. Herparents were Aborn Pease and wife, natives of Connecticut, prominent andearly settlers of Illinois, who died at an advanced age. By this marriage,Mr. Rickard has one son, Henry A., who was born February 12, 1848; he marriedJulia Hardin, and has two children. Mr. Rickard’s union was destined tobe of short duration, his wife dying on the old farm, in the twenty-seventhyear of her age.
November 5, 1854, Mr. Rickard was again married,his second wife being Miss Mary Harbison, an estimable lady, a native ofthis county and a sister of Moses Harbison, a prominent resident of thislocality: (See sketch in this book.) By this marriage there was one child,now deceased. This union was also suddenly dissolved by the hand of death,before whose power all must how. This gentle and beloved lady expired October6, 1856, leaving many friends to mourn her untimely taking away.
April 21, 1856, Mr. Rickard was married toMiss Mary C. Taylor, well and favorably known in this community, whereshe was born March 21, 1840. Her parents, Henry B. and Mary P. (Hawthorn)Taylor, are honored pioneers of Illinois. Mrs. Rickard was a pupil of herhusband when he taught school here in the early day. She is well informedand intellectual, being well adapted to be a companion to a person of herhusband’s superior ability and training. By this marriage there have beennine children, five now living; all born on this farm. Those survivingare: Charles E., born July 28, 1860; John T., born June 29, 1862; FrancisM., born October 8, 1867; Mary, born March 4, 1871; James A., born December25, 1879.
Mr. Rickard was formerly an old line Whig,and cast his first vote for William H. Harrison, at a time when there wasno tickets, each person writing the name of the candidate of his choice.He has taken an active interest in the politics of his township, and hasheld the position of superintendent and other local offices, discharginghis duties in his several capacities with ability and integrity.
Mr. and Mrs. Rickard and all the family areearnest and useful members of the Congregational Church, of which Mr. Rickardis a Deacon and Trustee. The entire family are prominent in temperancework and all matters tending to the material and moral advancement of thecommunity.
Although caring less for pedigree than ourEnglish cousins across the water, yet we tacitly admit that tendenciesand early training have much to do with shaping a man’s career throughlife. While Mr. Rickard has worked out his own prosperity and salvation,yet he has, no doubt, often drawn inspiration from the contemplation ofthe virtues of his illustrious ancestors, whose example he has insensiblybeen left to emulate.
Biographical Reviewof Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical ReviewPublishing Co., Chicago, 1892, pages 189 to 191.
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