Anthony Ricketts (1814 - 1900)

Born 3 Feb 1814 in Montgomery, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Diana (Simpson) Ricketts — married 13 Nov 1839 in Lawrence, Ohio, United States

Husband of Amanda (Doty) Ricketts — married 8 May 1853 in Drury Township, Rock Island, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 20 Nov 1900 at age 86 in Illinois City, Rock Island, IL

Biography

Anthony Ricketts, farmer, residing on section 10, Drury Township, was born in Montgomery Co., Va , Feb. 3, 1814. His parents, John B. and Sarah Ricketts, were natives of that State, where the mother died: the father died of cholera in Paducah, McCracken Co., Ky.

Anthony Ricketts, mentioned at the beginning of this sketch, spent his early years at home, assisting on the farm and attending the public schools, until he attained the age of 14, at which time he was employed by farmers in the neighborhood of his nativity by the month. He resided with his grandfather in Virginia from the time he was about six years old, the date of the death of his mother, until 14 years of age.

When 15 years of age he left Shenandoah Co., Va., and went to Wheeling, W. Va. Not finding employment at that place, he went on a steamboat to Cincinnati, Ohio. At the latter city he remained but a short time, when he went to Lawrence Co., Ohio, where he resided about two years, and then went to Greene Co., Ohio, and remained for about one year.

At this date, in company with another gentleman, he purchased a Hatboat and went to New Orleans. He was engaged in trading on the river for a short time, and then returned to Ohio. He made three trips down the Mississippi to New Orleans on a flat-boat, meeting with success in that line of business.

In 1844 Mr. Ricketts came to this county and settled in Drury Township, where he has since resided. He is at present the proprietor of 280 acres of land in that township, and has the same under a good state of cultivation, with good residence, barn and outbuildings.

The marriage of Mr. Ricketts to Miss Diana Simpson occurred in Lawrence Co., Ohio, Nov. 13, 1839. She was a native of that county, where she was born April 5, 1825. Five children have been born of their union, namely: John B., March 7, 1841; Arianna C, Dec. 1, 1842; Solomon S., Sept. 14, 1844; Susan E., May 22, 1847, and Diana C, April 3, 1849.

The wife and mother died in Drury Township, Aug. 17, 1849, and Mr. Ricketts was again married, in the same township, May 8, 1853, to Amanda Doty, a native of Ohio, in which State she was born March 27, 1834. By the latter union eight children have been born: Anthony G., Feb. 18, 1855 ; Newton B., March 9, 1857 ; Gordon W., Feb. 6, 1860 ; Mary E., Aug. 12, 1862; Sarah E., Dec. 23, 1864; Charles A., June 6, 1861, died Dec. 25, 1872; Rufus E., Nov. 10, 1869, and Fred O., Sept 6, 1872.

Mr. Ricketts has held the office of School Trustee, Justice of the Peace, Township Assessor, Township Collector and Overseer of Highways. Politically he is identified with the Democratic party, and religiously he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church.

(Source: Rock Island County Biographical Record, 1885)

Sources

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 10 September 2020), memorial page for Anthony Ricketts (3 Feb 1814–20 Nov 1900), Find A Grave: Memorial #127433167, citing Illinois City Cemetery, Illinois City, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA ; Maintained by Bob & AJ (contributor 47790994) .
• "Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HSK6-946Z : 13 January 2020), Anthony Ricketts, 1853.
• "Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDJZ-ZTB : 25 March 2020), Anthony Rickett, 1839.
• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSHH-WGZ : accessed 4 January 2021), Anthony Ricketts, Drury Township, Rock Island, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 91, sheet 9B, family 213, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,338.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXKZ-97M : 12 November 2020), Anthony Ricketts, Rock Island, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district ED 242, sheet 275A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,245.
• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6H1-1VB : 2 January 2021), Anthony Rickets, 1870.
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXHF-G8L : 11 November 2020), Anthony Ricketts, 1860.
• Elders.org All-People page 11c-14

See also:

• FamilySearch Tree