OBITUARY OF JOHN RICKETTS from the Garnett Journal, 2/10/1888 Transcribed by Vivian Taylor (viv5468@webtv.net) (c) July 14, 2000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- KSGENWEB INTERNET GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY COPYRIGHT NOTICE: In keeping with the KSGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- JOHN RICKETTS was born near BALTIMORE, MARYLAND Aug. 7, 1807: Removed with his parents to --??--co. OHIO.the year was 1821 or 1823 where he remained until 1848, removing then to MACON co., ILLINOIS, where he was ingaged in farming and the marbile and merchantile business until 1859 when he removed to BARRON CO. MO. where he had large landed interest. At the breaking out of the REBELLION he soon found that he was surrounded by a class of men who while previously professing ardent friendship, were now his bitter unrelenting foes, making the stay of himself and family in that communiy one of great annoyanve and extrem danger. After the battle of BOONVILLE, the army of the REBEL GENERAL JACKSON camped upon his farn three miles from LAMAR, and he was forced to get him and family out of MO. as best he could. A few UNION friends, A CAPT. BRAY among the rest assisted him. He then settled at PEORIA, FRANKLIN CO., KS, and was chairman of the board of commishoners when the county seat of that co. was changed from OHIO CITY to VITAWA IN 1864. He had become so imbittered by his treatment in MO. that he would never for a moment intertain the thought of returning there, and in FEB. 1865 he exchanged what was left of his property there ( it having been overrun alternately by REBEL and UNION forces until it was barren wast ) for property in ANDERSON CO. His treatment and reversas during the war caused him not only to lose much of his property, but also to lose much of his previous confidence in mankind. The thought of so many professed and ardent friends being so ready and prompt in disposing him not only of his property,but also to assisi ? in making his life ? his life irk-some and in constant danger , proved a ? weight ? of which in all his later years he found himself unable to free himself. In early and pass middle life he was an energtic and successful business man gaining and retaining to the fullest measure the confidence, respect and friendship of those with whom he came in contact ( MISSOURI REBELS EXCEPTED ) His nature gental and trusting, he was a MASON of many years, standing, acting, and living up to the full measure of the order.The appriciation of which was amply exemplified by the officers and members of DELPHEN LODGE # 44, in there kindly care and devotion during his last illness and burial. He was twice married, his last wife a relitave of the late DEAN RICHMOND, of NEW YORK, dying at GARNETT, AUG. 4, 1874.Since Jan. 1880 deceased has been living with his children, alternating from one to another. Some five years ago he had a serious illness, since which time he has been gradually failing. The last illness was of nearly three weeks duration,ending in a peaceful and quiet death at the residence of his son-in-law GEO.M.EVERLINE. FEB. 2, AT ( 5:45 ? ) a.m.. his surviving children are. W.H.RICKETTS OF LOLA JOHN C, RICKETTS OF EMPORIA MRS.J.W.SHUESALER ( JULIA ) ANDERSN CO. MRS. G. M. EVERLINE ANDERSONE CO, "YET MOURN YE NOT AS THEY WHOSE SPIRIT`S LIGHT IS QUENCHED IF FOR HIM THE PAST IS ( ? SCALED ? ) HE MAY NOT FAIL, HE MAY NOT CAST HIS BRIGHT HOPE AWAY. ALL IS NOT HERE OF OUR BELOVD AND BLESSED. LEAVE YE HE SLEEPER WITH HIS GOD TO REST. [transcriber's note: The following must have been a thank you note from the family that they had to go with the obit.I could not make out the first line or two.] kindness and sympathy done and expressed by kind friends during the last illness and burial of our father JOHN RICKETTS, and espically are our thanks and gratitude due the officers and members of DELPHINE LODGE #44 A.F. & A.M. who so truly and ( ? nia?onically ? ) a brothers care in kindly . lving, and synpathic deeds. The kind services rendered by REV. AND MRS. PENNIMAN, members of the PRESBATERIAN CHOIR, and others are who retained in grateful rememberence. MR. AND MRS.GEO. M.EVERLINE. W.H.RICKETTS, JOHN C. RICKETTS, AND MRS.J.A.SHUESALER.