An American Family History

"...never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced...-- Abraham Lincoln 1863

William H. Ricketts was born about 1842 in Coal Creek Township, Montgomery County, Indiana. His parents were Isaac and Catherine Ricketts. He was named for his grandfather. William was a carpenter.

William enlisted in Company C of the Iowa 18th Infantry Regiment on August 6, 1862. He mustered out on May 29, 1863 at Springfield, Missouri.

On July 1, 1863 when he registered for the Civil War draft he lived in Bee Branch, Chariton County, Missouri. At that time he had already been discharged from federal service.

He married Mary Jane Morris on September 4, 1864 in Lucas County, Iowa. Mary Jane was born about 1846 in Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Uriah and Emeline Morris.

William and Mary's children included:
Jennie Melissa Ricketts Heimerdinger (1864, married Gotlieb William Heimerdinger),
Minnie Ricketts (1866) and
William Ricketts (1868).

At the time of the 1870 census they were living in Monmouth Township, Warren County, Illinois near Mary Jane's family. The household consisted of William H. age 27, Mary J. age 23, Jennie age 5, Minnie age 3, and William age 1.

Before 1880 Mary Jane, Minnie and William seem to have died and William married Susan J.

In 1880 William was 36 and living in Pope, Fayette County, Illinois. He was a carpenter. The household consisted of his wife Susan J. who was born in 1847 in Ohio, Jennie M. who was 14 and Roswell Keith age 2.

Roswell died on August 11, 1882 in Saint Louis, Missouri of convulsions.

Children of Isaac and Catherine Ricketts: Eliza Ann Ricketts Baker Clark William H. Ricketts Sarah Jane Ricketts Fox James M. Ricketts Caroline Tilena Ricketts Cole Catherine Paulina Ricketts King Clara M. Ricketts Cavallin

1882