An American Family History

John Ricketts was born on September 12, 1814 in Dearborn (now Ohio) County, Indiana. His parents were William Ricketts and Elizabeth Oxley.

He married Sarah A. Rush on January 12, 1841. Sarah was born on September 26, 1820 in Ohio. Her parents were James Rush and Barbara Barngrover.

Sarah and John's children were Elizabeth P. Ricketts Bales (1842, married Samuel Bales), William Taswell Ricketts (1844), and James R. Ricketts (1847).

At the time of the 1850 census, they were living in Sugar Creek, Shelby County, Indiana. The household consisted of John Rickets age 36, Sarah age 28, Elizabeth p. age 8, Wm. F. age 6 and James R. age 4. The census says that John was born in Delaware.

John died about 1852 when he was only 37 years old in Shelby County, Indiana. After his death, Sarah married Peter Snider. Peter was born about 1805 in Kentucky.

In 1860 the household was in Brandywine, Shelby County, Indiana. The household consisted of Peter Snider age 55, Sarah Snider age 50, William Ricketts age 16, James Ricketts age 13, and Sarah Carey ag 16.

Sarah died on March 8, 1883.

William Taswell Rickets Obituaries
Winterset Madisonian, September 24, 1895, Winterset, Iowa, p. 1
Died, Sept. 20, Mr. Ricketts, after a year’s suffering with catarrh of the stomach. He was a member of the M. E. church. The funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m., Sunday, at the house, by Rev. C. W. Hoover, from the text, “I am the resurrection and the life.” The remains were followed to the Barney cemetery by a large concourse of friends and were laid to rest to await the resurrection morn.

Winterset Reporter, September 24, 1895, p. 5
W. W. Ricketts, living near Barney, died last Friday and was buried Saturday. The cause of death was cancer of the stomach, from which he had suffered a great deal. He was 51 years old and leaves a wife, three sons and one daughter to mourn his departure.