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

Samuel Lowe Ricketts was born on January 19, 1843 in Woodford County, Illinois. His parents were William Ricketts and Harriet Dean.

Samuel served as a private in the Union army in Company G of the 17th Illinois Infantry from Woodford County. He joined for three years on July 1, 1861 when he was 18. His residence when he joined was Upper Alton, Madison County, Illinois. He had brown hair and eyes and was 5' 7.5."

He married Mary Lavina Holder on January 2, 1868 in Woodford County. Mary was born on November 18, 1848 in Green, Grant County, Indiana. She was the daughter of Thomas Holder and Willa Witt Carmichael and the sister of Margaret C. Holder Ricketts, second wife of Samuel's brother, Garrett Larew Ricketts.

Samuel and Mary's children included:
Oscar Lorenzo Ricketts (1869, married Margaret Byrnes),
Sarah Jane Ricketts (1871, married Peter Bohlander),
Alva Larue Ricketts (1880, married Olivia N. Kuntz) and
Myrtle Mae Ricketts (1881, married Zeria Austin Nofsinger and Forrest Wilbert Ellis).

Mary died on April 28, 1900 in Benson, Illinois.

In 1900, Samuel was living with his mother, and sister and brother-in-law, Sarah and Hardin Edwards, in Eureka, Woodford County, Illinois

He married his second wife, Laura Adaline Smith LeFurge, on August 6, 1901 in Eureka, Woodford County, Illinois. Laura was born November 21, 1848 in Princeton, Bureau County, Illinois. Her parents were James Smith and Sarah Huntley. Laura had been married before to James LeFurge.

In 1919 when his brother, Garrett Ricketts, died he was living in Eureka.

Samuel died on July 31, 1924 in Peoria, Illinois. Samuel and Laura are buried at Olio Township Cemetery in Eureka, Woodford County, Illinois. Samuel 's grave is marked with a GAR emblem

Samuel L. Ricketts was born in Woodford county, Ill., January 19, 1843. He died July 31, 1924, in the St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, a victim of that dreaded disease, cancer.

He was raised on a farm near Washburn and in early manhood moved to Minonk and became a member of the Minonk Baptist church. July 1 , 1861, he enlisted in Company G, 17th 111. Vol. Infantry, and served for three years. As a soldier, he was quiet, orderly and dependable, under all circumstances, sharing: danger and hardships without complaining.

January 2, 1865, he was married to Mary L. Holder. The four children born to them survive Oscar L. of Kankakee; Mrs. Sarah Phhlarder of Milford; Alva L. of Princeville and Mrs. Myrtle Ellis of Spearfish, S, Dakota. Hhe (sic) wife died April 28, 1900, and on August 6, 1901, Mr. Ricketts was married to Mrs; Laura Lefurge, who survives him

Funeral services were conducted at the home on North College Street on Saturday afternoon by Prof. Radford and the burial was in Olio Cemetery. The song service was rendered by Mrs. Josephine Carney, Mrs. Pearl Brubaker and Henry Mette. The pallbearers were A. J, Mourer, Geo. Jeck, Jas. Gresham, Joe Wagner, Creighton Lewis and J.W. Tomb.

Mr. Ricketts spent a number of years of his life ion a farm southeast of Eureka, before moving into town to spend his declining years. He was known as an, honest and upright citizen among his fellowmen.

The friends from out of town who attended the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bohlander. Milford; Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Ricketts, Kankakee; A. L. Ricketts and family, Princeville; Mrs. Carrie Perry, LaMoille; Mrs. . M. Stuckey, Chicago: Robert Kern and family, Goodfield; Mr. and Mrs. Lou Clark, Chillicothe; Mr. and Mrs. Bert Kent, Washburn; Mr. and Mrs. Arch Kent and Mrs. John Harvey , Sparland: Mr. and Mrs. Ben Bohlander and daughter, El Paso; Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Buckingham, Mrs. E. Burger and Jacob Kuntz. Peoria:Ed. Kuntz, Princeville; Miss Lora Kuntz, Morton, and Ernest Zilm, La Rose. (From The Woodford Journal, August 7, 1924)