Indiana became a state in 1819. The north was settled by people from New England and New York, the center by people from the Mid-Atlantic states and Ohio, and the south by people from Southern states, particularly Kentucky and Tennessee.
John Ricketts was born on February 1, 1787 in Huntingdon County (now Mifflin County), Pennsylvania. He was the son of Robert Ricketts and Susannah Wilson.
He married Mary Goodner about 1817. Mary was born on March 20, 1802 in Guilford County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Jacob Goodner and Hester White.
They made their home in Highland, Vermillion County, Indiana.
John and Mary's children included:
Susannah Ricketts Mitchell (1818, married Thomas J. Mitchell),
Esther Ann Ricketts Betzer (1819, married Aaron Betzer),
Benjamin Wilson Ricketts (1823, married Mary Barnett),
John Ricketts (1824, married Anna Drake),
Jacob Ricketts (1826, married Nancy Scott and Melissa Jane Barnard),
Phoebe Ricketts Chezem (1828, married William Chezem),
Catherine Ricketts Drake (1829, married Benjamin Drake),
Isaac Ricketts (1830, married Mary Jane Chezem),
William Ricketts (1833),
Levi Ricketts (1836, died age 19),
Ellen Ricketts (1837, died age 19),
Margaret Ricketts Wright (1839, married Cyrus W. Wright), and
Isabella Ricketts Cromer (1842, married Francis M. Cromer).
Esther Ann Ricketts Betzer
courtesy of Tom Betzer
He died on February 23, 1843 in Highland, Vermillion County, Indiana when he was 56 years old.
At the time of the 1850 census Mary, age 47, was living in Highland, Vermillion County with Ben age 27, Isaac age 19, William age 17, Levi age 14, Ellen age 13, Margaret age 11, and Isabella age 8.
In 1860 the only child at home with Mary was 26 year old William. 10 year old, granddaughter, Nancy Chezem was also a member of the household.
Mary died on September 8, 1868. Mary and John were buried in Mitchell/Ricketts Cemetery in Vermillion County with their son, Levi.
The entire valley of the Juniata was included in the county of Cumberland. From this county Bedford was formed in 1771. Huntingdon was formed from Bedford by an act of Assembly, passed on the 20th day of September, 1787. On February 26, 1846 a small corner was annexed to Mifflin County, Pennsylvania.
