Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013,
                           All Rights Reserved
                          U.S. Data Repository

    Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page:
                <http://www.us-data.org/fineprint.html>

Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
=========================================================================
U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced
in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization.
Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain
the consent of the transcriber prior to use.
Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so.
=========================================================================
Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded.
===========================================================================
Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889

[page 529]

    JOSEPH RICKER. - NICHOLAS and ENGLE (KUTER) RICKER were born in
    Prussia, and came to America in 1848.  They were soon after mar-
    ried in St. Louis, Missouri, and settled in Galena, Illinois, where
    they remained about six months.  They then removed to Jackson County,
    Iowa, where Mr. RICKER still resides at the age of sixty-two years;
    his wife died May 23, 1864, at the age of thirty-five years.  They
    had nine children born to them: LENA, HENRY, ANNA, JOSEPH, FRED,
    FRANK (deceased).  JOSEPH, the subject of this biographical sketch,
    was born in Jackson County, Iowa, November 24, 1855.  Trained in
    that most independent of avocations, farming, he has made it his
    life's work.  In the spring of 1877 he came to Cherokee County, and
    settled on 120 acres of land which he had purchased the previous year;
    he made and additional purchase of forty acres of the railroad company,
    but there were now improvements on the place, excepting twenty acres
    that had been broken.  The first year he erected a small house in
    which he began house-keeping, with his sister as hostess.  The next
    spring he returned to Jackson County, and March 11, 1878, he was
    united in marriage to Miss MAGGIE EARNEST, a daughter of JOSEPH
    and CATHERINE (PARTZ) EARNEST, natives of Hanover and Luxemburg,
    Germany. Mrs. RICKER was born in Jackson County, Iowa, and there
    grew to womanhood.  After his marriage Mr. RICKER returned to his
    home with his bride, and there they have continued to live.  He
    has added to the residence until it is now a roomy edifice, sur-
    rounded by a beautiful grove of seven acres.  He has added to his
    first purchase of land until he owns 365 acres.  Both pieces of
    land are well improved with substantial buildings, and are under
    excellent cultivation.  He received some assistance from his father
    in the beginning of his career and has proved himself fully worthy
    of the gift.  To-day he occupies a place among the leading farmers
    of the county, and is highly esteemed by all with whom he has any
    dealings.  Mr. RICKER is identified with the Democratic party, hav-
    ing cast the first Democratic vote in the township.  He is chair-
    man of the township Democratic committee, and has taken an active
    part in the promotion of his party's welfare in the county.  The
    RICKER family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.  There are
    four children: CLARA A., born September 18, 1881; ELI J., born March
    19, 1884, and died February 24, 1887; REUEL N. born February 10, 1888;
    and PHILLIPP C., born May 26, 1889.

===========================================================================