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John W. Rickel
JOHN W. RICKEL, truck farmer of Washington township, occupies and operates
part of the tract originally settled by his. grandfather and grandmother,
George and Elizabeth (Christman) Rickel. He is a descendant of one of the
Hessian soldiers who came to America during the Revolutionary war, a number of
whom refused to return to their own country. The soldier was his
great-great-grandfather. His great-grandfather, George Rickel, lived in
Bedford county, Pennsylvania.George Rickel, grandfather of John W. Rickel, settled with his wife in
Washington township, Armstrong county, Pa., in 1816, owning a tract of 159 1/2
acres, part of which is now the farm occupied by their grandson, John W.
Rickel. It was then in the woods, and he built his log cabin and set about the
work of clearing and improving the place, accomplishing much in his
illustrious life. George Rickel was a good mechanic, and he used to repair
guns for the lndians then living in the vicinity, with whom he was always on
good terms. In politics he was a Democrat and Whig in turn. He died in 1840,
and his wife died in 1847.Henry Rickel, son of George and Elizabeth (Christman) Rickel, was born May
30, 1829, in the log cabin home of his parents. He learned carpentering, which
he followed in connection with farming all his life.He was a Republican in political sentiment. Mr. Rickel married Rachel Bish,
who was born Oct. 9, 1840, and survives him. He died Aug. 17, 1888.They had children as follows: Henry, John W., Samuel E., Nancy J., George
W., Otto Laurence and David.John W. Rickel was born May 28, 1863, in Washington township, and grew to
manhood there. He went to the common schools, and pursued his more advanced
studies at summer school. For two years he was engaged in teaching, at what is
known as the Rickel school, No. 9, located on the homestead. He devotes the
principal part of his time to market gardening, in which he has been highly
successful. Few men of the locality have been as closely associated with the
direction of its public affairs. He was first elected to office when twenty
years old, becoming auditor of the township, attaining his legal majority the
May after the election, which took place in March, and has been connected with
the local government in one capacity or another ever since. He has served
three years as school director, has been justice of the peace for three times
and tax collector for ten years, holding the latter position at the present
time. For two years he was postmaster at Wattersonville during the Taft
administration.In political connection he is a Republican. Â
Mr. Rickel has been very prominent in fraternal work, having belonged to
the Odd Fellows at Cowansville (and Rebekah degree), Eagles, Owls, Home
Guards, Grange, Independent Americans, Farmers’ Alliance and Order of United
American Mechanics, but he has recently given up considerable of his activity
in some of these orders. He is particularly interested in Odd Fellowship,
having served a number of years as noble grand of his lodge. Mr. Rickel has
never married.Source: Page 468-496, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and
Present, J. H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed May 1999 by Michael S. Caldwell for the Armstrong County Beers
Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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