Jickling, John david

JICKLING, WHITBY, MCLEAN, WOODS, CUTHBERT, HALL, MAGGARD, ZENOR, COUCH

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 9/1/2009 at 07:42:06

Jickling, John David

The best title one can establish to the high and generous esteem of an intelligent community is a protracted and honorable residence therein. John David Jickling, one of the best known and most highly esteemed men of the western part of Jasper County, has resided here since the pioneer epoch and his career has been a most commendable one in every respect, well deserving of being perpetuated on the pages of a historical work of the nature of the one in hand. Like his sterling father before him, he has been a. man of well-defined purpose and never failed to carry to successful completion any work of enterprise to which he addressed himself. Beginning life in a new country and under many unfavorable auspices, he has let nothing deter him, and before the lapse of many years he had a fine farm under cultivation. Knowing that the country was destined to take a very high rank in the productive and rich localities of the North, he applied himself very closely to his work and waited for the future to bring its rewards, and today he is one of the substantial and influential men of the county.

Mr. David John Jickling hails from Our Sister of Snows country, his birth having occurred about thirty miles east of London, Ontario, Canada, on June 22, 1837. He is the son of Robert and Mary (Whitby) Jickling, both born near London, England, the father on May 28, 1794, and the mother on December 30, 1807. There they spent the earlier years of their lives, immigrating to Canada in 1836, where they spent the balance of their lives, the father dying at the advanced age of eighty-two years and the mother when sixty-eight years old. There were eleven children in the Jickling family. By the father's first marriage, six children were born, namely: W. F., a soldier in the Civil War, later a policeman in Chicago, in which city he still resides; Mrs. Elizabeth McLean lives in the province of Manitoba, Canada; John David, of this review; Mrs. Susannah Woods lives in Ontario, Canada; Rowland died when nine years old; Thomas died in 1908; Samuel died in 1906. The latter was a veteran of the Civil war and he was connected with the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, for many years after the war; Hannah died when twenty years of age; Rebecca died in infancy; Joseph B. is living in Manitoba; one child died in infancy.

John D. Jickling spent his childhood in Canada and was educated in the common schools. On March 13, 1859, he settled in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He there engaged at his trade of harness making immediately, and lived there until 1865, when he removed to Sherman Township, Jasper County, and here he has continued to reside to the present time. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, for he landed at Kalamazoo with a total capital of four dollars and fifty cents. He is at present one of the wealthiest men in Jasper County. He is the owner of four hundred and fifty-one acres of choice land in Sherman Township, on which are three sets of good buildings. He has kept his land well improved and under a fine state of cultivation, and by his close application and sound judgment he has accumulated a competency. He has always been a lover of good livestock and has kept excellent grades. He owns a substantial business block in the town of Ira, a modern and imposing home in Ira, and two valuable lots in Des Moines.

Mr. Jickling talks interestingly of the early days of this country, which he has seen develop from a wild prairie to one of the leading agricultural sections of the state. He came from Kellogg to Newton by stage. There were no railroads in this part of the country. Mr. Jickling hauled grain to Colfax when there was but one building there. There were no bridges, the farmers being compelled to ford Skunk River. He has always been a man whose word was as good as the bond of most men, even if it were at financial sacrifice. At one time wheat was contracted for at one dollar per bushel. He had contracted to deliver about two thousand bushels, which he did although wheat had advanced to one dollar and fifty cents per bushel. Every dollar in his possession was honestly earned. He would never stoop to paltry things in order to gain his ends in dealing with his fellow men, consequently he has won and retained their confidence and good will.

Mr. Jickling was married on April 8, 1860, to Susan S. Cuthbert, who was born in London, England, on February 5, 1842, where she spent her early girlhood, emigrating to the United States in 1855 with her parents, George and Susan (Hall) Cuthbert, both born in England, the mother in Lincolnshire, and there they grew to maturity and were married. Upon coming to this country they took up their residence in Michigan. They spent the rest of their lives in America, each dying at the age of seventy-five years.

They were the parents of six children, namely: Jesse died in 1903; Moses is deceased; George, deceased; Mrs. Adam Maggard lives in Ira; Susan S., wife of Mr. Jickling, of this review; one daughter died in infancy.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jickling, the two eldest in Michigan, the others in Jasper County, and here they were reared and educated; they were named as follows: George B., born July 21, 1861, the day of the first great battle of the Civil War, Bull Run; he is residing at Winterset, Iowa; William R., born on June 9, 1864, lives in Sherman Township; Mrs. Laura Zenor, born March 6, 1868, is living at Tryon, Nebraska; Mrs. Edith May Couch, born July 23, 1871, lives in Sherman Township, this County; Riley R., born September 14, 1874, died January 9, 1877.

Politically, Mr. Jickling is a Republican and while he has ever manifested an abiding interest in the affairs of his Township and County, he has never sought to be a leader in public matters, preferring to devote his attention to his home and business. He has been road supervisor of his district.

Mrs. Jickling is the possessor of an old Bible, given to her at the age of twelve years when she was a member of a Sunday school class, at Weltobe Wold, England, in July 1854, and she highly prizes the same.

Mr. and Mrs. Jickling have a pleasant and well furnished home, and here their many friends delight to gather and share their old-fashioned hospitality and good cheer, and they number their friends only by the limits of their acquaintance. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1142.