Wickham, James

WICKHAM

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/21/2019 at 16:42:45

James Wickham

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.658)
JAMES WICKHAM of Council Bluffs is a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and a son of Patrick and Sisela (Prior) Wickham. James remained in his native country until 1855 when he came to America, locating in New York City, where he joined his mother and two brothers, who had come to this country in 1854; the father and remainder of the family came via New Orleans and joined the family at Council Bluffs. They had a family of ten children: Edward, deceased; Mary, wife of Martin HUGHES of Council Bluffs; James, our subject; Patrick, a resident of Montana; Bernhard, deceased; Thomas, deceased; John, deceased; Francis, deceased; Owen P., a resident of this city; and Ann, deceased. The parents made their home in Council Bluffs until their death, the father dying in January 1872, and the mother on March 4, 1889.

Our subject was born January 12, 1837, and after attaining his majority commenced work for himself, having learned the stone and brick-mason's trade, at which he worked in the summer and in the winter seasons turned his attention to anything that presented itself. He commenced contracting and building in 1863 under the firm name of Hughes & Wickham Bros., which partnership continued until the former withdrew from the company, which then continued business under the name James & O. P. Wickham. They do an immense amount of business and are among the oldest contractors and builders in the city, the partnership having been established in 1865. They do an annual business of some $150,000 and employ about 200 men during the summer seasons. In 1888, Mr. James Wickham erected a handsome brick mansion on Franklin Avenue, No. 400, at a cost of some $10,000 where he and his family reside in peace and comfort.

He was married in June 1859 to Mary Lacy, who was born in Ireland in 1835. She died in Council Bluffs, November 9, 1867, and Mr. Wickham was then married in September 1873 to Miss Bridget Keating, a native of Clare, Ireland, born February 2, 1853. They have eleven children, namely: Bernhard P., Edward A., Kate, Nell, John, Anna, Veronica, James, Nora, Loretta and Leo. The family are members of the Catholic Church.

E. A. Wickham, of the firm of Wickham & Co., composed of E. A. Wickham and J.E. Riley, have their offices at 502 Broad Street, Council Bluffs. They also have an office at 4 and 5 Granite Block, Omaha, under the firm name of J.E. Riley & Co., and also an office at Denver, Colorado, in Room 17, Granite Building, also under the name of J.E. Riley & Co. They are the leading contractors of public work, and do an annual business of $550,000 employing about 400 men. They do business in Council Bluffs, Omaha, Plattsmouth, Burlington, Denver and Nebraska City. They did their heaviest contracting in Denver in 1889-90 amounting to $280,000.

E. A. Wickham was born in Council Bluffs, November 6, 1864, and was educated in the public schools of this city, and three years in the Benedictine College at Atchison, Kansas. In 1884, after completing his studies, he took charge of the business of Wickham Bros., as manager, which position he is still holding, but will withdraw in january 1891. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and is associated with the Catholic Church. He is also one of the Directors of the State Savings Bank of Council Bluffs.