Wickham, Owen P. (1845-1924)

WICKHAM

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/21/2019 at 16:46:36

Owen P. Wickham
Oct 26, 1845 - Feb 28, 1924

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.642)
O. P. WICKHAM, of the firm of Wickham Bros., contractors and builders, of Council Bluffs, have their office at the corner of Broad and Main Streets. The firm was organized in 1867 and they have since done an extensive business, having erected many of the business blocks in this city. Among those they have erected are the Pottawattamie County Courthouse, the Bennett Block, Eisman's Block, Deen & Wells building, Keystone building, First & Broadway, and Burnham & Lulley's banks, J.J. Brown's building, Dodge building, the new Grand Hotel and Dahaney's Opera Block, which is one of the largest buildings in the city. Mr. Wickham has also build two fine residences for himself, the first being now owned by P. C. Duval, corner of Willow Avenue and Bluff Street, and his present residence on the corner of Seventh Street and Seventh Avenue.

He was born in October 1845 in Antrim County, Ireland, the son of Patrick and Celia (Pryor) Wickham. He was reared in his native country until 12 years of age, when he came to America with his parents. He went first to New Orleans, and then to St. Louis, where he remained a short time. He next came to Council Bluffs, where his parents died, and as soon as he reached his majority, he engaged at brick and stone masonry, which he has since followed. Mr. Wickham was married in this city in 1875 to Jennie Fenlan, a native of Winnebago County, Illinois, born in 1852. They have a family of six children: Angeline, Celia, George, Genevieve, Paul and Agnes. They are both members of the Catholic Church. Politically, Mr. Wickham is a stanch Democrat and is one of the charter members of the Building and Loan Association of Council Bluffs.