Rickard, Martin 1839-1898

RICKARD, TURNER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/3/2012 at 10:23:20

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; April 22, 1898

--Mr. Martin Rickard was born at Cornish, N.H., February 13, 1839, one of a family of seven children. When he was four years old his parents moved to Clinton county, Iowa. Here he passed his younger days and received his education, except a year spent at Oskaloosa College. The young farmer of the west put his education to good use, teaching school several terms. In 1864 he settled in Chester, on the farm on which died. In 1865 he was married to Miss Anna M. Turner, in Chester, who, with three sons and one daughter, survives him. January 1, 1875, Mr. Rickard joined the Chester Cong' church, under the pastorate of Rev. G.H. White, and was an active member ever since. Mr. Rickard was possessed of a rugged constitution, and until the past few years enjoyed the best of health. Honorable, of strictest integrity and public-spirited, he held a position of influence among his Chester neighbors, and his sudden death came like a shock to all. Passing away, with but a few brief minutes of pain, on the morning of April 18, 1898, he had passed into his sixtieth year. The funeral was held Wednesday, a brief service at the home followed by services at the church where he had been so many years a faithful member. Rev. Mr. Rowe conducted the services. Young friends of Chester sang favorite hymns, and old-time friends and neighbors--D.F. Hays, H. Sherman. G.S. Rutherford, J.W. Fuller, A. Armstrong and R. March performed the last sad offices of the dead. One hundred teams followed the body to its last resting place, kind friends and neighbors uniting in their expression of esteem for the departed one, and tender sympathy for the living relatives. He lived an active, earnest, upright life, free from shams, outspoken in his opposition to wrong, and left a record of a life lived not in vain. Two sisters of the family of seven survive, Mrs. Ruth James, of Grinnell, and Mrs. Susan Mills, Peoria, Ill.

Mrs. Lily Burch, of Cedar Rapids, a niece of the deceased, and Miss Mamie Crane, of Des Moines, a niece of Mrs. Rickard, were in Chester Wednesday, to attend the funeral of Martin Rickard.