Ricker, Margaret (Mrs. Joseph), 1859-1941

RICKER, ERNST, PORTZ

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/20/2022 at 21:33:25

From the Alton Democrat, October 3, 1941:

Early Granville Resident Gone

Mrs. Margaret Ricker passed away at her home in Granville on Wednesday, Sept. 24th at the age of 82 years, after an illness of two months.

Margaret Ernst was born at Bellevue on Feb. 7, 1859, and attended school at Spruce Creek. On March 11th, 1875, she was married to Joseph Ricker of Marcus. The couple homesteaded near Marcus, where they lived for 12 years, then to Granville. They also lived at Hospers and at Ross, N.D., but returned to Granville some years ago.

She is survived by her husband and two children, Clara of Granville and Elmer of Marcus. Three sons preceded her in death. Eight grand children and one brother, Will Ernst, of Lamotte survive. Two brothers, John and Conrad, preceded her in death.

Funeral services were held at Granville Saturday, Sept. 27th at St. Joseph’s church, of which she was a faithful member. Rev. J. J. Dahl officiated assisted by the men’s choir and organist, Mrs. Mat Holles. Pallbearers were E. W. Luken, Albert Jemming, Frank Holles, V. J. O’Connor, Will Schwarz and Geo. Schmidt.

Out-of-town relatives present were Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Ricker and children of Marcus, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Graff and Miss Saverna Kettler of Spirit Lake, Nick Capesius, Mrs. Anna Bunkers of Dell Rapids, Bernice Ricker of Paullina, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kestel and Mr. and Mrs. John Ernse of Marcus.

Mr. and Mrs. Ricker were among the earliest settlers in Northwest Iowa having come west in the spring of 1877. They settled on a 120 acre tract of land near Cherokee and made an additional purchase of railroad land, until their land holdings totaled 305 acres, all in the Marcus vicinity.

Mrs. Ricker was devoted to her home and family, a great lover of garden flowers, enjoyed hand work and reading, being a habitual reader of the Bible. During her last illness she was in the care of her daughter, Clara, assisted by Mrs. N. Stoughton and received every loving attention.

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Obituary posted on her FindaGrave.com page (no source cited):

Granville people mourn the death of Mrs. Joe (Margaret) Ricker, 82, one of the first settlers of that vicinity, who passed away at 8 a.m., on Wednesday, September 24, 1941, at her home in Granville. Death followed a lingering illness and was attributed to infirmities of old age. She had been bedfast for two months.

Margaret Ernst was born February 7, 1859, at Bellevue, Iowa, the only daughter of Joseph and Catherine Ernst. The family moved from Bellevue to Marcus, and the deceased attended school at Spruce Creek, Iowa. On March 11, 1878, she was married to Joseph Ricker of Marcus, and lived successively at Granville, Hospers, Ross, North Dakota and again at Granville. They were on the homestead at Marcus 12 years and lived the same length of time in North Dakota.

Mrs. Ricker lived through the grasshopper and prairie fire days of this vicinity and was a pioneer in the true sense of the word. The Rickers now own 365 acres of land near Marcus. She was a member of the Catholic Church and was greatly interested in schools and church work. She and her husband celebrated the 63rd anniversary of their marriage last March.

Surviving besides her husband are two children: Clara Ricker of Granville, and Elmer Ricker of Marcus. There are also eight living grandchildren. Three sons and one grandchild are deceased. Her only living brother is Will Ernst of LaMotte, Iowa; two others, John and Conrad Ernst, have passed away.

Funeral services were held Saturday, September 27th at St. Joseph's Church at Granville. Burial was in Holy Name Cemetery at Marcus.

Mrs. Ricker was a lover of home, a devoted wife and mother. She was also a great lover of garden flowers and spent much time caring for them as well as in knitting and crocheting. She was a reader of good books and was especially devoted to her Bible. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

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RESEARCH NOTES

Her death certificate (informant Elmer Ricker) adds her parents, Joseph Ernst and Kathrine Portz, both born in Germany; died at 8:00 a.m. September 24, 1941; cause, broncho pneumonia, due to chr[onic] bronchitis; buried in Holy Name Cemetery, Marcus.

Her FindaGrave.com page adds full data on her parents: Joseph Carl Ernst (1830-1901) and Katherine Portz Ernst (1832-1929). Three siblings and five half siblings listed. Husband Joseph Ricker (1855-1943). Children: Clara Margaret Ricker (1881-1963), Eli Joseph Ricker (1884-1887), Reuel Nathan Ricker (1888-1931), Philip Conrad Ricker (1889-1932), Elmer William Ricker (1896-1968). There is a photo of her.