PICKETT, Rev. J. M., 1847-1927

PICKETT, WILSON, BUSHONG

Posted By: Volunteer-Betty Hootman
Date: 10/28/2012 at 16:02:25

J. M. PICKETT

Rev. J. M. Pickett was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, May 28, 1847.

He was united in marriage with Sarah A. Wilson of Lebanon, Iowa, on August 23, 1877.

During the year 1851 he left Lebanon and crossed the plains to California, while west he was a passenger on the steamship Yankee Blade which was wrecked 24 hours out from California.

He returned to Iowa in 1855; entered the U. S. Army as a soldier in 1863. In 1869-70 he learned the stone cutter’s trade at Anthem, Ohio. In 1872 he was licensed as exhorter in the M. E. church by order of the Quarterly conference of Lebanon Circuit, Keokuk District, Iowa conference, when Rev. John F. Power was presiding Elder of the Keokuk District. In the spring of 1885 he joined the Methodist Protestant church and the Iowa Conference of that church. He was ordained an Elder in 1886 and was appointed to different charges of the conference to preach the word of truth and for seventeen years was an ordained pastor. He closed his life with the message “It all went well.”

He is most kindly remembered by those who knew him best as a good man, very sincere in his faith and devotion.

There remains to mourn his departure his wife, Sarah Pickett, one sister, Mrs. Bushong of Wayland, Iowa; with a nephew and other distant relatives of the family.

After months of declining health he peacefully closed up his life on earth August 29, 1927, and was at the time of his death just 80 years and 3 months old.

The funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. C. Caughlan at the late residence, August 32, 1927. Burial in the Milton cemetery.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book A-2, page 231, Keosauqua Public Library; Keosauqua, IA