CALEB H. WICKERSHAM

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C. H. Wicksham and Mrs. C. H. Wicksham

All of the Wickershams in America trace their lineage to a common ancestry and Caleb H. Wickersham has in possession abstracts of wills dating back more than three hundred years. The family had its origin in England and was founded in America by Thomas and Alice (Hoag) Wickersham, who were married according to the rites of the Society of Friends at Horsham, Sussex county, England, in 1684. With their three children they came to America in 1700, settling in Chester county, Pennsylvania, where many representatives of the name still live.

Joseph and Rachel E. Wickersham, parents of our subject, removed from Chester county to Ohio, and for a number of years lived in the latter state. The mother bore the maiden name of Rachel Edwards Brogan and her ancestors were among the first settlers of New Amsterdam, now New York city. Aveardus Bogardus was the first Dutch Lutheran minister of that settlement and was one of the ancestors of the family to which Mrs. Wickersham belonged. Both the father and mother of our subject were born and educated in Chester county, Pennsylvania, but were married in Columbiana county, Ohio, June 16, 1842, and in 1865 came to Iowa. The father died at Springdale, March 23, 1871, and his wife passed away at Rock Island, Illinois, April 14, 1900. Their family numbered six children. Reuben, who enlisted from Salem, Ohio, in 1861, in the Sixty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and afterward joined the same company and regiment as his brother Caleb, died during the service. Martin Plummer, who enlisted from Salem, Ohio, in the One Hundred and Forty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was on duty with the Army of the Potomac. The others are: Caleb H., of this review; Enoch F.; Rachel, who became the wife of Albert Wilson, of Rock Island, Illinois, and died in March, 1900; Joseph Sellers, living in Los Angeles, California, who has devoted his entire life to railroading.

Caleb H. Wickersham was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, July 12, 1846, and was reared and educated in Salem, but at the age of sixteen years responded to the country’s call for troops, enlisting in September, 1862, as a private of Company B, Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, from which he was honorably discharged on account of disability July 8, 1864. Following his return home he came with his parents to Cedar county, Iowa, on the 4th of April, 1865, and after spending one year in Tipton removed to Springdale township, within the borders of which he has since made his home. He followed the painter’s trade until 1878, when he established a newspaper called The Local Record, now the Times. He published this paper at West Branch until 1881, after which he resumed work at his trade, to which he largely gave his attention until 1897, when he was appointed postmaster. He still contributes to a considerable extent to newspapers, having been correspondent with different publications throughout the greater part of his life. His preference is for literary work and in that he displayed considerable ability. However, at the present writing he is giving his attention to the duties of postmaster, which position he has filled for thirteen years. In November, 1907, he completed the present postoffice building, which he leases to the government for ten-year periods. The building is practically fireproof and is a handsome pressed brick structure. This was the first postoffice in the congressional district to get rural free delivery and the first in the state to be assigned more than one rural carrier.

Mr. Wickersham has also served as town clerk. In politics he has ever been a stalwart republican and in religious faith is a Presbyterian, his family also belonging to the same church. Mr. Wickersham’s military experience qualified him for membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, and he is also connected with the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges.

On the 14th of May, 1868, Mr. Wickersham was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe Beeson, who was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, May 15, 1847, but was only three years old, when, in 1850, she accompanied her parents, Richard and Rebecca (Hale) Beeson, on their removal to Springdale township, Cedar county, Iowa, making the trip in a covered wagon. The father entered a tract of government land in Springdale township, where both he and his wife died. He was a successful farmer and owned three hundred and twenty acres of land. He traced his ancestry back to Henry Beeson, who emigrated from Liverpool, England, in company with William Penn in 1682, and was one of the founders of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Wickersham was an invalid for several years and passed away on the 28th of August, 1910. She was an earnest Christian woman, holding membership in the Presbyterian church, and was one of Cedar county’s honored pioneers.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wickersham were born eight children: Gertrude, who died in her sixteenth year; Beatrice, the wife of F. B. John, of Davenport; Raymond, of Estherville, Iowa, who is a scenic artist; Ethel, the wife of Raymond Aldeman, a farmer living near West Branch; Bertha J., the wife of Frank Bell, who resides upon a farm in Keokuk county; Stella, the widow of Orison O. Randall, now living with Mr. Wickersham; Alta G., who died in her eighteenth year; and Richard Archie, at home.

Mr. Wickersham, in association with Dr. J. I. Bailey, engineered what is said to be the first county telephone line in Iowa, extending from West Branch to Tipton by way of Rochester. He has ever favored progressive public measures and those projects which have for their object the welfare and improvement of the community. He made for himself a creditable name in journalistic circles and is equally well known and esteemed through his connection with official service, his long continuance in office being plainly indicative of the faithful and able character of his service.