Forsythe Family Network

According to the 1900 census, Joseph and Carolyn Ricksher had a servant residing with them and here are those details:

Name: Ida Sandofoust
Relationship: Servant
Race: White
Gender: Female
DOB: Apr 1882
Birthplace: Iowa
Father's Birthplace: Sweden
Mother's Birthplace: Sweden

According to the 1920 census for Fairfield Ward 3, Jefferson, Iowa, USA, Joseph had remarried. Also, one of his sons, Frank, lives next to him.

A 1905 census, (local?), shows that Carolyn does not live with him, possibly deceased between 1900 and 1905. RF

Birth: Feb. 13, 1843, Germany
Death: Apr. 19, 1922

Husband of Caroline 'Callie' M Cline Ricksher, and then to Flora McDonald Ricksher (married in 1910).

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Note: The DOB engraved on the headstone is Feb. 13, 1843. The biography below uses Feb. 17, 1843 for the DOB. Don't know which is more correct; will use the headstone date for this memorial but with some caution noted.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 601-602

Joseph RICKSHER, wholesale dealer in butter and eggs, of Fairfield, Iowa, established business in that city in 1871, and his house has now gained a wide reputation, being one of the leading enterprises of Jefferson County. The proprietor is a native of Prussia, his birth having occurred near Paderborn, February 17, 1843, and a son of John and Catherine (MOENER) RICKSHER. His mother died when he was but a child, and in 1854, in company with his father he crossed the broad Atlantic to America. On landing on the shores of the New World they came directly to Iowa, settling in Lee County. Joseph was educated in the common schools, and in August, 1862, when a lad of nineteen summers, enlisted for the late war as a member of Company I, Thirtieth Iowa Infantry, and served nearly three years. He was a non-commissioned officer and with his regiment participated in the battle of Gaines Bluff, Arkansas Post, the siege of Vicksburg and the Atlanta campaign, including the celebrated March to the Sea under Sherman. At the close of the war he took part in the Grand Review in Washington, and was mustered out of the service in June, 1865.

Soon after his return from the South, in 1866, Mr. RICKSHER embarked in his present line of business in a small way, his location being Ft. Madison, and by good management he increased his trade until he was the recipient of a handsome income from an extensive business. In 1871 he came to Fairfield, where he has since continued operations in the same line with marked success, and with increased resources he extended his business. In 1882 he established a branch house in Brighton, Washington County, with T. L. Emry as partner, under the firm name of RICKSHER & Emry, wholesale dealers in butter and eggs, and proprietors of the Brighton Creamery. The annual business of the Fairfield House is $150,000 and that of the Brighton establishment is about the same, giving a total of $300,000. In addition to the business already mentioned our subject is half owner of a fine farm of five hundred and ninety-three acres situated in Fairfield Township.

On the 11th of September, 1878, a marriage ceremony performed in Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, united the destinies of Joseph RICKSHER and Mrs. Caroline CARPENTER, widow of Richard CARPENTER and a daughter of George and Elizabeth CLINE. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and her mother in Ohio. She is also a native of the Buckeye State and is a member of the Congregational Church. Their union has been blessed with four children, sons, all born in Fairfield, namely: Charles, born October 9, 1879; William, December 5, 1881; Frank, May 20, 1884; and Theodore, September 21, 1886.

Mr. RICKSHER is a Republican in politics, but has never sought or desired the honor of emoluments of public office, preferring to devote his undivided attention to the legitimate pursuit of business. He is a man possessed of superior executive and business ability, enterprising yet conservative, always guided by correct business principles and strict integrity. He has been the architect of his own fortune, and his success in life has been the result of his own unaided efforts.

Lockridge Herald", Fri., July 15, 1910, Pg. 1, Col. 2

JUNE HISTORY, by H. Heaton. On the fourth at Taunton, Mass., Mr. Joseph RICKSHER was married to Miss Flora McDONALD. Mr. RICKSHER served in the Civil War and is president of the Iowa State Savings Bank.

Lockridge Herald
Lockridge, Jefferson county, Iowa
June 10, 1910
Pg. 1 Col. 4

JOSEPH RICKSHER WEDDED SATURDAY

The Taunton, Mass. Gazette of Saturday contains the following:

This afternoon at the residence of W. Clifford GODFREY, 15 Newcomb Place, Flora A. McDONALD of Fairfield, Ia., was united in marriage to Joseph RICKSHER, also of Fairfield. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Lester Lewis of the first (sic. First ??) Universalist church.

The wedding was a very simple one there being no guests but the immediate family connections of the bride who was unattended as was the groom. The bride has been a resident of Fairfield where she met the groom, who is president of the Iowa State Bank of Fairfield, a former mayor of the city and a man held in high repute in the business and social life of the community.

The bride is a sister of Mrs. W. C. GODFREY of this city and is well known to a large number of Taunton people by reason of frequent visits made here altho she has made her home in the West for years.

Following the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. RICKSHER left for Boston from where they will go to Washington and then proceed to their Western home.

"The Fairfield Ledger-Journal"
Wednesday, April 19, 1922
Page 1

JOSEPH RICKSHER IS DEAD

Here Since 1871 and In active Business Continuously Until Five Years Ago

Joseph RICKSHER, one of the best known citizens of Jefferson county and for years prominent in business and banking circles in Fairfield, died this morning at 5:45 o'clock at his home 808 South Main street.

Funeral services have not been arranged, being deferred until word could come from relatives at a distance.

Mr. RICKSHER had been in declining health for twenty-eight years, but was frequently up town until a week ago, when his last illness began.

Joseph RICKSHER was born near Paderborn, Prussia, February 13, 1843. His mother died when he was but a child, and in 1854 his father brought him to America, they coming directly to Lee county, where he was educated in the common schools. In August 1862, when nineteen years of age, he enlisted for the period of the Civil War, in Company I, Thirtieth Iowa Infantry.

He was soon made a noncommissioned officer and took part in the battles of Gaines' Bluff, Arkansas.

At the close of this campaign they marched through the Carolinas and Virginia to take part in the Grand Review in Washington and was mustered out in June 1865.

He returned to Fort Madison, where he engaged in cattle buying and other businesses, finally entering the butter and egg business, which he built up to considerable proportions. He came to Fairfield in September 1871, took up the business of buying and selling butter and eggs building up operations that extended all the way to the Pacific coast.

In 1882 he established a branch house in Brighton, with T. L. Emry as a partner, and the two houses did a business reaching to a half million dollars a year. He sold out his interests in 1891.

Mr. RICKSHER married Mrs. Caroline M. CLINE (sic - Carolina 'Callie' M. CLINE CARPENTER) of Centerville, September 11, 1873. Mrs. RICKSHER dying March 6, 1902 (sic - November 6, 1902). They had four children, Dr. Charles RICKSHER of Fairfield, W. H. RICKSHER of the Panama Canal zone, Frank RICKSHER, of the Iowa State Savings bank of Fairfield and Theodore RICKSHER of Buenos Aires Argentina.

June 4, 1910 he married Miss Flora McDONALD, who survives him.

Mr. RICKSHER's business enterprises extend to other lines and in August 1908 he became president of the Iowa State Savings bank, continuing in that capacity until July 1917.