"Portrait and biographical album of Coles County, Illinois"
  
Orlando B. Fricklin
LANDO B. FRICKLIN, one of the most prominent and useful citizens who ever honored Coles County, and one who in many respects did more in its behalf than any other man, was born Dec. 16, 1808. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Kenner (Williams) Ficklin, natives of Virginia, but who removed to Kentucky, where their son Orlando was born. He received a practical education in the schools of Kentucky and Missouri, whither his parents subsequently removed, and passed one year in Princeton College, Caldwell Co., Ky. He commenced the study of law at Potosi, Washington Co., Mo., and during the winter of 1829 and 1830, prosecuted his legal studies in Transylvania University, and in the law office of Gen. Robert Farris, at St. Louis. In the spring of 1830 he was admitted to the bar at Belleville, St. Clair Co., Ill., and commenced the practice of law in Mt. Carmel, Wabash County.
In 1832 Mr. Ficklin entered Capt. Jordan's company, and went to the Black Hawk War, serving as Quartermaster, and in the following year he was elected Colonel of the militia of Wabash County, and shortly afterward began his political career, which was one of the most honorable and brilliant enjoyed by any of his contemporaries. In August, 1834, he was elected to the Lower House of the Legislature, and chosen by that body as States Attorney for the Wabash Circuit. In 1837 he removed to Charleston, and the ensuing year represented Coles County in the Legislature. In 1842 he was again elected to the Legislature, and the following year was made the Member of Congress from the Wabash District, and was re-elected in the years of 1844 and 1846. At the close of this long public career he resumed the practice of law in Charleston, but his services were considered too valuable to the public to be permitted to lead a quiet life, and in 1850 he was returned to Congress. In 1856 he was a member of the Democratic Convention at Cincinnati, which nominated James Buchanan for President, and in 1860 was a member of the National Convention held at Charleston, S. C. In 1864 he was a delegate to the National Convention held at Chicago, which nominated Gen. George B. McClellan for President, and in 1869-70 represented the counties of Coles, Moultrie and Douglas in the State Constitutional Convention. In 1878 he was elected to the House of Representatives in the State Legislature. He was Elector for the State at large three terms; the last was when Cleveland was elected President.
The Hon. O. B. Ficklin was faithful in the discharge of his public duties, which were heaped upon him, and possessed the respect and esteem of his political constituents. He devoted his time and talents to the service of the State, with a rare, spirit of devotion and unselfishness. After a long and useful life, chequered by many national vicissitudes, he passed away from the busy scenes of earth May 5, 1885. It is with pleasure that the publishers place the portrait of this lamented and honored citizen on an accompanying page, the first in the volume, a fitting place for the man represented.
Mrs. O. B. Ficklin, Postmistress of Charleston, and the widow of the late Orlando B. Ficklin, is the daughter of W. T. and Nancy (Lane) Colquitt; the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Georgia. Her paternal grandparents, Henry and Nancy (Holt) Colquitt, were natives of Virginia and of English descent. They removed to Georgia when her father was two years of age. Her maternal grandparents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Hill) Lane; the former was a native of North Carolina, and the latter of South Carolina, and her great-grandfather, Richard Lane, was a native of Virginia.
Henry Colquitt, who was a slave-holder under the old regime, owned an extensive plantation in Virginia, as well as one in Georgia after his removal to that State. A family of three children was born to him, as follows: Sarah H., the wife of Edmond Randell, a resident of Georgia ; W. T. and John. W. T. Colquitt was born in 1807, and graduated with honors from Princeton College before he attained his majority. He subsequently studied law in Georgia, where he was admitted to the bar. He was brilliant and successful in his profession and was made Judge of the Circuit Court before reaching the age of twenty-five. He was interested in all affairs of national importance, and served several years as Member of Congress. He was enterprising and successful in business, and became an extensive land-owner. His death occurred in 1857, and his wife died in 1840. Only three children of their family are now living, whose record is as follows: Alfred H., who was the Governor of Georgia eight years, and is now United States Senator from that State ; Mrs. O. B. Ficklin, the subject of this sketch ; Emily L., the wife of Samuel Carter, a wealthy planter of Dalton, Ga., and Payton H., who was a Brigadier General in the Civil War, and was killed at Chattanooga.
Mrs. Ficklin has a family of three children now living, whose record is as follows : Alfred C., an attorney, residing at Tuscola, Douglas Co., Ill., and who married Miss Emma Weiss, has three sons Orlando B., Otto W. and Walter C. ; Joseph C., an attorney, residing at Paris, Edgar Co., Ill., married to Miss Susan Thomas, of Chicago, and has one son, James R.; Orlando B., an attorney, residing in Charleston, married to Miss Mary Wright, has three children Joseph C., Mary C. and Samuel W. Mrs. Ficklin, as the wife of a distinguished politician, has had much experience in public affairs. She possesses tact, good judgment and rare business ability, which render her well fitted for the position she holds, which was one of the first appointments made by President Cleveland in 1885. Mrs. Ficklin is a member of the Episcopal Church, and an accomplished lady, and enjoys the highest esteem of the entire community in which she lives, and of which she is a very important factor.
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