Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Samuel Bricker
Portrait and Biographical
Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
SAMUEL BRICKER, who is engaged in
general farming and stock-raising on section
10, Grant Township, Dickinson
County, is one of the worthy citizens that
the Keystone State has furnished to Kansas. He
comes of an early family of Pennsylvania, of German
origin. His parents, Peter and Catherine
(Buttroff) Bricker, were both natives of that
State, and his birth occurred in Cumberland
County, three miles northwest of Mechanicsburg,
November 10, 1837.
Our subject was reared in the usual manner of
farmer lads and after attaining his majority embarked
in agricultural pursuits for himself. On
the 18th of November, 1858, he was united in
marriage with Miss Susan Line, a native of Cumberland
County, and the daughter of Emanuel and
Elizabeth (Ritner) Line, of Pennsylvania, her
mother being a niece of Gov. Ritner, of that
State. Mr. and Mrs. Bricker began their domestic
life upon his farm, which he operated for seventeen
years. After the death of his father, who
owned thirteen farms and was worth $178,000,
Samuel settled the estate. The father had intended
to make a special settlement upon our subject,
but died before carrying out his purpose, so
Mr. Bricker received only his legal portion. He
was one of sixteen children, thirteen of whom
were living at the time of his father's death.
After a time Mr. Bricker sold the farm which
he had inherited at $150 per acre and in the
spring of 1880 came to Kansas. Locating in
Dickinson County, he purchased two hundred and
forty acres of land one and one-half miles east of
Abilene, his present farm, upon which he has
made good improvements, having erected buildings
to the cost of 14,000. He is engaged in general
farming and stock-raising and makes a specialty
of the breeding of Clydesdale horses, owning
an imported stallion of that blood. In addition
to his home farm he owns an eighty-acre
farm and one of one hundred and sixty acres in
Willowdale Township, where his sons reside, and
one hundred and sixty acres in Oklahoma.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bricker have been born the
following children : Jacob Henry, a resident farmer
of Willowdale Township; Ida, wife of William
Ward, of Marshall County, Iowa; John, at home;
Samuel, who resides in this county; Katie, who is
living at home; Maggie, wife of Edward Gardner,
a resident of Willowdale Township; and Robert at
home. They have also buried seven children, one
having died at the age of eight years, the others
in infancy.
Socially, Mr. Bricker is a member of the Ancient
Order of United Workmen, the Odd Fellows' Society
and was Past Grand of the Knights of Pythias.
For many years he was a supporter of the
Democratic party but voted for Abraham Lincoln
in 1860 and again in 1864. He now affiliates with
the People's party, has served as a delegate to its
conventions, and is President of the Grand Alliance.
For six years he filled the office of Township
Trustee and from 1883 until 1886 was County
Commissioner. During his term of office the
Poor Farm was purchased and improved at a cost
of $10,000 and the new Court House was approved.
He was a faithful and efficient officer, discharging
his duties with promptness and fidelity. Mr.
Bricker is one of the most progressive farmers of
the county and is an intelligent and genial gentleman,
whose courteous manner and well-spent life
have won him the high regard of a wide circle of
friends and acquaintances.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP