Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-James R. Vickers
Portrait and Biographical
Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
JAMES R. VICKERS, a prominent agriculturist
of Dickinson County, who resides on
section 26, Flora Township, where he owns
and operates an excellent farm of one hundred
and sixty acres, is descended from an old
family founded in America during Colonial days.
His grandfather, James Vickers, was born in Virginia,
January 15, 1784, and was a leading planter
of that State. He married Polly Hoover, who was
born in Pennsylvania, October 23, 1805, but in
her girlhood removed to Muskingum County,
Ohio, where their marriage occurred. Mr. Vickers
returned with his bride over the mountains on
horseback, but subsequently they removed to
Ohio, locating in Putnam about 1808. His death
occurred October 5, 1821.
This worthy couple had a family of seven children,
of whom Lorenzo Dow Vickers, father of
our subject, was the fifth in order of birth. He
was born August 5, 1813, and remained at home
until his marriage in 1834 to Miss Moon. On attaining
his majority, he received his share of his
father's estate, about $6,000, and embarked in
merchandising, which he continued until after the
death of his wife. One child was born of that
union, Alonzo, whose sketch appears elsewhere in
this work. On disposing of his store, Mr. Vickers
began the study of medicine with Dr. Watkins, of
Muskingum County, Ohio. In 1837 he wedded
Margaret Morris, daughter of Robert Morris, a
farmer of Hawkins County, Ohio, and a native of
Delaware. They had four children, two of whom
died in childhood. A daughter, Harriet C., is now
the wife of Benjamin Hudson, of Adams County,
Ohio. The only son is the subject of this sketch.
In 1885 Dr. Vickers removed to Solomon City,
Kan., where he engaged in practice until his
death in 1887. He was quite a prominent man in
Ohio, and as a member of the Democratic party,
made speeches throughout the State in 1862 and
1864.
We now take up the personal history of James
Vickers, whose name heads this record. He was
born on the old homestead in Ohio, August 26,
1838, and in his younger days attended school.
He was studying law in Hillsboro, Ohio, at the
time of the breaking out of the late war. At the
first call for troops, he enlisted for three months
in Company C, Second Ohio Infantry, and participated
in the battle of Bull Run. When his term
had expired he returned home. The following
spring he received a commission to recruit a company
in connection with Capt. Barrett. They
raised Company I, of the Eighty-ninth Ohio Regiment,
and our subject was enrolled as Second
Lieutenant of the company, on the 21st of August,
1862, at Carthage, Tenn., by the Governor of
Ohio, and on the 13th of June, 1863, was mustered
into service at Murfreesboro, Tenn., by Capt. Howard,
of the United States army, for a period of three
years. He was promoted to be First Lieutenant of
Company I, January 9, 1863, for valiant services,
and to be Captain of Company B, on January 18,
1864. He participated with the Kanawah Brigade
in a number of skirmishes, and was detached by
general order from Gen. Thomas to serve on recruiting
service with Capt. Jolly and Lieut. Foraker,
since Governor of Ohio. He returned to the
regiment immediately after the battle of Chickamauga,
and was in the battle of Buzzard's Roost
and Mission Ridge. In the winter of 1864 the
regiment camped at Ringgold, and on the 7th of
May, 1865, Mr. Vickers with his command marched
with Sherman to the sea. He also took part in
the second battle of Buzzard's Roost, Dalton, Resaca,
Rome, Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek,
Jonesboro and at Thomas Station, in connection
with Kilpatrick's Cavalry. He also saw the fall of
Savannah and Bentonville, marched to Richmond,
and participated in the Grand Review at Washington.
From there he went to Camp Dennison,
Ohio, where he was mustered out. At Kennesaw
Mountain he was blown up by a shell, which burrowed
in the sand under him, but he was only
slightly injured. At Mission Ridge he was slightly
grazed on his cheek with a ball. He was never
excused from duty on account of sickness, and for
one hundred and three successive days he heard
the sound of cannon and the whistle of the minieballs,
and was never out of sight of the enemy's
lines.
For some time after the war, Mr. Vickers traveled
in the West. In the meantime his father had
removed to Missouri and he joined him in 1873.
On the 31st of March, 1875, he married Susie
Lewis, daughter of John W. Lewis, a farmer of
Missouri, and then turned his attention to merchandising
at Shootman. He was afterward located
at Bridge Creek in the same business. In
1884 he came to Kansas and purchased one hundred
and sixty acres of land of David Madison,
but afterward sold that farm and bought his present
beautiful place of one hundred and sixty
acres. The home is graced by the presence of
three children: Homer, born April 7, 1876; Lorenzo,
born January 16, 1882; and Genevieve, born
November 3, 1886.
Mr. Vickers is a prominent and influential citizen
of this community, and is recognized as one
of the substantial and representative farmers.
Throughout the war he valiantly served his country,
and may well be proud of his army record,
for he aided the country in her hour of peril, and
by his bravery and daring encouraged his company
to faithfully remain at their posts.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP