County of Christian, Kentucky.  Historical and Biographical.  Edited by 
William Henry Perrin.  F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1884, pp. 401-402.
Hopkinsville City and Precinct.

JOHN T. RICKETTS was born June 1, 1830, in Christian County, Ky., and is a
son of the late Hezeiah Ricketts, of this county.  Hezekiah was born in
Maryland, in 1789, and there grew to manhood and was married to Miss Sarah
Pool, with whom he emigrated to Christian County, Ky., about 1816.  They
settled a few miles south of Hopkinsville, where they passed their long
and useful lives.  They were both members of the Methodist Church of that
pioneer period, when elegant church edifices with their cushioned pews,
grand furniture, pulpits supplied with men of pronounced liberary ability,
were things unknown or very uncommon; when the choir with its organ
accompaniment was not to be found to entice the multitude to the house of
God.  But instead, these original founders of Christianity performed their
service from deeper motives, being prompted only by a desire to see their
labors blessed, and the influence of their pious examples is still seen
and felt.  They died at a ripe old age:  Hezekiah on the 29th of October,
1873, and the Hopkinsville Press thus speaks of him:  "In the death of Mr.
Ricketts, this community has been deprived of one of those links which
bind us to the honor, the glories and the cherished memories of the period
of the past.  He came from Maryland to this State in 1816, and settled in
this county where he has since resided, and been widely known and highly
esteemed for his many excellant traits of character.  He served with
credit to himself and his country, as an officer in the war of 1812-14,
and has since devoted himself in a quiet and unobtrusive way to the
maintenance of himself and family.  He was a kind, affectionate, and fond
father, a gentle husband and a pleasant neighbor."  His wife, who was born
July 28, 1802, died July 14, 1877.  These parents had a family of eight
children, viz.:  George W., who died at the age of sixty-one years, in
Trigg County; James E., died in Henderson County; John T.; Casandra, wife
of M. Lewis; Mollie E., wife of Alexander Wright; Matilda, deceased wife
of Parker Wright; Berlinda, will of William P. Nichols, of Texas; and B.
M. Ricketts.  John T., the third of this family, spent his entire life in
the immediate vicinity of his boyhood.  In his earlier life he was
appointed to the office of Deputy Sheriff, serving for four years, ending
in 1852.  He was married February 3, 1857, to Miss Mollie, daughter of
Elijah Cravens.  She was born in this county in 1838, and died on the 25th
of December, 1875, leaving three children:  Essie, wife of Scott Means;
James E. and Elijah Ricketts.  On the 3d of July, 1876, he was married to
Miss Carrie Means, daughter of Y. J. Means, of this county.  She was born
in Christian County, August 10, 1849.  They have two children, viz.:  John
T., Jr. and Ella Ricketts.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Ricketts are honored members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is a member of the Chosen
Friends.  Mr. Ricketts has devoted his life to agriculture and stock,
combined with general trading, and is regarded as one of the most
substantial men of Christian County.  He was so for ten years engaged in
merchandising, during which time he held the position of Postmaster.

Ricketts Lewis Wright Nichols Cravens Means 
=
MD Trigg-KY Henderson-KY TX

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/christian/ricketts.jt.txt