Charles Daniel Bickford (b. May 31, 1842, d. April 05, 1887)
Charles Daniel Bickford (son of Jonathan Knapp Bickford and Phoebe Abigail Purdy)1 was born May 31, 1842 in Algansee Twp., Branch Co., MI., and died April 05, 1887 in Coldwater, Comanche Co., KS.1. He married (1) Mary Ann Sweetland on September 13, 1862 in Kinderhook, Branch Co., MI.. He married (2) Jennie Gertrude Kerry Dixon on January 24, 1885 in Medicine Lodge, Barber Co., KS..
Notes for Charles Daniel Bickford: Charles D. Bickford, born and raised in Algansee Township in Branch Co., MI., worked on his fathers farm until he married and got a farm of his own.
February 15,1865 he enlisted in The First Michigan Sharpshooter Co. " I " at Coldwater, MI. His enlistment was for one year and his age was 22. . His enlistment was part of the first 75,000 troops from Michigan and he took part of the first battle at Bull Run. July 28, 1865 he mustered out at Delaney House - Washington D.C.
1870 Census - Irving Post Office, Algansee Twp., Branch Co., Michigan. Bickford, Charles, 27, Farmer, b MI. Mary, 27, Keeping house, b N.Y. Elam, 6, b MI. Carril, 5, b MI. Freddy, 1, b MI. This family is close neighbors to Ira Bickford family.
1874 State Census - Branch Co., Algansee Twp. : occupation farmer.
1877 Charles and wife Mary Ann and kids moved to Chickaskia, Harper Co., KS.
1878 he was elected Sheriff of Harper County, KS. A newspaper states the election was declared a fraud with over 2,900 votes cast by some 800 voters. Later, the county commissioners declared C.D. Bickford was still the sheriff, which position he held for 2-3 years.
1880 The railroad came to Harper County.
Census 1880 - Harper Co., KS., Chickashia District, p. 2, # 18. Reads: Name, age, relation to Head of household, occupation, state born, state father born, state mother born. Bickford, Charles D., 38, Head of House, Sheriff, MI. f-b L.Canada, m-b L. Canada Mary, 38, wife, K. house, N.Y., f-b N.Y., m-b N. Y. Elmer, 16, son, farmer MI., f-b MI., m-b N.Y. Carrie, 15, dau, at home, MI., f-b MI., m-b N.Y. Fred, 11, son, at home, MI., f-b MI., m-b N.Y. Bernice, 5, dau, at home, MI., f-b MI., m-b N.Y.
Note : The 1880 census for Harper Co., KS. shows some 200 persons born in Michigan, but no other Bickford names, ( other than Charles and Chaucla families).
1882 Charles wife Mary Ann Sweetland Bickford died in Danville, KS. He, then, moved to Avilla, Comanche county, KS. and purchased land.
1883 Newspaper article - Danville, KS. dated Oct. 1883, refers to : Charley had been to the fair in Willington and bought a fine racing mare. ( Willington is about 30 miles east of Danville ).
1884 Charles gave some of his land to establish the town of Coldwater, KS. He had planned a town site prior to being approached by a group of men who were surveying the area for the county seat. Charles donated the land with the stipulation that it be named Coldwater, after Coldwater, Branch Co., MI. (which is the county seat of Branch County.)
1884 Article from the Western Star newspaper dated Feb. 21, 1902 (Kansas) PERMANENT TOWNSITE SELECTED " In May, 1884, a company of men, most of them from Harper County, Kansas, decided to go farther west, with the view of locating a townsite which would ultimately become a county seat. While looking the county over and inspecting for a suitable location for a townsite they happened to meet C. D. Bickford, who a short time before had come from Michigan and settled about three miles southwest of the present townsite of Coldwater. A compromise was effected with Mr. Biclford and it was decided to remove the town nearer the center of the county. The city was to be called Coldwater after Mr. Bickford's native town, Coldwater, Michigan. The town was organized and they gave a lot to anyone who would erect a building not less than 14 by 16 feet. Lots went like hotcakes and carpenters were in demand. Lumber was hauled from Kinsley 50 miles north, then the nearest railroad point. Then began a veritable boom, not only setting up of the city but of the entire county."
1885 Charles married Jennie Gertrude Kerry (Dixon) Jan. 24, 1885 in Medicine Lodge, Barber Co., KS. Jennie was previously married to Windsor A. Dixon by whom they had four children. Mr. Dixon died in 1882.
1885 Comanche County was organized in March and Coldwater, KS. was made the county seat. First elections were held April 2, 1885 and Charles was elected to the city council.
Mr. Bickford built the first hotel in Coldwater where the Peoples State Bank currently stands( built 1940).
1887 The Santa Fe Railroad came to Coldwater, KS.
1887 Charles D. Bickford died in Coldwater, KS. on April 5, 1887 and is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery.
1887 Widow Jennie Bickford filed for Charles' Army Pension on May 25, 1887. She was still living in Kansas at the time.
1940 Charles' widow, Jennie Bickford moved to Canon City, Fremont Co. CO. to be near her two daughters, Paulina E. Walcott and Gladys Hutchinson.
1943 Jennie Bickford died November 24, 1943 and is buried at Wilson Mortuary in Canon City, CO. Jennie Bickford also has a memorial next to Mr. Bickford's grave at Crown Hill cemetery. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OBIT: Western Star newspaper, Coldwater, KS. dated April 9, 1887. DEATH OF A PIONEER CITIZEN
On the night of April 5, 1887 Chas. D. Bickford breathed his last breath at his home four miles southwest of the city. His death was caused from consumption of the bowels and general debility, which had been preying on his system for some time, but he had been bed -ridden for tow or three months. Mr. Bickford was fifty-two years of age. Having been born in Coldwater, Michigan, he emigrated to Kansas about ten years ago, first moving to Harper County, where he lived for two years ago, when he became a citizen of Comanche County. In the early settlement of harper County, he served two terms in the capacity of Sheriff. He has been married twice. About two years ago he married Jennie Dixon, who has been a loving wife and devoted to him in his last affliction. He leaves four children to mourn his loss, two of which are married and two at home, Also four step children.
Mr. Bickford was one of the original founders and god-father of Coldwater, KS., the town having been named by him after his birth place, Coldwater, MI. For a time he engaged in the drug business, but afterward retired to his farm southwest of here, (Coldwater, KS.). He was a lover of the horse track and owned several fine horses. The deceased leaves one brother and one sister in the county. His mother was here from Coldwater, MI. at the time of his death.
The funeral services were conducted at the family residence on Thursday morning by Rev. W.R. Hutchinson, and his his remains were followed to the city cemetery by a large concourse of relatives and friends, and also attended by the G.A.R. Post of the city, where he was a member. "Peace to his ashes." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Article (partial) from Unknown Newspaper, Written by Dennis Volkert, Staff Writer, Coldwater, Michigan: The Kansas Coldwater and the Michigan version have much more in common than a shared name. More than a century later, Coldwater, Kansas mirrors its parent city in many ways, albeit on a smaller scale. A 250 acre manmade lake - Coldwater Lake - lies within the city limits. Popular in Coldwater are high school sports, churches, youth activities and golf. The seat of Commanche County boasts an airport and a14 bed hospital and medical clinic. And the area is populated with deer. The counties' terrains are even similar - flat or gently rolling crop dominates the landscape. The scenery is one of the most striking things about the area. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ See Mary's scrapbook : information furnished by the Library in Coldwater, KS to David L. Bickford, forwarded to Mary's scrapbook, re: Coldwater, KS.
More About Charles Daniel Bickford: Burial: Unknown, Crown Hill Cem., Coldwater, Comanche Co., KS..1 Census 1: 1874, Farmer Algansee Twp.. Census 2: 1850, 8 years old Branch Co., MI..1 Census 3: 1860, 17 years old Branch Co. MI..1 Military service: February 15, 1865, Enlisted 1st MI. Sharpshooters for 1 year..1 Occupation 1: Bet. 1878 - 1879, Sheriff of Harper Co., KS.. Occupation 2: Farmer. Residence: 1884, Coldwater, Comanche Co., KS..1
More About Charles Daniel Bickford and Mary Ann Sweetland: Marriage: September 13, 1862, Kinderhook, Branch Co., MI..
More About Charles Daniel Bickford and Jennie Gertrude Kerry Dixon: Marriage: January 24, 1885, Medicine Lodge, Barber Co., KS..
Children of Charles Daniel Bickford and Mary Ann Sweetland are:
+Elmer Ellsworth Bickford, b. December 20, 1863, Algansee Twp., Branch Co., MI.1, d. May 18, 1946, Fairfield, Salano Co., CA.1.
+Carrie May Bickford, b. May 25, 1865, Algansee Twp., Branch Co., MI.1, d. July 20, 1948, Osawatomie, Miami Co., KS.1.
Freddy Bickford, b. January 01, 1869, Algansee Twp., Branch Co., MI.1, d. date unknown, Prob. KS..
+Bernice B. Bickford, b. July 02, 1874, Algansee Twp., Branch Co., MI.1, d. date unknown.
Children of Charles Daniel Bickford and Jennie Gertrude Kerry Dixon are:
Charles Daniel Bickford (b. May 31, 1842, d. April 05, 1887)
Notes for Charles Daniel Bickford: