London , England
Beginnings
Many would say that the American line of the Treacle
family began upon the shores of His Majesties Colonies in the year of Our Lord
1743. I have included Treakle and Treacle families of both
On the leaf of this book is a copy of the public document
held by the Public Record Office of Kew in
Maryland
In 1768, Stephen Treacle, a white male over the age of
eighteen, was polled on the issue of changing the county government from Joppa
to
On February 5, 1777, the General Assembly of Maryland,
enacted a law which made it necessary to sign an Oath of Allegiance and
Fidelity to the State of
In 1782, William Treacle marries Annie Kirby as listed in the Index to the Record of Maryland Marriages of 1777-1804, page 157. Possibly, William is the son to George, the Immigrant.
My research found George Treagle on the 1783 Tax List of Baltimore County,
Maryland in the
George Treakle was a patient of Dr. Charles Frederick
Wiesenthal. Dr. Wiesenthal was a Prussian physician who
settled in
In the Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser of October 29, 1790, Polly Trickle is reported to have married J.J. Grosjean, a merchant. This was found in “Gleanings from Maryland Newspapers 1786-1790” by Robert W. Barnes.
In the 1790 First Census of the
On the 1810 Census of Maryland, Christopher, Greenbury,
James and William Treakle are listed as living in
The will of John Norwood, page 86, Will Book 38, mentions a daughter Mary Treckle among his children listed as heirs. The will was probated February 20, 1815 as noted in “Maryland Genealogies and Historical Recorder Volume II” by Annie Walker Burns.
In the Methodist Records of Baltimore City, Maryland,
Volume 2 1830-1839” by Henry C. Peden, Jr., George W. Treakle is married to Louisa Johnson on January 8, 1832, and Rebecca Ann Treakle is married to Edward Brian on May 4, 1837. In 1839 there is a note in the removal certificates
that George Treakle has gone to
In the “Index to Marriages and Deaths in the Baltimore Sun Newspaper 1837-1850” compiled by Thomas Hollowak, George Triekel was married March 20, 1844 and reported in the paper June 13, 1844.
I have devoted some time to the early records of the Colonies. I am sure that there are many records to be explored looking for the first entry of George Treakle as well as any connections to our William Treacle of Hampshire, Virginia in the 1780s.
…Virginia
In 1754, the opening year of the French and Indian War,
During the years of the French and Indian War, Hampshire
bore the brunt of enemy attacks.
Although
Many settlers fled the area during the War. Others who stayed died on their farms at the
hands of the warriors. In 1758, much of
At the close of the Revolution, so many settlers came into
the area that a separate county was set off. A state road had been completed
from
Treacles of Virginia
It appears that the father of Joshua, Robert and Mary
would be William Treacle of Big Capon River Valley, Hampshire County,
Virginia, and now West Virginia (pictured at
right: Maryland and Virginia – Chesapeake Bay). In the year of 1756 on January 1, William
Treacle married Elizabeth Dawson at the Episcopal Church, Kingston Parish,
In the Vestry Book of Kingston Parish,
Kingston Parish is on Chesapeake Bay and south of the Rappahannock River. Kingston Parish was in the Colonial Gloucester County, later Mathews County.
The 1784, Head of Families in Northumberland Conty, Virginia, William Treacle has three white souls and one dwelling! At the report of the 1787 Census of Northumberland County, Virginia, William is reported to have one white male above sixteen and under twenty-one (which would have been himself), one horse, and three cattle. In Gloucester County for the same year, Elizabeth Treakle is by herself so possibly William, her husband, died prior. The William in Northumberland could be their son or nephew! There is a William Treakle living in Gloucester as well as Dawson and John.
In the Revolutionary War, there were two John
Treacles, a Wm. Treakle, a Wm. Treacle, and a Dawson Treakle who served and were noted as having
served. William Treacle received a land bounty warrant of 100 acres
for serving as a private in the Virginia State Line for three years. Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension
Files: Treacle, William, VA Line,
Elizabeth, W6309, soldier received VA State BLW #676 for 100 acres dated 29 May
1783, soldier married Elizabeth in February 1780 and soldier died in February
1801. Widow application 23 Aug 1844 in
King & Queen County, Virginia.
Children mentioned by a neighbor were John, Sarah, Elizabeth and Susan
who were all but one was deceased in 1844.
The neighbor was unsure of which one still lived.
“Early Births, Western Frederick County and Eastern Hampshire County, Virginia/ West Virginia” compiled by Garner and Triplett, reports Joshua Treacle born in Hampshire County, August 5, 1788. I was unable to find their source for his birth.
Tax List of Mathews County, Virginia, 1791, reports Dawson, John, and William Treakle (Treacle) as having paid taxes. Dawson pays tax on a horse.
The Hampshire County Tax List of 1794, has William Trickle with two males and two horses with the tax collected on August 28, 1794. Taxes for 1797 were for Will Trickle, one male and two horses, Edward and Samuel were living on their own. The 1798 Tax List report William with one male and one horse collected on June 11, 1798, Edward and Samuel were living on their own. The 1799 Tax List reports Edward and Samuel living on their own, and William is not listed.
The 1805 Hampshire County, Virginia Tax List, Joshua Trickle counts himself and one horse and paid taxes of .12. Edward and Samuel Trickle lived in Hampshire County during this time.
The 1810 Census of the United States finds Joshua still in Hampshire County with 2 males and one female. In the 1820 Census, Edward Trickle is in Hampshire with two males and one female. Edward Trickle stays in Hampshire County through the 1830 and 1840 Census.
Maybe the Treacles were not too isolated to hear of the new steam-powered pumping station that the City of Philadelphia had to provide the city with water in 1801 or the amphibious vehicle in 1805. Surely, the Treacles lives were greatly improved with the invention of the coffeepot in 1806!
Not much is known of their personal lives in Virginia but one can imagine the uncertain times with the French and Indian War closely followed by the Revolution and then, the War of 1812. Only the hardy survived to provide another generation in the New World, or now, the United States of America.
Ohio
Pioneer Life
A pioneer journal, by Anna E. Schroer, explained much of the existence in the early 1800s in the Ohio wilderness. An apple orchard of fifteen to twenty trees was considered a must for each farmer. Apples were used for snacks and were stewed, baked or used for making cider to drink or for making vinegar. The housewife added vinegar to fruits and vegetables for its keeping qualities. It was added to drinking water during hot weather to make a cooking drink as well as being medicinal for intestinal disturbances. Vinegar was also used to clean metals and set dyes for the woolens from their sheep. Vinegar added to the laundry rinse water with colored clothes made the colors brighter.
Of course a grape arbor was handy as well. Grapes were eaten fresh, or for an occasional pie, but not many were used to make jelly. Jellies were considered to be too expensive. Grape wine was made on the farms and was used as a medicine in case of colds. The wine was also used in cases of summer complaints, dysentery, etc. (I wonder what etc. meant!).
Milk was extensively used as a drink and in cooking. Refrigeration of milk was not possible in earlier days. Fresh milk was strained into half-gallon crocks and set on the floor of the vegetable cave during the summer. Each evening the cream was carefully laddled off, set aside to sour and later churned into butter, to be sold or exchanged for merchandise. The milk from which the cream had been removed, which when it was sour, thick and set like a custard, was served with some sweet milk, brown sugar and a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg - a very good dish. Sour milk or clabbermilk, as it was then known, was much used in the making of pancake batters, for cottage cheese and some families made longhorn yellow cheese.
In cases of sickness, the early settlers depended mostly on herb teas. These were used for many ailments. Herbs were gathered in the summer for medicinal purposes. For tiny infants, to help make them stronger, a tea of catnip, flowers and leaves was used. This was also used for older children in cases of summer complaints, cramps, for malarial fevers, or the three-day ague. Raw onions with raw cucumbers in vinegar on bread and butter were used for colds. Elderberry blossom tea was considered good for colds. For a baby's cold, an application of goose grease and a bit of kerosene mixed together was applied to the chest and then covered with a woolen cloth. Also some of the goose grease mixture was applied to the soles of the feet, then gently warmed by the fire place and then put to bed on a warmed feather pillow.
Men frequently took generous doses of whiskey for most common ailments. Wormwood on whiskey was used for upset stomach, dysentery, suspected food poisoning and insect bites. Balsam apple on whiskey was used for accidental wounds, inflammation and also for old sores on man and animals.
Soaking bread in a small quantity of heated sweet milk treated boils and carbuncles so prevalent in those early days. This was placed on a piece of muslin with a generous sprinkling of elderberry or chamomile flowers added, placed on the boil as hot as could be borne and kept warm. This poultice was changed every hour until the boil broke open. For sore throat, bread with a blue greenish mold would be soaked in warm water, then drained and the water used as a gargle. Its effect was like penicillin.
In the days of the early settlers a few hives of bees were kept for the honey they produced. Honey was used to ease sore throat and to put on wounds. It was also used as a sweetener for cooked fruits and as a spread on bread.
A few geese were usually kept on the farm to fill the many feather beds that were needed - usually two for each bed in winter - one to sleep on and one to use as a cover. Two or three pounds of the small fine feathers were needed for one feather cover. These feathers were also used to fill pillows.
Sheep also played quite a role in the family needs. They produced the wool to spin into yarn for knitting stockings. The finer grades were taken to the woolen mills to be made into cloth for men's everyday shirts, children's dresses, etc.
Lambs, not needed for replacements, were
slaughtered for meat in early winter. The pelts were salt-cured and dried, then
used as covers on seats of farm implements and wagons. The large pelts were
used over the knees when driving in winter. Sheep tallow having great healing
qualities was much used for sore hands during corn husking season and wood
cutting time, and on sores of farm animals. Also on sore nipples of nursing
mothers. This tallow was also applied on leather boots making the leather very
pliable and keeping it soft.
Travelers endured many hardships to reach their destination. The pioneers were isolated on their farms that were often a distance of a few miles from any other families. Thus, tired travelers were never turned away when they approached a pioneer's cabin toward evening. They always found a welcome, even though there might already be a guest for every puncheon or bedstead. There was still "room for one more," and a wider circle would be made for the newcomer at the large fire. If the newcomer was in search of land, he was doubly welcome. His host would volunteer to show him all the "first-rate claims in this neck of the woods," going with him for days, showing the corners and advantages of every "Congress tract" within a dozen miles of his cabin.
If a newcomer came in too late for "cropping," the neighbors would supply his table with just the same luxuries they themselves enjoyed throughout the first winter, and in as liberal quantity, until a crop could be raised. Once small communities were established, the residents would erect a large cabin near town to house the newcomers until they could build a house of their own. When a newcomer had located his claim, the neighbors for miles around would assemble at the site of his proposed cabin and aid him in "gittin" it up. One group would cut down the trees with axes and hew (square up) the logs; another with teams would haul the logs to the ground; another party would "raise" the cabin; while several of the old men would "rive the clapboards" for the roof (splitting off thickness of logs).
By night the little forest home would be built, mudded and ready for a "house-warming," which was the dedication of the house. Music, dancing and festivity would be enjoyed at full height. The next day the new arrival would be as well prepared as his neighbors.
The lot of the pioneer was a hard life. The
sturdy pioneer learned to bear hardships, deprivation and hard living. As the
ability to make money was not great, they learned to be satisfied in an
atmosphere of hardship and compensated with good, social, friendly feeling
among their neighbors. "Being right down neighborly" took on a more
important meaning.
Treacles of Ohio
It was to this existence that the Treacle clan arrived from a fairly well established home and community in Virginia. Pickaway County came into existence March 1, 1810 as many settlers had arrived in the area. By the time of the county formation, the first census counted the population at 7,124.
Pickaway County was located in the Virginia Military District on the east side of the map.
Pickaway County records hold the marriage register of Mary Trickle to Richard Swank, “The State of Ohio, Pickaway County, I do hereby certify that I joined together Richd Swank and Mary Trickle in the holy bonds of Matrimony, by virtue of a license from James Denny, the said County Clerk, given under my hand this 6th day of April 1812.” Elisha Littlen J.P.
Joshua Treacle to Mary Heeter (Heater), “In pursuance of a marriage license from the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said county, I joined together Joshua Treacle and Mary Heeter in the holy bonds of wedlock on the 31st day of March 1815.” Henry Davis J.P.
In 1817, another marriage, that of Robert Treacle and Catherine Benzyl, “I do hereby certify that on the 20th February 1817, I did join together in the holy bond of matrimony Robert Treacle and Catherine Purcil to which I have written under my hand on the day of the date above written.” Wm Florence J.P.
The 1820 Jackson Township, Pickaway County Census reports Joshua’s home as having one male ten and under, one male sixteen and under, one 45 and under, two females ten and under, two females sixteen and under and one female 45 and over. David Heater lives in the “neighborhood” and appears may be Mary’s brother or cousin as his age is 45 and under.
Joshua and Mary’s children, Susannah Treacle , Joshua Treacle, Jr., William Treacle, and Helen Treacle were born while they were in Pickaway County. Robert and Catherine had a son, William, and Mary and Richard also named their son, William! What a dinner table to sit down to at family celebrations!
Indiana
Swank and Trickle Families
A descendant of Richard Swank family, Florence-Pusey Swank, in 1927 wrote a
family story on the Swank and Trickle migration to Illinois through
Indiana. It appears that Richard and
Mary Swank along with Richard’s brother, William, and Robert Trickle, Mary’s brother moved ahead
to Indiana while Joshua and his family stayed in Ohio. Joshua’s brother and sister’s families were
listed in Knox County, Indiana at the 1820 Census. The map to the left shows Knox County on the
southwest corner. By 1823, these families
were in Illinois.
Knox County, Indiana runs along the Illinois State border so it is easy to see how the families moved to Illinois! Edgar County was the first place of the residence of these families in Illinois.
Illinois
Imagine after traveling by covered wagon from
the beautiful Ohio Valley, planting crops in Indiana and living there for
several years and then still having the fortitude to continue on to
Illinois. The Swank men were both
soldiers of the War of 1812 and had come to enter and receive their land that
the government would deed to them for their service. Richard had served on the roll of Captain
Thomas Renick’s Company from Pickaway County, Ohio. His term of service was thirty days from July
26 until August 26, 1813. He was a
private in the Mounted Volunteers in the Ohio militia (information obtained via
website information provided by Shirley Nesbitt and Billie Jean Coons, Swank
descendants).
After finding a good source of water, today located near the high school, and called Swank’s Branch, William Swank declared he had found his choice of land. Richard fell in love with land known as Mt. Pisgah or Concord. William persisted in getting Richard to move along four more miles to the present site of Indianola. It was late spring to early summer and they built a lean-to, a three- sided affair, in the side of a hill right by the spring. The families lived in this and their covered wagons until a garden and some food was raised. Then, in between times, Richard went back to Concord and entered government land claims.
Later, Richard and his sons by his first marriage built a good log cabin. It was near the Concord settlement and where the first Concord Church and cemetery are currently located. Richard is buried there.
His brother, William, owned most of what is present day Indianola. He and his wife, Mary, gave the ground and the first donation to build the Baptist Church. William also gave the park to the town. William and Mary are buried in Weaver Cemetery, Indianola.
The Ford County, Illinois History book has a
report on Robert Trickel submitted by his great-great granddaughter,
Charlotte M. Trickel. She reports that Robert, Joshua’s brother,
came to Edgar County Illinois in 1823.
His wife’s name was Mary Catherine Benzyl, daughter of John and Mary
Benzyl. They had eight children: Mary “Polly” born in Ohio in 1818, Ashford,
born in 1819, and William Robert born in Indiana in 1821. (So here we are in Indiana!) The remaining children were born in Illinois,
John 1823, Andrew Jackson 1823, Jesse 1832, Robert Edward 1835, and Edward
1838. (Robert
Trickel, right, born in 1791)
A written history by Emmett Kirby, descendant of Joshua Trickle, states that Joshua arrived in Danville, Illinois in 1827. Dan and George Beckwith with James Butler settled Danville. They were in residence upon Robert Trickle’s arrival. He lived at the north bank of Vermilion River near Danville. The streets of Danville had not been laid out so a stranger coming to town would see houses and animals scattered about with apparent order.
In its second year of existence, Danville boasted a woolen factory, a tavern, a double log-house, a chair factory, and a blacksmith. William Reed was sheriff (I wonder if he is related to our Rachel Reed, Henry’s granddaughter…research for another time!). The county purchased Reed’s home and put it to a more public use as the courthouse to conduct public affairs. Abe Lincoln, during his years of circuit court appearances, regularly attended this courthouse.
The first Grand Jury members were named to serve in a responsible, judicial capacity. Robert Trickle was named on the list for the first Grand Jury.
After four years in Danville, Joshua moves his family to Champaign County and locates near Urbana. “Early Settlers’ Records of Champaign County, Illinois 1815-1860 Directory,” by Mabel Carlock who did research for the Daughters of the American Revolution, reported Joshua as one of the original 111 taxpayers of Urbana, Champaign County in 1833. States he served in the Blackhawk War, but no service record was given. Also reports that his brother, Robert, served in the Blackhawk War.
In June1828, Mary Trickle Swank’s husband, Richard, dies. Robert Trickle, Mary’s brother, is appointed guardian of William Swank, Robert Swank, Wesley Swank, Jesse Swank, and Wilson Swank. During this period of time, women were not able to support themselves or their children so a father, brother, or close relative were appointed by the courts to be responsible for minor children. On March 28, 1829, Robert resigns guardianship as Mary has married Basil Lewman in January 1829.
Joshua farms in Urbana for seven years. The 1840 U.S. Census has Robert and Joshua Trickle living next door to John Carothers in Vermilion County. John’s daughter later marries Robert’s son, Andrew Jackson.
In 1840, Joshua came to what is now Ford County and settled at Trickel’s Grove in Paxton where he again engaged in agricultural pursuits. He made his home there until his death. He was buried at Trickel’s Grove Cemetery alongside his wife, Mary. The cemetery is currently on property owned by the Urban Sand and Gravel. During the summer of 1999, I visited Trickel’s Grove Cemetery with another Trickle descendant.
Trickle’s Grove Cemetery, Paxton, Ford County, Illinois. Tombstones of Mary Trickle and Joshua Trickle.
William Trickle
William was six years old when he moved to Illinois with his family. He had very limited educational privileges as he had to go three miles to school (probably in snow uphill, both ways!). He was also crippled and had to walk on crutches.
William married Mary Lavina Henry on 29 July 1854 in Paxton. Mary was the daughter of Alexander and Dorcas Hixon Henry, a neighboring farming family. Nine months after their marriage, a son, George Washington, was born to them. Within weeks the young bride died leaving her husband and infant child. Probate for Mary leaves a value of property at $6,400 to William. Mary is buried at the Henry Cemetery in Loda, Iroquois County, Illinois (This is her family’s cemetery where her father and grandparents are buried). William leaves his young son with the Henry grandparents to raise.
William weds Mary’s younger sister, Elizabeth, on 7 January 1857 in Champaign County, Illinois. William and Elizabeth, now not only George’s aunt but stepmother, have twelve children, three dying in infancy. William purchased eighty acres of land that he cleared, plowed, and planted building fences and other improvements. He later purchased an adjoining forty acres, and subsequently another eighty acre tract. Through his thrift he owned a prosperous two hundred-acre farm located five miles southwest of Paxton.
“Mr. Trickel is an old Jackson Democrat and a stanch advocate of the principles of that party. He cast his first Presidential vote for Martin Van Buren before he had attained his majority. He commenced life a poor man, without capital, save an enterprising disposition, yet is now one of the thrifty and well-to-do farmers of Patton Township. His success is not due to any luck but is the result of his own industry, good management and the exercise of correct business principles. He is straightforward and honest in all that he does and has the confidence of the entire community. He has long made his home in Ford County, and has thus been an eye-witness of almost its entire growth, has seen the advance of progress and civilization and has aided largely in its development.” This written in the “Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois,” published in 1892. The information submitted by Emmett Kirby.
Mr. Kirby noted that William farmed on Section 27 in Paxton Township and was a resident of the county for 50 years. Born in Pickaway County, Ohio on 17 October 1820, he was one of fourteen children born to Joshua and Mary Trickle. You may note that William’s last name ended with “el” instead of Joshua’s “le.” I relate this as helping sort out which property, mail, etc belonged to him instead of his cousin, William Trickle! Folks referred to William as “Prairie Bill” as he was a farmer. His cousin, William, was “Gunsmith Bill.”
William’s will written in Patton Township, Ford County, Illinois on April 2, 1895 names his children. He leaves his real estate to his wife, Elizabeth, until her decease at which time the property and personal estate goes to sons, Thomas Dudley and Henry Clark Trickle. He wishes these two sons to farm the two hundred acres together, if possible. He bequeaths to “his son, George W. Trickle, my daughter, Ellen Fitzgerald, my son, William C. Trickle, my son Edward Lee Trickle, my daughter, Mary D. O’Dell and my daughter, Ida C. Anderson. each the sum of eight hundred dollars.” He specifies that each of the above children will receive 1/6 of the amount one year after the death of his wife, and one sixth each and every year thereafter until the whole bequest is paid. Also they would receive six percent interest per year on the money due them.
(Illinois Historical marker
citing “Gunsmith Bill" Trickle as the owner of Ten-Mile Grove on the Ottawa Trail)
William is buried at Glen Cemetery in Paxton, Illinois.
William “Prairie Bill” Trickel’s Tombstone, Glen Cemetery, Paxton, Illinois
George Trickel - Henry Connections
As mentioned earlier, Alexander and Dorcas Hixon Henry, his maternal grandparents raised George. Alexander’s parents were John Henry, Sr. of Pennsylvania, and his wife, Catherine. Dorcas’ parents were John and Laney Nelson Hixon from Tennessee. “The History of Iroquois County” by H.W. Beckwith in 1880 reports on the Henry family below.
Alexander Henry made the first permanent settlement in Loda Township, Iroquois County, Illinois in 1843. He traveled from Indiana in 1837, and lived at the western side of Ash Grove for six years. He then, with his two brothers, William and Jacob, bought eighty acres each and came to Loda to make their homes. William and Cynthia Smith Henry were their parents and they were married in Indiana in 1849.
The first year of residence was a rainy season year and nearly impossible to raise any crops. During the entire summer of 1844, the rain poured in torrents so that there was no opportunity to plant, or cultivate what little was planted. William and Jacob were dissatisfied by the rainy season and returned to Indiana. Alexander brought with him a few hogs, five head of cattle, and some sheep. The main care of the animals was to keep them from wolves.
The main traveled route, known as Butterfield Trace, passed by their home and it was the stopping place of travelers. Feeding frequent travelers, caring for her home, weaving for her family, and taking care of seven children kept Dorcas out of mischief. In 1879, Dorcas wove 300 yards of carpet at the age of 70 years old.
The first school was held in the Henry home
and taught by Ruth Felton in 1849.
About ten scholars attended.
Later, schooling was held in a little cabin standing nearby. There was no church or religious meetings in
the area.
Mr. James Smith and Robert Frost moved into the area next, followed by David Leatherman. All of these names play a part in the history of the Henry and Trickel families.
(Cynthia Smith Henry pictured at left,William
Henry right.)
The 1850 Iroquois County U.S. Census, Alexander at age 38, and his family was enumerated next door to his father, John Henry, Sr., age 63, and his family with William Henry and Cynthia living next door to them. James Smith, possibly Cynthia’s older brother, was living next to them. Wesley Harvey and wife, Mary Henry Harvey was enumerated next to the Smiths.
The 1860 Census finds them in Loda, Post Office
Oakalla. Alexander and Dorcas Henry have grandchildren, Caroline Reed, 10 years old, and George W.
Treakle, 5 years old, living with them. The 1850 Census reports Alexander born in
Ohio, and the 1860 Census has Kentucky as his birthplace!
Alexander died in 1867, and at the time of the book’s writing Dorcas was residing with some of her grandchildren on the farm that they first reclaimed from the wilderness thirty-four years ago. The house she lives in was built in 1859, and is finished off inside with black walnut, giving it a decidedly ancient appearance (by Beckwith).
Loda Township, 1870 Census, has Dorcas Henry as the head of household as Alexander had died. Son, Clark Henry, and grandchildren, George Trickle, Frank and Rose Rankin live with Dorcas.
George Trickle is 24 years of age in the 1880 Census of Loda with his wife, Margaret R. Henry (a distant cousin), with whom he had grown up with in the Alexander Henry household. They were married August 20, 1878 in Ford County, Illinois. They have a son, William, eleven months old. Dorcas and Rosa Rankin are living next door and a nearby neighbor is Elias J. Henry.
An Affidavit, #106260, recorded April 1, 1889 in Ford County by Dorcas Henry to Whom it may concern:
“This day personally appeared before me, Lyman M. Johnson, Notary Public in and for the County of Iroquois, Dorcas Henry, widow of Alexander Henry, deceased, who being duly sworn on oath states that Alexander Henry aforesaid was the oldest son of John Henry Sr., that said John Henry Sr. owned the N ½ of the E ½ of Sec 8 T24 N.R. 10E in Iroquois County Illinois. That said, John Henry Sr. departed this life in Iroquois County, Illinois, intestate prior to the year 1855, seized of the above land, that said John Henry Sen. Left him surviving Margaret Henry, his widow, who departed this life in State of Indiana at least 7 or 8 years ago, and the following named persons his only heirs at law, viz: Alexander Henry (husband of this affiant) David Henry, John Henry Jr., Robert Henry, Jacob Henry and William Henry, his sons, and Elizabeth Henry Loudon wife of John A. Loudon, and Mary Henry Harvey wife of Wesley Harvey, his daughters, and Katherine Reed Wallace, wife of William Wallace and Rachel Reed Smith, wife of Jacob Smith and Louisa Reed Smith wife of James N. Smith, daughters and only heirs at law of Sarah Henry Reed a daughter of John Henry Sr. deceased, and James Reed her husband, that James Reed the husband of Sarah Henry Reed departed this life more than ten years ago. That Robert Henry aforesaid was single and unmarried on May 3, 1855, when he joined with Elizabeth Loudon and others in a Warranty Deed to Samuel J. Best recorded in Book H, page 79 of the records of Iroquois County, Ill. That Elizabeth Henry wife of John Henry Jr., who on the 8th day of May 1855, with her husband, the said John Henry Jr., conveyed to Samuel J. Best their undivided interest in the land aforesaid, departed this life prior to year 1860. That David Henry aforesaid was single and unmarried April 8, 1856, being date of his conveyance to Samuel J. Best for his interest as heir of John Henry, deceased, in the land aforesaid. That this affiant was personally acquainted with Robert Frost to whom John Henry Sr. and wife, Margaret conveyed 30 acres of the land aforesaid by deed dated March 6, 1852, and that said Robert Frost was single and unmarried on November 3, 1855 and June 11, 1856, when he conveyed said land to Daniel Baker, he being a widower, his wife who was a daughter of Margaret Henry aforesaid having died prior to the date of said deeds.” Signed by Dorcas Henry
Death in the Flames: Mrs. Dorcas Henry is Cremated in her Humble Home
Paxton Record Newspaper – November 12, 1896
This morning between 12 and 1 o’clock the home of Mrs. Dorcas Henry, nearly opposite the school house on East Pells Street was discovered by R. M. Moffett and Edward Hornbeck to be on fire. The alarm was given and the fire company promptly responded. Those first at the scene sought to ascertain whether anyone was in the house, and, finding one room entirely empty, supposed it to be unoccupied, and it was not until three o'clock that the charred remains of Mrs. Henry were found lying between the foot of the bed and the stove in a position to indicate that she had sought exit by way of the window and had been overcome by the heat and smoke. Her body was rescued from the burning building and conveyed to the undertaking establishment of Atwood and Co. where this afternoon, Coroner Hutchinson is holding and inquest.
Mrs. Henry was an old settler, having resided
in Iroquois County for the past forty years, until eight or ten years since
when she removed to this city and purchased the home she has since
occupied. She was in her 86th
year and the mother of a large family.
Mrs. (Prairie) Bill Trickle is her daughter, and Mrs. Matt O’Dell, of this city, a
granddaughter. Her children had felt it
unsafe for sometime for her to live alone, but she preferred her own home and
insisted upon remaining there. There are
so many conflicting reports as to the origin of the fire that we await the
investigation of the coroner’s jury without expressing an opinion.
(Dresser on right was taken
from Dorcas’ home. Scorch marks on right
top of dresser from fatal fire.)
Research into finding any further information reveals that the Paxton Record Newspaper reported on November 19, 1896, that “the coroner’s inquest over Mrs. Dorcas Henry’s remains returned a verdict last Thursday evening to the effect that the deceased met her death from the effects of a fire, the origin of which was unknown.”
Dorcas Henry’s Will
The Last Will and Testament of Dorcas Henry of Paxton in the County of Ford and the State of Illinois made and published the 28th day of August in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety-four.
In the name of God amen, I Dorcas Henry of the City of Paxton in the County of Ford and State of Illinois of the age of eighty five years and being of sound mind and memory do hereby make, publish, and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following, that is to say:
First: It is my will that all my funeral expenses and all my just debts by fully paid.
Second: After the payment of my just debts and funeral expenses, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Elizabeth Trickle the sum of five dollars $5.00 to be paid her in cash out of my estate.
Third: I give and bequeath to Alice Mehala Trickle my two stoves and two trunks and their contents- consisting of bed clothes and other apparel and two beds and bedsteads, and seven chairs including the rocking chair, and my sewing machine.
Fourth: I give and bequeath to my son-in-law, George Trickle the one hundred and fifty dollars more or less that he is indebted to me.
Fifth: To my son Clark Henry, I give and bequeath all the residue of my estate that I may own at my decease I may be possessed of as well as personal.
Lastly: I hereby nominate and appoint, Clark Henry, my son, without bond to be executor of this my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made. (This was witness on the 28 August 1894 and Dorcas signed with a mark “x.”
Henry Cemetery – Loda, Iroquois County, Illinois
The Henry Cemetery, dating back to at least 1849, is located on the premises of the Stoerger Angus Farm, one mile west and two miles north of Loda, Iroquois County. It lies on a rise in a grove of trees on the bank of a creek and is about one-half mile back from the farmhouse in a cattle pasture. It is private property.
John Henry, Alexander’s father, purchased the
property on January 10, 1844. About
1840, according to Beckwith, he had moved his sawmill from Ash Grove to the
Loda area.
The owner of the property, Mr. Stoerger, says that the cemetery originally covered one-fourth to one-half acre, but that people have molested it and attempted to carry away markers and headstones. The livestock have also contributed to its deterioration.
The property has an interesting history, having been a part of the property owned by the father of Adlai Stevenson. During the Civil War it was the site of a prisoner of war camp. Many soldiers were buried on the outskirts of the old cemetery. Their graves marked only by initials on narrow white stones. Almost all of these small stones have been carried away.
A former historian and local resident, Colonel John W. Nordstrom of Camden, South Carolina, can remember visiting the cemetery as a child and fishing in the nearby creek. He recalls that John Henry, Sr, and his wife, Catherine was buried there. Also Alexander and his wife, Dorcas, were buried there. Dorcas’ stone was pushed over the bank by vandals some years ago.
When this information was gathered by Emmett Kirby, parts of stones were scattered all over the cemetery plot and it was difficult to know where they were originally placed. Many pieces of stones have been found in the creek.
Published in 1917, “Prairie Farmer’s Directory of Ford County, Illinois,” descendants of the Trickels and the Henrys are still farming land in the county. Earl Henry and William C. Trickle families are living in Paxton.
Trickle’s Grove Cemetery
I visited Trickel’s Grove Cemetery in 1999 with my cousin, Rhonda Hebert. I had made contact with the historical society in the area requesting information on the cemetery and they referred me to the Urban Sand and Gravel foreman. They also asked if I had talked with Mary Ellen. I asked who Mary Ellen was and they said, “Well, Mary Ellen was a Trickle before she married,” and then they gave me her phone number.
I met with Mary Ellen Trickle Griffin, also a descendant of Joshua's. This wonderful woman and her family invited my cousin, Rhonda Hebert, and myself into their home and shared their family memories with us. Mary Ellen and her husband, Ron, live on an original five acres of land that her grandfather received as his inheritance from William J. Trickle's estate. Mary Ellen said the original house was not built with hallways so you had to walk room through room to get to another room. Mary Ellen and her husband built a beautiful home on the site.
When I told her some of the family history that I knew
including how Dorcas Henry, her great grandmother, had
died in a fire in Paxton in the late 19th Century, she told me that she had
Dorcas' dresser in her home! Seeing the
dresser in Mary Ellen's bedroom with the scorched marks from the fire was a
very emotional moment. The walnut wood
taken from Dorcas' home after the fire had been used by Mary Ellen’s father to
build a large cabinet. The cabinet
graced the living room in Mary Ellen's house.
The whole day spent in Illinois was so filled with emotion. Mary Ellen rode with us to several other cemeteries where our ancestors were buried and told us stories, half of which I remember. I should have taped all that she talked about! I certainly was not prepared to meet a cousin who had so much family history.
The story goes: Trickle's Grove was the family farm. When Joshua's son, William, moved to his own farm, it was named Ten-Mile Grove. Ten-Mile Grove because it was ten miles away from Trickle's Grove! Today there stands a barn near Mary Ellen's that has painted on the roof, Ten-Mile Grove. There is a historical marker nearby telling of William (Gunsmith) Trickle, William J.'s cousin, and how the Trickles played a part in the history of the area.
I can never thank Mary Ellen enough for sharing our history because all I knew was there was a Trickle's Grove Cemetery. I would have missed out on William J.'s final resting place and the historical marker if she had not been available that day. Again, thank you Mary Ellen!
Kansas
In 1900, George and Margaret Trickel had increased their family to add Ida, Ola, and Alta to the family in the Loda Township, Reno County, Kansas U.S. Census. Margaret reported that she had had eight children but only four were living. Clark Henry and his family lived next door. Clark had a son, Ola, a year older than George’s son, Ola. These two families moved to Kansas together. At this same time, Robert Trickle, Joshua’s brother, and his families moved to Green County, Wisconsin. If you are a descendant of Robert’s, you will want to further your research in Wisconsin.
Robert did live to be an old man dying at the age of near 81 years in 1873 in Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin. One of his descendants, Richard Trickle, was a well known dirt short track stock car racer in Wisconsin who went on to race in NASCAR Winston Cup races until the age of 58. My husband and I watched many of his races. We also noted the passing of Dick's nephew, Christopher Trickle, who was a young, up and coming stock car racer who was killed by a stray bullet in Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1990s. If you are interested in Robert's descendants, I have the information. Also, another descendant, Pearl Trickle's grandson, Terry Smith of Las Vegas, is the keeper of Emmett Kirby's research of the Trickle/Trickel family. You can find him online with his family information.
Robert’s son, Robert Edward Trickle has descendants that ended up in the mountains of Delta, Colorado. I have heard that there is a Trickle's Peak that you might want to find if you are up that way!
The 1920 Census has G.W. Trickel with his wife, Margaret, and 40 year old son, William, a machinist, living in Hoosier Township in Kingman County, Kansas. Henry “Ola” was married to Josephine McRae of Linn County, Kansas.
Next door to the Trickel family is William Snell (a Snell married Joshua Trickle's daughter in Illinois) and a Lindt family. George's grandson marries a Lindt. The head of household is a Minnie Lindt who came to the United States in 1888.
A hard working farm family, they tilled the ground during the day but found time for entertainment at night. Family history tells of George winning the championship in a violin contest in Chicago, Illinois. He also played for dances in the Kingman community.
My Aunt Margaret tells a story of her grandmother, Margaret Trickel: Margaret was under five years old playing in her grandmother's kitchen with her baby doll. She left for a minute and when she came back, chatting to her baby doll, she decided that her baby needed a diaper change.
So, after folding out a clean cloth for a diaper and laying her baby out with tender care, she opened her baby's diaper. Much to her surprise (but not to her grandmother's!) she found that yes, indeed, her baby needed changing as she had a mess in her diaper (a smear of peanut butter)! She still laughs at this early memory of her grandmother, of whom she was named after.
McRae Family
"The Linn County, Kansas History," by William Mitchell, states that, "John D. McRae is well remembered as the old Scotchman who ran a store in Farlinville from 1865 to 1924."
John was born to Highland Scots parents, Duncan and Mary McLeod McRae, who had settled in Vankleek Hill, Ontario, Canada in the 1820s. John was born there 1835. The family later moved to Kenyon in Glengarry County, Ontario where his mother died June 13, 1843. His father died July 22, 1849, leaving a farm of 200 acres to the oldest son, Finley McRae.
He attended school for a time and then went on to work in a grocery store for a year. It was soon after his father's death that John left home for work. Working in Lancaster as a chore boy at a bar on the St. Lawrence River. He wandered west and ended up in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In 1862, he enrolled as a private in the Union Army, Company B, 76 Regiment of the Indiana Volunteers. Description of John was 5 feet, 9 inches, dark complexion, hazel eyes, and dark hair. His occupation at his time of enlistment was that of a teacher for his employer's children. John served a short time as he had severe intestinal disorders.
He married Sarah Jane Howard on 6 October 1859 in Decatur County, Indiana. She died in childbirth, which was very common. James P. Howard was a witness to John's pension request saying that he was "intimately acquainted” with John D. McRae for sometime prior to his enlistment." This may have been because James was Sarah's brother. It appears by the witness' account that he served with John in Company B.
His second marriage was to Mary Ann Aldrich in Decatur County, Indiana on 23 April
1863. Mary Ann is descended from George
Aldrich of Mendon, Massachusetts, a 1631 immigrant
from England. (Mendon, Massachusetts Founder’s Park, George
Aldrich, Founder)
"From Pioneering to the Present…Linn County," of the Linn County Historical Society, mentions that John homesteaded and built a log cabin about six miles southwest of Farlinville. He owned and operated a store in town and rode the six miles back and forth every day. (See the McRae Family Book for additional information.)
Farlinville sketch above
shows J.D. McRae and R.J. Gott’s property-south of Big Sugar Creek.
John and Mary Ann traveled to Farlinville, Linn County, Kansas with Sarah (aka Jennie), their one-year-old daughter. Shortly after John and Mary Ann's arrival, Paris Aldrich McRae was born to them. John took up farming and general merchandising of dry goods and groceries. Other children followed: Mary McRae, Finley McRae, Walter McRae, Gracie McRae, Angus McRae, and Alma McRae.
Farlinville, Kansas skyline,
late 1800s
In 1900, they moved to Goodrich where he built a home and hewed the beams out of walnut from his own farm. Mary Ann died in 1913 and John died in 1924.
Paris, or Perry to most, met and married
another Farlinville "original" from the John R. Gott family, Azubia Anna Gott. The Gott family moved to
Linn County from Schuyler County, Illinois in 1859.
Perry and Anna married 26 September 1888. Colin J. McRae was born in 1889, Nellie M. McRae in 1891, Josephine McRae in 1901, and Ruth McRae in 1905. All of the children except Ruth were on the Linn County 1900 Census, Centerville Township.
Perry was a general farmer, and in the 1920 Hoosier Township, Kingman County, Census, Collin, age 30, is living with his parents and is listed as a farmer.
Perry died in 1940, Azubia in 1951. Perry and Azubia are both buried in the Hoosier Cemetery located in Kingman County.
Henry Ola Trickel and the McRaes
In the Kingman County Census of 1920, Ola H. is renting property and is a general farmer. I'd love to find the birth certificate of Henry Ola, or Ola Henry, to find out how his given name at birth was recorded!! His wife Josephine McRae is 19 years old and their son, Clarence, is two and one-half years old.
Life was hard for the young family. Henry worked at a mill and soon, siblings, Mary Louise, Robert LeRoy, Leighton Eugene, and Margaret Mae follow Clarence. Money was tight and as in all families money can cause much tension in the marriage.
Josephine files for divorce January 21, 1931, through the District Court of Sedgwick County, Kansas, number 75319. The case comes before the judge on 11 May 1931. Josephine cites that "Henry (through no fault upon her part) has been guilty of extreme cruelty. That he has not struck her but is guilty of calling her vile and vulgar names and has threatened to strike her. That he has found fault, nagged and abused her and caused their marriage to be a failure." Josephine asks for the children to be put in her custody.
Henry and the Children
Try to think of Henry with his children, and his need for employment. Clarence is 15 and a big boy. He goes to work and can care for himself. Mary, 12 years old, tries to care for her younger siblings. Looking at orphanage life for his younger children, family members take them in.
Mary went to live with Uncle Bill and Aunt Ruth Cheatum, Clarence worked a farm job as he was out of grade school, my dad, Bob, went to live with Grandpa and Grandma McRae, and Leighton and Margaret went to live with Uncle Willie and Aunt Evie Trickel. Aunt Margaret tells me that she and Leighton were close for the rest of his life due to the relationship they had while living with their aunt and uncle. She said that she didn't know my dad, Bob, very well until after World War II.
Henry marries Jennie M. Withroder on June 16, 1937 in Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas. They lived in Kingman County. They had no children and the marriage was "set aside" restoring her former name. This document was filed 6 September 1940. She cites "extreme cruelty and gross neglect of duty, notwithstanding that this plaintiff has at all times during said marital union full-filled and performed all of her marital obligations as the wife."
She reports that Henry makes $100 per month and that she does not have the money to support herself. She requests all of the household furniture and the desire to live and remain in the residence property. She requests $5 per week to be delivered to the court for her support until further order of the court, and $50 as attorney fees. Sheriff Fred J. Twyman served Henry with the information on 7 day of September 1940. Judge Wallace signed the decree of divorce 14 November 1940. Henry did not appear in court for the proceedings and Jennie was given property and furnishings.
Henry again tries marriage. This time to Etta Dunsworth Byers, a divorcee. Leighton and Margaret come home to live with them. He is married to Etta at his death.
In 1944, Henry is working in the basement on the mill machinery, and takes a cold. At age 49, Henry is taken to Kingman Hosptial with pneumonia. In 1944, there are no antibotics to kill the infection and Henry dies. Henry is buried in the Hoosier Cemetery in Kingman, Kansas.
Josephine McRae Trickel Morris
After the divorce from Henry, Josephine married William V. Morris in 1937. Bill works for the railroad. They have four daughters, Annabelle Morris, Judith Morris, Karen Morris, and Jeanne Kay Morris. They were born between 1938 and 1945.
My grandmother, Josephine, was hospitalized in June 1951. She had a gallstone enter her liver duct and it was creating a blockage creating jaundice. A friend of her’s writes my dad a letter to assure Dad that his mother has had surgery and is doing fine. Infection sets in and she runs 106-107 fever. The doctor tells the family that if she pulls through the infection she will be mentally disabled. My dad drives from Ohio to Kansas to be with his family.
Josephine’s kidneys fail, and several days later, on June 17, 1951, she dies. She is buried in Hoosier Cemetery, Kingman, Kansas. Her tombstone is inscribed “Josephine Morris.” My Dad probably received the letter from her friend after he returned home from the funeral (I have the original letter).
Bill is unable to care for his young daughters. Aunt Ruth suggests that the girls be placed in a Methodist orphanage. Her church has connections with an orphanage in Michigan and so the girls are placed there. I remember a visit from them when I was about four years old. Dad went to the orphanage and brought them to our little house on Buffalo Ridge Road. My brothers and I lived in the attic as we only had one bedroom in the house. I don’t remember much about the visit but I do remember thinking it was fun that my dad had sisters so young!
Josephine’s
children: Leighton, Jeanne Kay,
Margaret, Annabelle, Mary, Robert, and Karen
Henry and Josephine’s Children
Margaret,
Leighton, Clarence, Robert, and Mary Trickel
Clarence Trickel
Clarence was a big boy and he took on many of
the chores of the house while his father worked to earn a living. After the divorce of his parents, Clarence
could support himself.
Upon his marriage to Dorothy Werner on November 14, 1936 in Pratt, Kansas, they take his sister, Mary, to live with them. He wanted her to have a better life and felt that living with them would give this to her.
A son, Darrel Lee Trickel, was born to them December 24, 1940 in Kingman, Kansas. Darrel was a joy to his parents. I remember Darrel and my brothers going hunting with all the men in 1956 while we were visiting. Darrel and his family reside in Kansas today.
Clarence was a mechanic and worked hard to provide a living for his family. He owned an auto mechanic shop and people came from miles around for repairs because Clarence was known for his honesty and his low cost repairs.
Clarence was quite a cigar smoker. He would fall asleep in his easy chair. When we were children, we would grab his cigars and put them behind his ears and laugh and take pictures at the sight he made.
In 1960, Uncle Clarence had cancer and was expected to last long. My father took us kids out of school and we went to Kansas for a couple of weeks. He died from lung cancer on February 12, 1960. He was buried on Valentine’s Day at the Hoosier Cemetery in Kingman.
Mary Louise Trickel
My Aunt Mary was a very special woman to me as a little girl. She always fused over me when we came to visit from Ohio. I guess I was her little girl! She would put my hair up in rags and that would make it come out in long finger curls down my back. Next, she would paint my fingernails (or what I had of them!), and then she would take me down the street and I would follow like a little duckling.
In 1996, I asked her to write about her life growing up in Kansas that she did. Below are excerpts from a 14-page story.
“Mary began life on a Monday evening when she was born at her grandparent’s home, Perry and Anna McRae. The house was one mile north and 2 and 3/4 mile west of Kingman. They lived on 80 acres where the railroad track cut through one corner. The barn is still there (2003), the house was moved to Kingman and a new house was built where the apple orchard was when she was little.
Grandpa Perry McRae would always warn the little ones who visited the apple orchard to take the salt shaker with them so they could salt the green apples before they ate them. This would keep them from getting sick.
Mary's brother, Clarence, was special to her. She followed him around from the time she could, and many times got him in trouble for not keeping a better eye on her. Seems she was always getting into something!
Her Grandpa George Trickel died when she was seven but she remembers that he called her his "Cotton Top" because her hair was so blonde. Grandma Margaret Trickel always had a lot of chickens and it was fun to gather the eggs and feed the chickens. When Grandpa Trickel died, Uncle George and Aunt Ida Carder came to live with Grandma.
In 1924, her dad, mom, and Uncle Cole went to Oklahoma to work in the oil fields. One day a man came to Grandpa McRae's house and wanted to take Clarence and her to Oklahoma to be with her parents so off they went. Traveling by a Model T Ford, they drove to Pawhuska where they lived in a tent! Her brother, Bob, was born in Oklahoma.
When they moved back to Kansas, they lived in the house where Clarence and his wife, Dorothy later lived. The next year, about 1925-26, they moved to Eldorado.
The winter was a bad one but fun. You could walk to the top of the barn on the snow! They lived on a farm near Walnut River where her Dad taught them how to swim. All but Mary, that is. She says she never learned but did learn to float!
When her sister, Margaret, was born in 1929, the family moved to Reno County. Her dad worked on a farm. It was about this time that her mother left the family. Her dad had help in the form of his sister, Alta and her husband, Bob Cole.
After a move to the Snell place, a hired woman came to help. She remembers that the woman only came because she was "after her daddy." She didn't stick around long so Mary learned how to bake bread that summer. Her dad would help by putting the breadboard on two chairs so she could knead the break, and then her dad would put the bread in the oven on the stove that used coal oil. (Since Mary doesn't mention the year, I am unsure how old she was.)
Shortly after, Bob fell out of a tree and broke his leg. Aunt Ruth and Grandma Azubia McRae came and took him to the doctor's. He stayed with Grandpa and Grandma McRae that summer. By August, Mary had typhoid fever. She lost all of her hair. Her mom came back to the house to take care of her, Bob got to come back home and they were a family again.
Her dad and Uncle Henry (her grandmother's brother), made some crutches from some catalpa trees for Bob. School started and Mary didn't want to go to school because she didn't have any hair. Aunt Ruth and Grandma McRae made her bonnets to match her dresses so she felt dressed up as she went off to school.
That year, her mother left the family again. Her dad had a bad temper. Mary went to live with Uncle Bill and Aunt Ruth, Clarence worked a farm job as he was out of grade school, Bob went to live with Grandpa and Grandma McRae, and Leighton and Margaret went to live with Uncle Willie and Aunt Evie. The family lived like this for several years.
Her dad remarried and went to work at the flour mill in Kingman. Clarence got married and then Mary married. Bob, Leighton, and Margaret went back home to live with their dad and his new wife, Jenny.”
(Gene and Mary Trickel Bowyer pictured left)
Mary had a son, Eugene, with William Albright. They later divorced, and then she married Eugene Bowyer. Gene did the rodeo circuit and they raised her son, Eugene, or Genie as he was called.
Aunt Mary and Uncle Gene moved to a senior community home to be taken care of in the late 1990s. Uncle Gene died March 26, 2001, and is buried at Hoosier Cemetery.
Aunt Mary keeps busy with other seniors. She is wheelchair-bound but that doesn't keep her from joining in activities with her housemates such as wheel-chair bowling!
Robert LeRoy Trickel
When Dad was born, his father was working as an oil pumper in Pershing, Oklahoma. They later moved back to Kansas where his mom and dad had been born and raised. Dad grew up in Kingman, Kansas. His father worked at the mill. When his mother and father divorced, he and all of his siblings were "farmed" out to relatives to be taken care of. Dad stayed with Grandma and Grandpa McRae.
Dad joined the U.S. Navy during World War II on November 2, 1943. He asked Esther Ingrahm to marry him before he went to Norfolk, Virginia to join the war efforts. She wanted to wait until the war was over. He served on the USNTS, Farragut, LST 683. While serving in the Pacific Theater, he received the Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. Dad's highest rank was that of Quartermaster Second Class.
After the war was over, Dad's ship served in Japan. While there, Dad noticed that the Japanese were eating live dogs from cages. Dad bought a Pekinese puppy, Pat, a Japanese kimono, and rice straw shoes to bring home. He hid Pat onboard the ship. He also brought Japanese currency home that I have saved. My half-sister, Cheri Trickel, has a Bible that was given to Dad by his mother to carry with him during his service days. When I was a child, I remember seeing a currency bill with signatures on it from his shipmates. Mom had that and an old pack of Lucky Strike War time cigarettes stored in a box in Aunt Evelyn Wymer’s basement when we moved to California. I don't know what happened to them.
This year, 2003, the State of Kansas University, Robert Dole Building, is erecting a memorial to all Kansas men who served during World War II. The state was requesting pictures of the men to put up in a memorial built out of twisted iron from the bombed New York World Trade Centers. The opening ceremony will be held in July 2003.
Dad met Mom, Rachella "Rae" Wymer Horton, after leaving his ship at
Norfolk, Virginia to travel to Oklahoma for his Navy discharge in March
1946. While traveling on a train from
the East Coast, Rae and her oldest sister, Maxine, were on their way home to
Cincinnati, Ohio from Virginia. Dad took one look at Mom, she had her long
black hair in pigtails, and asked her if she thought her mother (Maxine) would
mind if he talked with her. Don't know
what they talked about other than that she was raising a young fatherless son,
Joseph Horton, whose father had been killed
in action during the 
war.
Someone might be able to fill in what I never asked about but somehow,
they ended up together, getting married in Fort Scott, Kansas in May 1946. He
took Mom to meet his parents after the marriage.
Dad loved Joseph (Sonny) as his own, raising
him to later work with him in the construction business. Dad and Mom started Trickel Construction
Company out of Cleves, Hamilton County, Ohio.
Dad, Mom, and Sonny lived on Buffalo Ridge Road in Cleves when Robert
Charles Trickel was born on August 12, 1947. The house had a small bedroom downstairs with
an attic bedroom for the boys. Then
along I came on December 2, 1949, a mistake!
At least I was always told that my birth was unplanned! So the little house on Buffalo Ridge Road was
bulging at the seams. (In 1999, two days
before I visited Ohio to show my California family where I was born, the house
burned down to the ground. See picture.)
Dad and Mom purchased property on Wesselman
Road in Cleves. Dad built a small
two-bedroom block wall house at 227 Wesselman Road for our family. We lived there while Dad was getting his
business going. After building and selling several houses on the property along
Wesselman, Dad built a home across the street, "the big house!" The address was 227A Wesselman Road and in
1999, the current owner (3rd resident to live there) took my family, Cousin
Rhonda, and me into the house for a tour.
Many improvements had been made, the biggest, a staircase going
downstairs that was in the middle of the house which had been the dining room. Originally, you had to walk to the end of the
house where there were stairs going into the garage. From there, you walked through the garage to
get to the "bar room."
(“Big House,” 1958)
Next to the house, a small three-room structure was placed for Granny (Margaret Burnop Wymer), Mom's mother. She lived there so Mom could be close to her (Granny wouldn't live in the main house). Today, Granny's little house is an artist's workshop for the current owner.
In 1959, Dad ordered a blue and white Chevrolet El Camino pickup. On Sundays, he would take Bobby and me to the Edgewater Race Track with him to watch him drag race! He would place concrete blocks in the back for traction and take off. He had so many trophies that he told the track owner just to keep the trophies and give him the money. It was all of $7 or $8! I remember seeing receipts with Dad's track time on one side and a signed note from the track owner saying that he owed Dad $8. Guess he never "cashed" them in.
In 1960, Dad and Mom separated pending a divorce. Dad moved out of the house. Later Mom, Bobby and I moved to Miami, Florida along with Mom's sister, Maxine Homer and daughter, Rhonda. Sonny was married and out on his own by that year.
Dad later met Mary Rogers who had two children from a previous marriage. They married and had a daughter, Cheri, born December 13, 1969. They moved to Adams County, Ohio in 1978. There they purchased and ran a General Store at Cedar Mills, Ohio outside of Blue Creek. The General Store had a nice house next door and Dad and Mary were always on call for the area residents. Dad told me of a call that he received in the middle of the night asking if he would open up the store to sell a father milk for his baby. Dad told the man he would and then met him there.
The regular customers, they were ALL regulars as it was the only store and gasoline station in the area, "ran a tab." They would charge things and then pay up when they got paid (or sometimes maybe not!).
Cedar Mills General Store was a fun place with a pot-bellied stove and chairs sitting around it. All the old-timers would come in daily just to "shoot the breeze" with Dad and Mary. Mary ran a deli from there and hunters would drive through, gas up their trucks, grab a sandwich, talk with Dad about where the best places to hunt were, and then they'd stop back through and let him know if they got anything. Dad had his hunting trophies hanging on the walls as well as collected antiques. It was the place to be!
Adams County is a "dry county," no liquor sales allowed. Dad went to the county and asked permission to sell beer but they denied it. So, he stocked his garage full of beer to share with his friends who would come to visit. Some would travel from Cincinnati to fish in the Dad-made lake, and stay in the little house next to the lake that Dad built. After building the little house, he placed pennies in the concrete. Each penny was dated with the birth year of each of his children!
In July 1986, my three daughters and I flew to Florida to visit Sonny and his family. I had Bobby's daughter, Shellena Trickel, fly from Texas to Florida. (Shelly’s mom, Laura Stanley, had divorced Bobby and moved to Texas where her mother lived.) The crew jumped in Sonny's motorhome and drove to Ohio for a visit. This was a surprise for Dad and Mary as they had babysat Shellena for a while as a baby and they had not seen her for 14 years. We all had a great visit.
Dad turned 62 on September 16, 1986. He went to the Social Security office and signed up for his pension. Four nights later, Dad was found in his pickup truck submersed in his lake. Adams County News newspaper article dated 23 September 1986 from West Union, states, "Body of Man Pulled from Submerged Truck." The article states that the drop from Bethany Ridge Road to the lake was an estimated 45-foot drop and that there were no skid marks or any indication that Dad had applied the brakes of the truck. Randy Little, a resident of the area, states that he was driving on Bethany Ridge Road when he saw lights in the pond. He flagged an oncoming car containing several teens out for the night, two went into the water and Randy went to call the life squad. By the time they retrieved Dad from the truck, the life squad had arrived and they took Dad to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Rumors had it that Dad had discovered boys at the lake that evening and probably lost his temper and told them to get out. If there was drinking going on, which there were beer cans at the site, things may have escalated with Dad being struck over the head with a log or nearby branch. Evidence to support this would have been a cut that Dad had received behind his ear, the only physical evidence apparent. No charges were brought, and Dad's death certificate states that he died from a heart attack. There was also some water found in his lungs.
Funeral services were held in West Union, I
guess the nearest town with a mortuary.
The Ellis Funeral Home was small but overfilled with flowers from all
who knew Dad. Even the mailman sent
flowers. I was overwhelmed by all that
knew, respected, and loved Dad. Reverend
Gary Bennington spoke of Dad as a friend and a good neighbor. Dad was buried at White Oak Cemetery, a small
community cemetery on land donated by the owner of a tobacco field. Dad is overlooking tobacco plants. Now, only
if there was a brewery nearby!
Leighton Eugene Trickel
In the Kingman County History, Kingman County, Kansas and Its People book, Leighton and his wife, Betty were written about. Leighton attended Woodford School is Hoosier Township until moving to Kingman and attending the Kingman schools.
During his senior year, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, November 11, 1943. Leighton's daughter, Lucille, made a copy of his World War II journal with pages starting on July 7, 1944, when he board the U.S.S. Gulliam and shortly thereafter arrived in La Guaria, South America. This ship was sunk on July 19 by a ammo ship explosion at Port Chicago. Twenty-four sailors were reported missing. Leighton must have been injured though he doesn't mention it but did write that he left the Army Hospital on July 25.
He arrived in Antioch, California at the Fulton Ship Yards where he was commissioned to duty to the South Pacific in August 1944. The journal then moves to more than a year later, September 25, 1945, where their ship started for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. They arrived September 29. On October 13, they went aground and into dry dock where they stayed until November 4 before being dispatched to Guam.
On January 5, 1945, he noted that they crossed the equator and were headed for Expirita Santos (he wrote 15 men above the word "equator"). Don't know what that indicated but on January 19, they went to Siapan and he wrote "XXXXX five men dead, two missing."
Following are from the journal: February 14, Japs gave up part of South New Guinea. February 19, 1945, attacked by four suicide planes - three shot down, no casualties. April 7, went to Formosa. Engaged in sea battle of eight days, no casualties. After this they left for the China Coast and then to Iwo Jima. Eight men wounded in aircraft battle. I was one of them. Two of my buddies were killed. April 26, went aboard Hospital ship, U.S.S. Dogwood that was headed for Manila. November 18, 1945, left hospital in a half cast with the aid of crutch. (date out of order so possibly meant May?) May 19, caught my ship and headed for New Zealand. She was in tow of three barges of ammo. May 28, arrived at New Zealand and went into dry dock for repairs to the hull, damage due to torpedo. August 20, arrived in Guadalcanal for towing duty - towed mustard gas. September 6, 1945, went on emergency call after a ship went out of control and went up on the rocks. Lost ship but all hand safe.
Between October 19, 1945 and January 21, 1946, they were at Lunga Point, Guadalcanal, New Caledonia, Rennel, and Malita of Ford Island (went on fishing trip with Capt Parre && Eng. Off.), Espirita Santo, American Samoa, and Palmyra.
He went to Bird Island to see the birds with the captain, Mr. Elliot and Eng. Off. on January 24, 1946, headed off to Pearl Harbor from there. On the 29th of January they left Pearl for home, arriving in San Francisco on February 13, 1946.
On March 7, 1946, he was released from duty aboard the U.S.S. A.T.R. 27 and arrived at Norman, Oklahoma for discharge on March 14 where he was discharged on Mary 17, 1946.
Leighton was discharged from the Navy on March 17, 1946 and married Betty Lindt two weeks later. They settled in Harper, Kansas, where Leighton worked for the Chevrolet garage and Betty worked for Marie's Beauty Shop. With a chance for advancement, they moved to Kingman in the spring of 1947 where Leighton worked for Dodge Motors as body and paint repairman. He later owned a body and fender shop.
In 1948, they moved to Garfield, Kansas, where they both were employed on a farm until Leighton was called back into the Navy on October 10, 1950. He was discharged from Korean War Service on October 12, 1951. He then moved his family back to Kingman and went to work for N.E. Hobson & Son.
I remember visiting with Uncle Leighton and Aunt Betty during our trips to Kansas as a child. The girls, Lucille Trickel, Beverly Trickel, Marilyn Trickel and myself, had slumber parties together. One time, since I bit my fingernails, Bev bit her toenails to show me that she could! I loved visiting with my cousins. We’d play card games together while the adults played their card games.
The height of his career began when he became deputy to Sheriff Bob Lindt from August 1962 to January 1963. He continued working in the sheriff's department as undersheriff to Sheriff Charles Hanna. In January 1968, he was appointed to finish out Charles Hanna's term as Sheriff. Leighton served as Kingman County Sheriff for several years, successfully winning the elections of 1968, 1970, and 1972. He resigned from this position on January 7, 1974.
Betty continued working as a hairdresser at a shop that she had in her home. Today, 2003, Betty continues to provide service to her long-standing customers.
Leighton then went to work for Don Dye Company from then until his death from stomach cancer on September 4, 1979. Leighton is buried at Hoosier Cemetery in Kingman.
Betty and Leighton were members of the United Methodist Church in Kingman, and of the Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star.
This website notes that Leighton served in the Korean War: skyways.lib.ks.us/kansas/genweb/kingman/korea. This website also notes that he served in two wars from Kingman County, Kansas: skyways.lib.ks.us/kansas/genweb/kingman/twowars.
Margaret Mae Trickel
I remember Aunt Margaret from when I was a
little girl. I loved her cute short hair
as I had never seen short hair that curly before! On our visits from Ohio to Kansas, Dad always
made sure that we made our rounds to all of his sibling's homes and spent time
with our cousins. Aunt Margaret's
children, Steve Kautzer, Chuck Kautzer, and Patti Kautzer, were about the same age as
my brother, Bobby and me so it was perfect for playing. My brother, Sonny, hung out with Darrel. They would all go hunting for rabbits! I remember the women would be cooking up a
storm waiting for the guys to come home from the fields. My brother, Bobby,
would be twisting the head off the dead rabbits. I left because I didn't want to see any more,
but the boys thought it was great.
Aunt Margaret divorced her husband, Ken Kautzer , and later married Don Edwards. Don, as an ironworker, moved to where the work was so Aunt Margaret moved around, too! Aunt Margaret having moved to the West Coast, was my way to keep in contact with my dad's family. When my dad and Aunt Mary came out to visit Aunt Margaret and Uncle Don in 1983, I drove up with my girls to visit them in Hayward, California. After that visit, I felt very close to Aunt Margaret and kept in touch with her.
Uncle Don enjoyed and became involved in the sports that his sons, Donnie Edwards and David Edwards played. He was a Little League baseball manager for years and Aunt Margaret was the treasurer. Uncle Don was a member of the Masons.
When I married Jim the following year, Aunt Margaret, Uncle Don, Donnie, and Dave drove down for the wedding. Dad flew out from Ohio to “give me away.” My brother, Sonny and his family drove out with our Aunt Maxine from Ohio so we had quite a house full!
After Don retired, they moved to Silver Springs, Nevada, just outside of Virginia City. My family and I loved to visit her and Uncle Don. They are like grandparents to our children. We usually traveled around the 4th of July holiday and would spend a couple of days with them. During one visit, we were surprised by a call from Aunt Ann. She said that she and Aunt Judy were in the area and were going to drop in! What a surprise! I had not seen them since I was a baby.
It was during this visit that I found out where I got my nose! My mom had always said to me that she didn't know where I had gotten my nose as it wasn't like her's or Dad's. Jim took a picture of us ladies together and when I got home and had the film developed, there it was, the nose! Must be a McRae nose!
Anyway, several years later I mentioned to
Aunt Margaret that we would be making our usual trip up during the summer and
mentioned that it would be nice to have a family get-together. Aunt Margaret sent out invitations. Lucille and Marilyn, Leighton's daughters,
and Darrel, Clarence's son, flew out for the visit. My daughters, Gina and Theresa, were able to make it up as
well as Donnie and Dave, Aunt Margaret's boys and their families. I loved the weekend, having our family
together. Of course, pictures were
taken!
Theresa, Margaret, Darrel,
Marilyn (Donnie behind), Meghan, Lucille, Don,
Jim, Robyn, Gina and Meghan. Lani, Meghan, and Robbie (sitting)
Uncle Don died while on a trip across the
states to visit Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Dave flew to Texas to help his mom drive the motorhome back to
Nevada. A beautiful memorial was held
for Don with many friends attending.
Shortly thereafter, Aunt Margaret sold the home in Silver Springs and moved to Kansas. We surely miss her and her sweetness as we can't make it to Kansas like we did to Nevada!
Clarence and Dorothy Trickel, Robyn Trickel (with doll) Patti Kautzer, Bill Cheatum, Joseph Horton, Rachella Trickel, Darrel Trickel, ( ) Mary and Eugene Bowyer, Gene Albright
Seated: Robert C. Trickel, Ruth McRae Cheatum, and Chuck Kautzer
Ken Kautzer, Leighton and Betty Trickel (Clarence Trickel behind), Mary Trickel (Rachella Wymer Trickel behind), Ruth McRae Cheatum, Margaret Trickel Kautzer, Dorothy Werner Trickel
Seated: Robert C.
Trickel, Chuck Kautzer, Robyn Trickel and Patti Kautzer on Eugene Bowyer’s lap, Steve Kautzer
Leighton and Robert Trickel, circa 1927
Eugene Albright, Joseph Horton, Robert Trickel
Grandma Azubia McRae with Lucille Trickel, and Darrel Trickel, circa 1948
Elizabeth Broadway Smith Mary Ellen Henry, 1885
Mother of Cynthia Smith Henry, Sister of Margaret R. Henry Trickel
Grandmother of Margaret R. Henry
Trickel and Mary Ellen Henry
Ten-Mile Grove Cemetery, Paxton, Illinois
Mary Ellen Trickel Griffin’s House, Paxton, llinois
George & Ida Trickel Carder Tombstones, Sego Cemetery
William E. and Eva Price Trickel Tombstones
Clark Henry,
Trickel Cousin
Josephine
McRae, circa 1915 Josephine
McRae, 1946
Annabelle Morris Smith, Robyn Trickel Barrett Dowd, Judy Morris Flickner, Margaret Trickel Kautzer Edwards
Robert C. Trickel, 1952
Rachella Trickel, Robyn Trickel, 1955
Joseph Bain Horton (dog, Pat),
Robert Trickel, Rachella Trickel, Robert Trickel, 1954
Theresa Barrett, Shellena
Trickel, Robert Trickel, Regina Barrett, 1986 Grandpa Robert Trickel with Regina & Theresa Barrett, Cheri
Trickel standing, 1975 James Mason Bivens, son of Shellena Trickel Joseph Horton, Robert Trickel, Robyn Trickel Dowd, 1986 Robert C. Trickel, 1992 James and Robyn Dowd,
Marlo and Joseph Horton, Shirley and Robert Trickel, 1988
Leighton and Betty Lindt Trickel
James and Lucille Trickel Carpenter
Jerry & Marilyn Trickel Beach
David, Don, Margaret Trickel, Donnie Edwards, 1986
Dave and Danielle Edwards, Patti Kautzer Brace, and Margaret Trickel Edwards, 1997
Danielle Edwards, Regina Barrett, Robyn Trickel Dowd, Theresa
Barrett Clark, and Margaret Trickel Edwards, 1999
Mary Louise Trickel Albright Bowyer Family
Clarence Trickel
Clarence, Darrel, and Dorothy Trickel, 1956
Darrel Lee Trickel, 1950s