Richard Biddick, fifth child of Matthew and Mary Biddick, was born 14 January 1825, in the parish of St. Issey, Cornwall, England. He
was one of the few privileged people who had the opportunity to attend the
parish school. The sessions were at night and the weather often rainy or
foggy. This may have influenced his decision, when he turned age eleven, he
was glad to be considered almost a "man", and able to make himself useful about
the farm.
In the nearby parish of Little Petherick, Ann Rundell, daughter of James and Betsy Rundell, was born 28 October 1829, and was about seven years old when Richard Biddick
started to work at home on the farm. Ann was taught early in life all of the
household arts, and it was said that at the age of ten, she had become so
skilled in needlework that she was chosen to hem the new black mourning dresses
for herself, her mother, and her sisters, when her father died.
Although these young people lacked many of the advantages of our day, life was
not monotonous. Of course, walking was the popular means of travel, even for
moderate distances. Whole families regularly walked to church, no one of any
age being allowed to stay home, unless they were ill. Once Richard Biddick,
with a party of other youths, walked a distance of ten miles in the early
morning hours, just to witness the execution at sunrise of two men by hanging.
Occasionally there was a trip to the nearby seashore to bring a cart load of
pilchards (small fish similar to sardines). These were cleaned and salted for
future use, as meat was very scarce and expensive. A sheep's head cooked with
dumplings or a square of boiled, fat, pork, being considered a real treat.
It was on one of these expeditions to the beach, that Richard Biddick and Ann
Rundell met. They were married 5 April 1850, in the parish of St. Issey.
After their marriage the couple was given a set of two Staffordshire sheep by
Betsy Paynter Rundell.
Although the history of these sheep is somewhat obscure, it is highly probable
that they were given to William Paynter and Elizabeth Hawkey by his parents, Francis Paynter and Grace Vivian, on 15 January 1756, the day of their marriage. These sheep were probably
then passed to William and Elizabeth's son, Johnson, on his marriage to Catherine Hender, and thence to their youngest daughter, Betsy on her marriage to James
Rundell. She in turn gave them to her daughter, Ann Rundell, who passed them
to her youngest daughter, Nettie May Biddick when she married Charles Almond Iverson. The sheep were later given to their youngest daughter, Florence Elizabeth Iverson, who gave them to her great nephew, George William Phillips.
Immediately after the marriage ceremony, Richard and Ann Biddick joined a
number of relatives and began the long journey to America.
This party, of about a dozen souls, were soon aboard the "Bell", a freighter
specializing in hauling lumber. The captain and first mate of this vessel
could hardly agree on a route so they compromised and attempted a short cut
around the northern end of Newfoundland. This decision placed the ship and its
passengers in a precarious and almost disastrous situation.
At about 2 o'clock A. M., the morning of 4 May, the ship was sailing at a speed
of seven miles an hour. Suddenly, with tremendous force, the ship collided
with an iceberg. and had the ship not been very strongly built, the entire
ship, along with crew and passengers would have sunk to the bottom. Within a
few hours the entire ship was hemmed in by an ice field, this causing great
anxiety and delay. All able-bodied men were required to free the ship from the
ice, and about seven o'clock P. M., that evening, the "Bell" was free and on
her way again.
Another interesting event occurred in the discovery of a wrecked vessel. The
vessel had lost nearly all her rigging and two of her masts were gone. The
captain and four sailors went on board, finding only one woman, who was dead in
her bead. The crew brought away several things, such as sails, ropes, chains,
books, and so forth. Three vessels came alongside and lotted her also. (1st,
"Em" from Wales; 2nd, "Canton" from Glasgow, Scotland; 3rd, "John Bell" from
Ireland.) The wreck was called "Serphim" and was from Ireland, and probably
had passengers bound for America, for there was a great quantity of provisions,
clothes, and beds on board.
Last, but not least of their difficulties, was the shortage of food, due to
unexpected delays. Finally they reached the Canadian port of Quebec, on 29 May
1850. They continued their journey to Milwaukee, covering most of the distance
by ship. Then they bargained with a teamster to take them to Platteville,
Wisconsin.
After arriving in Platteville, Richard learned that by hard labor, mowing hay
and binding grain, he was able to earn about $15.00 a month. In the meantime,
his wife, Ann, who was living at the home of her sister, Eliza Carhart, was very ill of a fever. When Richard's job of two months was completed, all
but $5.00 of his wages were paid to the physician.
Richard and Ann were ambitious and in a short time they began farming near
Platteville. The Carharts and others helped them very much, by loaning them a
cow and an ox, seed to plant, hens to mother forty baby chicks given to Ann by
her eldest sister, Eliza Carhart.
When they came from England they had one child, a son named Johnson P., who was born on 15 April 1849. Shortly after their arrival in Platteville,
Ann gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth J., who was born 25 July 1850. While living near Platteville these two children
died, Johnson on 15 February 1851 and Elizabeth on 10 March 1853.
Additionally, two more boys were born. These were Thomas Henry, who was born 17 September 1853, and Edwin Addison, who was born 1 April 1855.
In 1857 Richard and Ann, with their two sons, moved to a new home in the
township of Mifflin, in neighboring Iowa County. In this new home nine
children were born to them: Harlan Hinder, born 28 June 1857; Laura Ann, born 19 March 1859; Adelia R., born 1860; Ida Paynter, born 20 October 1861; Adolphus Richard, born 10 November 1863; Annie Marie, born 1 October 1866; Allie A., born 1868; Nettie May, born 26 May 1870; and Harry Eugene, born 14 April 1872. Adelia died in 1869 and Allie died in 1868.
In the autumn of 1895, Richard and Ann moved to a beautiful new home in
Livingston, Wisconsin, leaving the farm work to the younger people. Here on 5
April 1900, the whole family joined in joyous celebration of Richard's and
Ann's golden wedding anniversary.
Ann had a sturdy form and a clear complexion and these qualities were envied by
many younger women. Her memory was remarkable and she was industrious, neat,
consistent, and methodical. The serious piety and frugality of her early
training became outstanding characteristics. Reading and needlework,
especially knitting, were her favorite pastimes.
Richard, too, was well built. He was tall, straight, rather thin, but, well
proportioned. He was a striking character with his beautiful wavy hair, full
beard, and clear violet eyes. His hobby was gardening and raising colorful
flowers. He greatly enjoyed fishing and baseball.
On 17 September 1910, Richard Biddick died and on 21 April 1918, Ann Biddick
died. They are buried in Rock Church Cemetery, two miles east of Livingston,
Wisconsin.
(Grindell, Marcia Rundell, Ruth Sue Allen, George Wm. Phillips, The
Rundell-Biddick Picnic Association History, Salt Lake City : Filmed by the
Genealogical Society of Utah, 1989
, Page #: 172-173, Family History Library (FHL), 35 North West Temple, Salt
Lake City, UT 84150, USA, Film #: 1421941 Item #: 3.
Compiled by Marcia Rundell Grindell and Ruth Sue Allen. Edited and researched
by George Wm. Phillips. Privately published Platteville, Wisconsin:
The Rundell Biddick Endowment, 1983.)
