GEORGE M. RICKARD

George M. Rickard, a farmer near Plain City, was born in Loudoun County, Va. September 24, 1816. His parents, Simon and Mary M. (Sanbower) Rickard, were also natives of Loudoun County. The former was born June 9, 1790, and the latter April 16, 1793. His grandfather, Simon Rickard, Sr., was born in the same county, and was a soldier in the American Revolution. He died some years after in his native place. The parents of our subject were married November 20, 1813, and in 1818 removed to Culpeper County, where they resided till 1828, and migrated to Union County, Ohio, locating in what is now Darby Township. In April of the following year, Mr. Rickard treated a farm in Jerome Township, of Frederick Sager, and occupied it ten years. At the expiration of this time he purchased 120 acres of land, which was mostly in woods, He died January 5, 1844, and his widow August 5, 1862. Mr. Rickard was a private in the late war with Great Britain, having enlisted when a resident of Virginia. He served Jerome Township as Trustee for several years and filled various other local offices. He aided in founding the Lutheran Church of his township, and was prominently connected with it till his death. Mr. Rickard had three brothers-Peter, Michael and George. Peter moved to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1830, and died in 1860; Michael settled in Hancock County, Ill., and was Judge of the Common Pleas Court during the Mormon troubles, and died in 1857 ; George died in Virginia in 1880. Mr. Rickard, the subject of this notice, is the second son. He was reared to manhood on the farm his father located when he (George) was a boy, and received his education in the district schools of his native place. In early life he formed strong tastes for the farm, and has always followed that avocation on the most thoroughly scientific principles. His farm, which contains 600 acres, is one of the best improved and finely cultivated in the county. Mr. Rickard is also engaged in rearing and dealing in live stock of a good grade, and has acquired a marked success in keeping Spanish merino sheep, and Norman, Clydesdale and Belgium horses, which he has exhibited at both the Union County and Ohio State Fairs. In the pursuits of life, Mr. Rickard has been very successful and ranks second to none in the county as an agriculturist. Although not an aspirant for official honors, he has been chosen to the office of Township Trustee ten consecutive terms, and performed its duties with credit to himself. His marriage, February 11, 1845, to Miss Eliza Carey, was blest with three children ; of these two are living-John, born April 22, 1853, and Clark, born October 12, 1855. Mary F., the only daughter, was born June 9, 1851, and died September 9, 1872. Mrs. Rickard was born in Madison County January 15, 1821. She is a daughter of Abijah and Catharine (Johnson) Carey, and a granddaughter of Luther Carey (originally Cary), who emigrated from Ireland before the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Rickard are associated as members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an Elder and Trustee.