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Re: Wickersham family II
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A note about RJ's brother whom was captured.

Biographical Sketch of James H. Wickersham, Laclede County, Missouri

From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1889.
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James H. Wickersham, county clerk, was born in Versailes, Woodford Co., Ky., and is the son of Isaac and Nancy (Wiggs) Wickersham, both natives of Kentucky. The parents moved to Springfield, Ill., at an early period, and here the father engaged in merchandising, which he followed
for seven years. On leaving, R. F. Herndon succeeded him, and this gentleman is now one of the largest merchants of Springfield. Mr. Wickersham moved to St. Louis, where he remained for ten years, being engaged in the stock business and in merchandising. He was a stone mason by trade, which occupation he followed in his youth. Both parents are now deceased. Of the ten children born to their union four are now living: Sasrah, Richard, James and John. The subject of this sketch was reared principally in St. Louis, and there received the greater part of his education, finishing at Lebanon Academy, whither he had moved in 1857. In 1861, in a company commanded by R. J. Wickersham (a brother), he enlisted and went out as lieutenant. After the siege of Vicksburg he was promoted to the rank of captain, in which position
he remained until the close of the war. He was engaged in all the principal battles of the campaign: Springfield, Elk Horn, Corinth, Baker's Creek, siege of Vicksburg, Rome (Ga.), Altoona, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta (Ga.), Franklin (Tenn.), and Blakely (Ala.). He was captured at Vicksburg and paroled. After six weeks in camp he was captured at Blakely, Ala., sent to Ship Island, thence to New Orleans,
thence to Jackson, Miss., and paroled. After the war he located at Cotton Plant, Ark., where he was engaged in merchandising until 1870, when he returned to Lebanon. In 1872 he went to St. Louis, where he engaged in the real estate business and where he remained until 1874. He then returned to Lebanon, and traveled for the Lebanon Woolen Manufacturing Company until 1876, when he was employed by Wallace Bros., wholesale and retail merchants, as book-keeper, and there remained until elected to the office of county clerk in 1886, his term expiring in 1890. Mr. Wickersham is a public spirited and enthusiastic citizen.
He is a Democrat in his political views.

And Richard's entry:

R. J. Wickersham, postmaster at Lebanon, Mo., was born in Woodford county, Ky., June 6, 1834, being the son of Isaac and Nancy (Wiggs) Wickersham, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Kentucky. Isaac Wickersham moved to Springfield, Ill., at quite an early date, and here he engaged in merchandising with R. F. Herndon's father, who is now one of the most extensive merchants of that city. From there Mr. Wickersham moved to St. Louis, where he embarked in the livery business and dealt in stock quite extensively. He moved to Lebanon, Mo., in 1859, and in 1861 he moved to Arkansas. He died in Carthage, Mo.

His son, R. J. Wickersham, was reared in Kentucky until eight years of age, when he accompanied his parents to Springfield, Ill., and here he was educated. He then went with his parents to St. Louis, where he assisted his father in buying and taking care of stock. He came to
Lebanon in 1859, and at the breaking out of the war he raised a company and started out with it as its captain. He took his company south, and in Arkansas it was disbanded, and he entered the Confederate service.
Mr. Wickersham again raised a company on the border of Arkansas, and joined Col. Robert Wood's Battalion, Confederate States Army, in which he was major. After Price's raid through Missouri Mr. Wickersham was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and was paroled at Shreveport, La. On their transportation on Red River on the steamer "Kentucky", when about ten miles below Shreveport, the vessel sank, and some 1,500 lives were lost. Mr. Wickersham lost two valuable horses and all his possessions. He participated in the battles of Spring-
field, Mo., Pea Ridge, Jenkins' Ferry and others. He was paroled at Shreveport, La., in 1865, and afterward returned to Cotton Plant, Ark., where he made his home until 1868, when he came to Lebanon, Mo., in 1869. Since that time he has been engaged in buying stock for a St.
Louis firm, and has probably bought more stock than any man in the Southwest. In 1885 he was appointed postmaster, which office he has held since. He was mayor of the city one term, but resigned before the term expired. He was married August 6, 1855, to Miss Mary Weigle, of St. Louis, and by whom he has nine children: Nannie, wife of Josiah Ivey; Ella, wife of William Watt, resides near Lincoln, Neb.; Lou, wife of Arthur L. Palmer; Mattie, wife of Eugene Hooker; Bettie L., Sallie, Mary, Abra and Vic.

1860 Photo of Lebanon MO is at
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/mo/laclede/leb1860.htm

John Russell

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