52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 1

Happy New Year! I have accepted Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge for 2018. Hers is one of my favorite blogs (see sidebar, right). Since I'm a bit late to the party, I plan to post about another ancestor later this week to catch up.

I begin this challenge where I began my blog in November...with Ida Ellen Andrews Rickell. In 1914 she wrote in her daughter's autograph book.

Her daughter, Bertha, was 23 years old at the time. In my first post I shared Ida's biography written by Bertha. She wrote "My mother was my dearest pal". I love that these writings give a glimpse into this mother and daughter relationship.

Isaac Rickell (1859-1936)

On this day, 158 years ago, Isaac Rickell was born in Yarborough Parish (Louth Registration District) Lincolnshire, England, to John and Mary Ann (Sinyard) Rickell.

In the 1861 England census John, Mary and Isaac were enumerated in the Yarborough parish, which according to Ancestry.com is/was an ecclesiastical parish associated within the Louth registration district. The entry for their household shows John was born in Laceby Parish, Mary in Welton Le Wold Parish and Isaac in Yarborough Parish (which I understand today is Yarburgh).

When Isaac was eight years old he lost his father in a tragic accident.

Lincolnshire Chronicle pub. 12 July 1867, pg. 5, col. 5

John Rickel left a wife and three children, the youngest only two weeks old. This article found online (BritishNewspaperArchive.co.uk) just last year, confirms the story passed down through the generations. Google is a beautiful thing.

Mary Rickell Wilson recorded this record of her family. Brandon is not a surname, but rather the name of the town in Wisconsin where she lived at the time.

The entry of Mary's death appears to be in the handwriting of her son, Isaac. Isaac's death was recorded by his daughter, Bertha.

Photo of Mary Ann Sinyard Rickell and her children taken in England.
Original with the Rickell family papers

Mary immigrated to the U.S. in 1869 with relatives. They eventually settled in Wisconsin. John William died 8 Jun 1869, about two weeks shy of his second birthday. Daughter Mary Ann died 20 Mar 1870, age eight. Of Mary's six children, only Isaac lived to adulthood.

According to family tradition, Mary "brought her three (surviving) children to America where there were better advantages and a chance for a good education for her children. Two or three families of their relatives came over at the same time but we don't know where they settled. It took two weeks to make the trip in a "sailing vessel". She and her children settled in Brandon, Fon-du-Lac County, Wisconsin. (Isaac) was nine years old at the time. (Mary) kept a boarding house to make a living for her family and send her children to school." This information was written by Isaac's daughter.

I wonder if the above photo was taken shortly before Mary and her family left for America. The children would be about the right ages. Perhaps a farewell gift for the family she left behind?

Isaac Rickell

Mary Ann Sinyard Rickell

At the time these two photos of Isaac and Mary Ann were taken, they were likely the only family left. There are no other photos with the same framing. And, Isaac's last sibling died when he was ten.

Isaac Rickell

Back of Photo

Isaac Rickell - Probably taken in Nebraska

A quick Google search of Hutchings R.R. Photo Car indicates they operated in central Nebraska. This photo was likely taken after Isaac and his mother moved to central Nebraska.

Isaac's mother died 9 May 1883 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, St. Edward, Boone County, Nebraska. Isaac was now alone and in the words of his daughter "decided to cast his lot with the pioneers of western Nebraska". Free land was available to United States citizens, and at 23, Isaac (a subject of the Queen of Great Britain) filed a Declaration of Intention to become a U.S. citizen.

Isaac Rickell - 1883 Declaration of Intention

On Isaac's 30th birthday, 128 years ago today, he married Ida Ellen Andrews in Hemingford, Box Butte County, Nebraska. More about Isaac's life and family in Box Butte County in a future installment....

Ida Ellen Andrews Rickell (1865-1926)

So I enter the world of blogging where I began my family history journey eight years ago. With my great grandmother, Ida Ellen Andrews. Her early life has been largely a mystery.

The only known photograph of Ida Ellen Andrews

Ida's daughter, Bertha, wrote the following undated biography of her mother, probably about the same time she wrote a biography of her father, Isaac Rickell. Isaac's biography was finished in 1948, twenty-two years after Ida's death. In the beginning, I took every detail as the gospel truth. In time I realized after many years, memories fade and details blur.

Bertha referred to her maternal grandparents as Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, apparently not knowing their given names. And, Isaac did not know their names when he applied for a marriage license in 1889. The clerk who recorded the information, listed Ida's surname as Anderson, but it is Andrews on their marriage certificate.

Application for Marriage License, 11 Nov 1889

Marriage Certificate, 14 Nov 1889

Obituary, Ida E. Andrews Rickell

Ida's obituary gives her year of birth as 1865 which supports her age of 24 at her marriage in 1889. The 1860 birth year in her biography is likely an error.

So who were Ida's parents? The search continues with my next post.