|
BIOGRAPHIES
(Transcribed by Sharon Wick)
Source:
Centennial History of Belmont County, Ohio
and Representative Citizens.
Publ. Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago,
Illinois -
1903
JOHN W. VICKERS, sexton of the
Riverview Cemetery at Martin's Ferry, comes of old Northumberland
County, England, stock, although born in Meigs County, Ohio, June 4,
1858, a son of John W. and Sarah (Heslop) Vickers, both of whom
were born in England.
John W. Vickers, the father of our subject,
began as a child of five years to work in the mines, and he followed
that occupation for some 60 years. With the Heslop family, he
immigrated to the United States in 1844. He worked in the coal mines
at Bridgeport, Ohio, and in the Laughlin Nail Mill as long as strength
permitted. He died January 29, 1894, at the age of 71 years. In the
Methodist Church he was highly esteemed, for his life career was one
of probity. industry and usefulness. He was a prominent Odd Fellow for
many years and belonged to Lincoln Lodge, No. 49, of Benwood, West
Virginia. The mother of our subject died in March, 1859, and was
sincerely mourned as a good, Christian woman, a devoted member of the
Methodist Church. Her father died in Bridgeport at the age 1 of 60
years; prior to coming to the United States he was a mine boss; he
married his wife, Bettie Dixon, in England, and the
children born to John and Bettie (Dixon)
Heslop were the following: Richard, who died in England at
the age of 21 years; Jane, who married Edward
Southern, lived in Benwood, where her husband conducted the oldest
hotel in the place, during the Civil War; Betsey, who married
Ralph Robson, became the mother of 16 children, one of
whom is Richard Heslop, of Bellaire; Margaret
married George Anderson and both are deceased;
Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Robson; Susan, who
is Mrs. Robert Heslop, of Mason County, West
Virginia; Sarah, who became the mother of our subject; John,
who is deceased; and Cuthbert, who is deceased.
The six children born to the parents of the subject of
this sketch were: John and Thomas, who died in infancy;
Richard, who died at the age of six years; Elizabeth and
Jane, both of whom died in childhood; and John W., our
subject, the only survivor.
Mr. Vickers' education was acquired in Martin's
Ferry. His mother died when he was but nine months old and he was
taken to the home of his uncle, John Heslop, by whom he
was reared until he was of age, and with whom he remained until he was
24 years old and founded a home of his own. At this time he was an
iron worker in the Laughlin Nail Mill, where he continued to
work until the manufacture of steel nails revolutionized the nail
business. Mr. Vickers then was employed as boiler in the
Aetna Iron Works and remained there from 1885 to 1892, when the great
output of steel nails from the Carnegie Steel Works practically closed
the business at the Aetna plant.
In 1893 Mr. Vickers was made assessor. At
this time came the great business depression which caused many
formerly prosperous men and firms to suffer. Mr. Vickers
attended to the duties of his office and engaged in every form of
honorable work that came in his way. He served on the board of
trustees of the cemetery one month and then was made clerk and
secretary of the board, serving as such ever since. In 1898 he was
elected a member of the School Board and was re-elected in 1891. For
several years he has been a member of the Liberty Hose Company, No. 3,
of the fire department.
On October 18, 1882, Mr. Vickers was
married to Missouri White, the adopted daughter of
George White, of Martin's Ferry, and to them seven children
were born, as follows: Sarah; John, who died at the age
of eight months; Frederick G., Edna May, Harry W., George Dewey,
and Clarence C. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vickers are
consistent members of the Methodist Church and are carefully rearing
their children in the same faith. For 23 years Mr. Vickers has
been an officer in the Odd Fellow lodge, and is now filling the
position of past chief patriarch and is captain of the degree staff.
He has always taken an intelligent interest in politics and supports
the Republican party. Mr. Vickers is also connected with
the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and is a past officer in
the same. He is regarded as a man of worth in his community, honest
and upright and thoroughly reliable in everything he undertakes. He
has a wide circle of acquaintances and many friends. |
NOTES: |
