Reuben R. WICKHAM ²

  General Notes:

PHOTO: submitted by Randy L. Hammond, obtained from a book by Mary Lantrow on the family of Reuben Wickham. (original copy of photo was of poor quality)

BIBLE OF BIMAEL ROBINS WICKHAM:
(After listing birth dates of Bimael Robins and Mary Balis:)
Reuben Wickham their son was born June the 9th 1819.
"Rheuben" Wickham Departed this life January the 20, 1891 Aged 71 years 7 months 11 days. (The death year of 1891 must be wrong since Ellen was listed as a widow in 1890 Veterans Census.)

TUSCARAWAS CO, OH MARRIAGES, 1808-1844, Vol. 1: Reuben Wickham and Elenor VanFossen were married 19 Aug 1841 by Joseph Matheny (Matherny) J. P.

1852 IA CENSUS, Fayette Co, Auburn Twp, p. 1:
Reuben Wickham 4 males, 3 females, 2 voters, 2 militia.

1854 IA CENSUS, Fayette Co, Auburn Twp: 4 males, 3 females, 1 voter, 1 militia (7 total)

LAND RECORDS: Reuben Wickham bought 40 acres of land in Fayette Co, IA (NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 29, in Twp 95 N or Range W in the District of Lands subject to sale at Dubuque, IA) - Land was originally awarded to Alexander Ferguson, Private in Captain Thompson's Company, Massachusetts Militia in War of 1812

1856 IA CENSUS, Fayette Co, Auburn Twp, p. 156: Reuben Wickham, 38, b. OH, farmer, Militia; Ellen, 35, b. OH; Charles, 13, b. OH; John, 11, b. OH; Mary, 9, b. IA; Franklin, 6, b. IA. The family had been in IA 10 yrs. (Children Isaac Wickham, 4, and R. A. Wickham, 1, were listed with Thomas Cox (Cone?), b. England, who was a shoemaker, living in Auburn Twp.)

1860 IA CENSUS, Fayette Co, Auburn Twp, Douglas P.O., p. 38: "Ruben Wickem", 43, farmer, $1200 real estate, $200 personal property, b. OH, could not read/write; Ellen, 38, b. OH, cannot read/write; John, 16, farm labor, b. OH; M. E., 13, b. IA; Frank, 10, b. IA; Isaac, 7, b. IA; "Rebecka", 5, b. IA; Lydia, 3, b. IA. (Listed next to the Allmon Williams family on census.)

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR SOLIDERS:
Name: Reuben Wickham
RESIDENCE: Windsor, Iowa
Enlistment Date: 22 Sep 1862
Side Served: Union
State Served: Iowa
Death Place: Lane County, Oregon
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 22 September 1862 at the age of 43.
Enlisted in Company C, 6th Cavalry Regiment Iowa on 22 Sep 1862.
Mustered Out Company C, 6th Cavalry Regiment Iowa on 17 Oct 1865 at Sioux City, IA.

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR REGIMENTS:
REGIMENT: 6th Cavalry Regiment Iowa
Date of Organization: 31 Jan 1863
Muster Date: 17 Oct 1865
Regiment State: Iowa
Regiment Type: Cavalry
Regiment Number: 6th
Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded: 1
Officers Died of Disease or Accident: 1
Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded: 21
Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident: 74
Regimental Soldiers and History: List of Soldiers

Regimental History
Sixth Cavalry IOWA
(3 YEARS)

Sixth Cavalry. Cols.,David S. Wilson, Samuel M. Pollock; Lieut Cols., Samuel M. Pollock, Edward P. Ten Broeck; Majs., Edward P. Ten Broeck, Thomas H. Shephard, Albert E. House, John Galligan, De Witt C. Cram. This regiment was recruited in different parts of the state, in a wide belt of country extending from the northeastern to the southwestern parts of it.

The regimental rendezvous was near the city of Davenport, where eight of the companies were mustered into the U. S. service on Jan. 31, 1863. Three of the companies were mustered a very few days afterward and the twelfth company on March 5. The regiment at this time had a few more than 1,100 names on its rolls, but they were constantly being increased by additional enlistments, so that when it left the rendezvous for active service not long afterwards it was nearly up to the maximum standard of a cavalry regiment.

The regimen served during its term of enlistment in the war against the Indians, and its record in the field brought no discredit to the fair fame of Iowa soldiers. It had hard marches, far away from the comforts or advantages of civilization; fought barbarous foes, usually in overwhelming numbers, and was always victorious.

The regiment was nearly always more or less divided, garrisoning different posts, scouting and marching in different directions, making a succinct history of its arduous services almost impossible. During its term of service its losses were as follows: deaths from battle, 25; deaths from disease, 66; wounded, 19; discharged, 87

Source: The Union Army, vol. 4

Battles Fought:
Fought on 3 Sep 1863 at White Stone Hill, DT.
Fought on 5 Sep 1863 at White Stone Hill, DT.
Fought on 6 Dec 1863 at Sioux City, IA.
Fought on 1 Mar 1864 at Fort Randall, DT.
Fought on 8 Aug 1864 at Bad Lands, DT.
Fought on 28 Aug 1864 at Fort Rice, DT.
Fought on 8 Sep 1864 at Heart River, DT.
Fought on 21 Sep 1864 at Fort Rice, DT.
Fought on 27 Sep 1864 at Fort Rice, DT.
Fought on 14 Apr 1865.

History of Fayette Co, IA, 1878:
p. 441: "War Record of Fayette Co - 6th IA Cavalry, Comp. C.": Orison Wickham & R. Wickham enlisted Sep 22, 1862
p. 758: Wickham, Reuben, farmer, Sec 29; P.O. Douglas; born in OH in 1818. Married Ellen Vanfossen in 1842; she was born in OH in 1826; have 10 children - Carter E., John, Elizabeth, Frank, Isaac, Rebecca, Lydia, Sophia, Clara and William; lost one child that died in infancy. Came to this county in 1853, and settled on his present place; has farm of 163 acres valued $3,000; is one of the earliest settlers in the town and county; went to Cedar Rapids to mill, 90 miles distant, and has experienced all the endurance of pioneer life; also served in the army, enlisting in 6th IA Cav. in 1862 and served 3 years under Gen. Sully; was in the battle of White Stone Hill in Dakota Territory and other engagements in the Bad Lands, up the Missouri, was honorably discharged and mustered out at Sioux City.

1870 IA CENSUS, Fayette Co, Auburn Twp, Douglas P.O.: Reuben Wickham, 53, $1500 real estate, $640 personal property, b. NY; Ellen, 48, keeping house, b. NY; Franklin, 20, works on farm, b. IA; Isaac, 17, works on farm, b. IA; Rebecca, 15, b. IA; Lydia, 12, b. IA; Sophia, 10, b. IA; Clara, 7, b. IA; William, 3, b. IA.

1880 IA CENSUS, Fayette Co, Auburn Twp: Reuben Wickham, 60, farmer, b. OH, parents b. NY; wife Ellen, 55, keeping house, b. OH, parents b. OH; dau. Lydia J., 23, single; dau. Clara, 17; son Willie, 13. All children were b. IA and parents b. OH.

1885 IA CENSUS, Fayette Co, Auburn Twp: "Ruben" Wickham, 64, farmer, b. OH, legible to vote; Ellen, 59, keeping house, b. OH; "Lida" J., 27, assist keeping house, b. Fayette Co, IA; William H., 17, assist farming, b. Fayette Co, IA.

NEWSPAPER CLIPPING, Aug. 27,1889: We see by the Windsor article of last week that Reuben Wickham has sold his fine farm in Southwest Auburn to Johnie Jacobi and his father-in-law Mr. Winter, such may be the case we cannot say but can say that it was not so the time of that correspondents writing. - - - Ella Wickham is at her Granma Wickham's making preparations for their journey to Oregon where she will accompany her father.

INFO FROM RANDY HAMMOND: Reuben Wickham bought either an unimproved 40 or 80 acres of land in OR.

CIVIL WAR PENSION APPLICATIONS: Reuben Wickham, Comp. C., 6th IA Cav -
Reuben Wickham filed for an invalid pension Jan 6, 1890 in OR.
Ellen Wickham filed for a widow's pension May 23, 1890 in OR.

1890 VETERANS SCHEDULE, OR, Lane Co, Leaburgh, June 1890: Ellen Wickham, widow of "Rubin" Wickham, Private Comp. A, 6th IA Cav. - discharge papers in pension agents hands.

HEADSTONES PROVIDED FOR DECEASED UNION CIVIL WAR VETERANS, 1879-1903: Reuben Wickham, OR - d. Jan 6, 1891 - Pvt. Comp. C, 6th IA Cavy - cemetery at or near Springfield, OR - headstone supplied by Vermont Marble Company, ordered 1901.

FAMILY LORE: Reuben Wickham went to OR with a cousin.
(Note: The cousin could have been Jasper Wickham, son of Simeon James Wickham, who also moved from IA to OR.)

1910 HISTORY OF FAYETTE CO, IA:
Civil War Soldiers Index
Orison Wickham p. 254
R. Wickham p. 255
John S. Wickham, p. 256

LETTER TO ARTHUR WICKHAM FROM MRS. CHARLES CARTER, Springfield, OR, 1940's: "Grandpa served 3 years in Civil War in 5th Calvary. He married Ellen Van Fossen - her folks came from Holland. Reuben and Ellen had 9 children (6 girls and 3 boys). The boys are:
1. John (oldest)
2. Isaac
3. William
Grandpa was quite a violin player." "Grandpa went to OR and bought a farm. He then went back to IA and got grandma and my father and mother, since grandpa was in poor health. They arrived in Oct. and grandpa died in Jan. There are no other Wickhams in OR."

LETTER TO ARTHUR WICKHAM FROM MRS. CHARLES CARTER, Rt. 2, Springfield, OR, June 12, 1941:
"Aunt Rebecca died when young in Iowa
Uncle Frank - to Oregon and died - wife Rose
Uncle Isaac - died about 8 years ago in Iowa
Uncle John - mother's oldest brother - had a daughter Mrs. Ed Miller
Aunt Carlretta (Mrs. Sophia Woodson) - mother's oldest sister - she had a daughter Florence Ansel (Ansell?) in Washington
I can't remember hearing mother speak of Uncle Tim or Ott
I was named after my grandmother Ellen."

1940's LETTER TO ARTHUR WICKHAM (author not recorded): "Reuben Wickham married Ellen Van Fossen - they both died Oregon - They had 10 children: Frank, Isaac, Rebecca, Lydia, John, Ceaterette(??), Lizzi, Sophia, Clara, Will. The John mentioned above was the next to the oldest child. He was born Newcornerstown (Tuscarawas Co) Ohio March 11, 1844 - married Emma William October 13, 1867 in Fayette Co, IA. John came to IA from OH at age 4 and settled in Linn Co., near Cedar Rapids (perhaps Center Point). He died Dec. 21, 1927. Reuben's sister married Jonathan Kees. They moved to FL and then to OR."

1989 LETTER TO GERALD WICKHAM FROM JANICE MILLER, Cedar Rapids, IA: "Reuben Wickham born Ohio June 1819 married Ellen Van Fossen Nov 6, 1841 Tuskacars, Ohio (born Dec 25, 1824, Ohio) - came to Iowa approx 1842 - Moved to Leaburg - County Lane, Oregan in 1889 bought timber land of 80 acres for $300 - 8 acres of it cleared - Also disabled from war applied for pension and he died Jan 27, 1890. Ellen then applied for it and apparantly her daughter Lydia and husband Chas. Rossman lived with her - Many affidavits were filed to prove she had never remarried and land wasn't much - They were very poor and Mr. Rossmann worked hard to keep them going. She died Oct 25, 1906."

RESEARCH QUESTION FROM THERESA POSTEL PAYNE: "My ggg grandparents were Robert Barr (b. 1796) and Elizabeth (last name unknown, b. abt 1804 OH). Their children that I am positive about were Esabelle Barr (1825 OH - my gg Grandmother who m. Samuel Postel in New Philadelphia, OH, and he grew up in the Tusc. Co. and Guernsey Co. area of OH); Henry (b. abt 1834 OH); Hugh (b. abt 1835 OH) and Lucinda (b. abt 1838). One source also lists a Thomas Barr. At some point, Elizabeth and Robert moved to Buchanan Co, IA and are listed on the 1850 Buchanan Co. census. In 1848, Isabell and Samuel came to Buchanan Co, spent the winter and then moved to Otter Creek, Linn Co., IA and stayed there for three years, then they moved back to Buchanan Co. and bought land from Robert and Elizabeth. Also at this time in Buchanan Co, about 20 minutes away, there was a Thomas Barr, who I am trying to prove (or disprove) is the son of Elizabeth and Robert. In the Buchanan County History Book, it lists this Thomas (b. 1823 Carroll Co, OH0 m. to Elenor Murphy. It says: " 81 residents listed on the 1847 ? Twp, Buchanan Co., IA, one of the being Thomas Barr. Thomas became a settler on 11-11-1846. He built a shanty in the Northern part of the Two. Traveled with his wife and his cousin, Reuben Wickham and Reuben's wife. Thomas' father was Robert Barr, born in Northern Ireland and when he first came to American, he settled in Washington Co., PA."
What I have been speculating is that, if this Thomas IS the son of Robert and Elizabeth, Elizabeth could be a Wickham or a Ballis. I do know that Bimeal Wickham and Mary Balis were buried in the Lafayette Cemetery, only a few stones away from Sarah Postel, Samuel Postel's mother.

Reuben married Elenor "Ellen" VANFOSSEN on 19 Aug 1841 in Tuscarawas Co, OH.¹ (Elenor "Ellen" VANFOSSEN was born on 24 Dec 1824 in OH ⁴ and died on 25 Oct 1906 in Leaburg, Lane Co., OR.)