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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ALEXANDER BICKET, whose sketch now claims attention, is one of those agreeable men whom it is a pleasure to know, and who in all instances rank high in the estimation of the community in which they reside. He is at present engaged in carrying on a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres, which is pleasantly located on section 17, township 4, range 5, Randolph County.

Gavin Bicket, the father of our subject, was born in 1815, in Ayrshire, Scotland, and on coming to America, in 1841, made his way to this county. He located upon what was known as Hickory Grove, which place he owned in company with Hugh Easdale, an old pioneer of this section, and which later formed the northern part of the Easdale farm. He was a shrewd, hard working man, and has aided greatly in developing the agricultural resources of this county.

Mary Ann (Anderson) Bicket, the mother of our subject, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1822, and was the daughter of John Anderson, who came to America in 1843, becoming one of the pioneers in township 4, range 5. The parents of our subject were married in 1844, and continued to reside on the old homestead until 1873, when they removed to Nevada, Mo., where they are still living advanced in years. Of their large family of nine children, seven are living. They are both members of the Presbyterian Church, and in political matters the father is a stanch Republican.

Alexander Bicket, of this sketch, was born April 8, 1845, on the old home farm in this county, and resided under the parental roof until reaching his twenty-fifth year, in the meantime having acquired a good education in the common schools. In 1870, when ready to establish a home of his own, he was married to Jane Ann, the daughter of William Edmiston, of whom a sketch appears on another page in this Record. Mrs. Bicket was born June 18, 1852, and after her marriage with our subject, located with him in Tilden, this county, where he erected the first dwelling in the town. Nancy Blanch, their eldest daughter, was the first child born in Tilden. In those days a well built structure of the kind of which he was the owner was looked upon as a home of comfort, and undoubtedly afforded as pleasant a shelter as dwellings of more modern construction. In that house Mr. and Mrs. Bicket continued to reside until 1884, when they removed to Vernon County, Mo., and carried on farming for nine years.

In 1892 Mr. Bicket returned to this county and located on his present farm on section 17, where he is engaged in mixed farming. He takes pride in raising fine poultry, and for the past twenty-two years he has been a breeder of Buff-Cochin and Rose-Comb White Leghorn chickens. He has exhibited his poultry at county fairs, and has never failed to carry off the blue ribbon. He has had at one time as many as twenty-nine varieties, and some of his chickens have been valued at $15 apiece.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bicket were born six children, viz.: Nancy Blanch, the wife of Roy Palmer, who makes her home in Missouri; Charles, Mary Ann, William Gavin, George W. and Jennie May, who died in infancy. The parents are actively connected with the United Presbyterian Church at Prosperity, but while residing in the west, Mr. Bicket was a member of the Methodist Church. He has at all times been interested in the Sunday-school, and for six years was Superintendent.

Our subject is a Republican in politics, and has been Constable. The reliable manner in which he has ever performed the duties devolving upon him has won the esteem of all who know him, and his wife and family are accorded their due measure of regard likewise.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Randolph County, Illinois family biographies here: Randolph County, Illinois Biographies

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