My Genealogy Hound

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 Springfield, 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.