My Genealogy Hound

Gideon R. Brickey, of the firm of G. R. Brickey & Bros., general merchants and planters of Osceola, Mississippi County, Ark., first saw the light of day in Ste. Genevieve County, Mo., in 1850. The paternal ancestors of Mr. Brickey came originally from France in 1680, and settled in South Carolina, but later moved to Georgia. They left their native land on account of religious oppression, and were among the Huguenots who came to America at that time for freedom of belief. Since then this family has been among the pioneers in the settlement of several States. In 1814, John Brickey, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, settled in Washington, Mo. Of the nine living children born to John C. and Emma (Carpenter) Brickey, Gideon R. is the fourth. His parents were natives of Missouri, and the father was for a long time a miller in that section, but is now in business in Festus, Mo. Gideon R. Brickey attended the public schools of Missouri, and had a more thorough course of private instruction at home, until the age of eighteen; then, in 1872, with his brother Peter, made a trip on a flatboat, taking photographs on the Mississippi River. They were engaged in this novel life for three years, and in 1875 Mr. Brickey came to Osceola and started a general store. He is the oldest business man in this place. In 1878, his brother Peter, who was also interested in the business, made his home in Osceola, and in 1885, another brother, John, joined them also, so that the individual members of the above mentioned firm are Gideon R., Peter and John Brickey. They now have one of the largest and finest stores in Osceola. This firm also have large farming interests, and buy and sell cotton as well as gin it. In 1885, they started a produce and commission business in Memphis, Tenn., continued there one year, and then opened a branch store at Marianna, Lee County, Ark., where they have a rapidly increasing business. In 1882, they erected a fine storehouse, the finest perhaps, in Osceola. They have also bought town property, on which they have erected fine residences. In 1878, Mr. Brickey selected Miss Emily Price, a native of Tennessee, for his life companion. She died in 1883, and left one child, Maggie H., who died when four years old. In 1886, Mr. Brickey married, for a second time, Miss Lula Roussan, a native of Missouri, who bore him one child, Arthur Gideon. Peter Brickey was married about 1881, to Miss Laura E. Miller, a native of South Carolina. One child, a son, Garland Smith, is the result of this union. Mr. Brickey is at present living in Lee County, where he is managing the branch store at Marianna. He purchased the Hewitt estate at that place, and is becoming prominently identified with that section. John C., the youngest member of the firm, was born in 1856, and was educated mostly at home. He has been engaged in mercantile pursuits most of his life, and is a wide-awake, business young man. He was married in 1879, to Miss Emma C. Bastwick, a native of Illinois, and their union has been blessed by the birth of one child, a daughter named Mabel, whose birth occurred in 1880.