(c)WILLIAM GIBSON RICKETTS, born 1832 in Missouri.
He married SUSAN C McDANIEL.

Children were:
James Jasper Ricketts, 1856
Isaac Morgan Jr. Ricketts 1858-1898
Sarah Frances Ricketts, 1859 who married CHARLES L. PATTERSON on 14 May 1876 in Boone County, Arkansas.
William Dixon Ricketts, 1863
Mary Ricketts, 1865
John Irvin Ricketts, 1872(this is Clyde Ricketts line).
John Irvin Ricketts married:
(1) HARRIETT C. ALLISON on 14 January 1894 in Boone County, Arkansas (they divorced)

A choice tidbit from Clyde Ricketts

I had always thought that Harriet Catherine Allison's mother was named Sarah Jane HOUSTON because the death certificate of Sarah Jane ALLISON listed her father as AUBREY HOUSTON. That turned out to be incorrect. His name was HOUSTON AUBREY, just reverse from what was on Sarah Jane's death certificate.

Anyway, while researching the ALLISON family, I discovered the correct name of Sara Jane's father. Further research led me to this unusual revelation.

Harriet Catherine Allison married JOHN IRVIN RICKETTS
Harriet's parents were: W. H. H. (Doc) Allison & Sarah Jane Aubrey-Allison
Sarah Jane Aubrey-Allison's parents were:
Houston Craven Aubrey
Mary Callaway-Aubrey
Mary Callaway-Aubrey's parents were:
Larkin S. Callaway
Susan Howell
Larkin S. Callaway's parents were: Flanders Callaway
Jemima Boone.Jemima Boone's father was DANIEL BOONE
That means that Clyde Ricketts is a 6th generation grandson of Daniel Boone.

Harriet later married D.J. ALLISON on 8 July 1907 in Boone County, Arkansas.
Harriett Allison Ricketts Allison married:
(3)DANIEL PHILLIPS on 29 October 1910 in Newton County, Arkansas.
Harriett Allison was daughter of William Henry ALLISON and Sarah Jane AUBREY.
Harriet Allison Ricketts Allison Phillips died 6 July 1942 in Newton County and is buried in Jasper Cemetery.

John Irvin Ricketts married a second time to:
ANNA ELIZABETH NICHOLS

(5) SEABORN RICKETTS, born 1806
He married SUSAN KINGSFORT,born 1812.
Children were:
William E Ricketts, 1829 who married MARY (mnu)
James Ricketts, 1832
Francis Ricketts, 1834
Daniel Ricketts, 1836
Nancy Ricketts, 1838 who married JAMES AMOS.
Mary Ricketts, 1841
Rebecca Ricketts, 1843.
John Simpson Ricketts, 1846 Missouri, who married MARY E. ARNHART.

Barzilla Ricketts married REBECCA CLEMONS
Rebecca was born 1792 in North Carolina (unknown county)
Barzilla and Rebecca Ricketts children were:
(1)JOHN CLEMONS RICKETTS
born 1819 in Green County, Tennessee.
He married MARTHA PRICE.
John Clemons Ricketts died ca 1863 in Civil War.
He was thought to have served in the Co. C ,27th Tenn. Infantry.
Am hoping to get his Civil War record before too long.
John Clemons Ricketts was father of the following children:
(a)Thomas S Ricketts b 1843
(b)Lydia M Ricketts b 1847
(c)J W Ricketts b 1850
(d)Mary A Ricketts b 1854
(e)J H Ricketts b 1855 and
(f)Elizabeth Ricketts born 1858.

(2)WILLIAM D RICKETTS born 1820 in Greene County,Tennessee.
He married :
(1) LOURINDA PRICE, born 1824 and had children :
(i) Martilda Ricketts b 1847 and
(ii)Elizabeth B Ricketts b 1849
William D Ricketts married :
(2) ELIZA ?(maiden name unknown)born 1822.

(3)REV. JAMES CLINTON RICKETTS, born 1821 in Green County, Tennessee
He married (1) MARY (maiden name unknown) born 1820 and they had:
(i) James C Ricketts b 1856 and
(ii) Sarah Ellen Ricketts b 1863.
James Clinton Ricketts died after 1880 in Grayson County, Texas.

(4)PRESELLA RICKETTS(female) born 1822 in Greene County, Tennessee.

(5)STEPHEN RICKETTS, born 30 August 1823 in Greene County, Tennessee. Stephen is my husband's paternal ancestor.

Stephen Ricketts married :
(1)TIBITHA NICHOLS ca1848 in Arkansas or before leaving Tennessee.
It is said Stephen followed the Nichols families to Arkansas to be with Tibitha.
(

He and Tibitha Nichols Ricketts had the following children:

He married SARAH SMITH on 5 September 1872 in Newton County,
Arkansas.
William S Ricketts died 5 June 1935 Muskogee County,Oklahoma,
buried at Haskell,Oklahoma.
Sarah's father was Jeremiah Smith
Sarah's mother was Margaret Armstrong (Byrd?).
She was a sister to Nancy Catherine Campbell (Mrs. Peter C Campbell).
Sarah Smith Ricketts was born 14 Aug 1849 in Newton County, Arkansas.
She died 30 April 1929, buried in Haskell,Oklahoma Cemetery

William and Sarah Smith Ricketts children:

(1)JERRYMIAH MONROE RICKETTS, born 28 Aug 1873 in Newton County,Arkansas.
Jerry married:
(1)OLLIE E. HARRIS on 11 Jan 1900 in Newton County, Arkansas.
Ollie was daughter of William G Harris and second wife, Louisa Anna Robinson.
Ollie was half-sister to our great-grandmother Rachel Caroline Harris Flood. We are not only related through this branch, but also through the Jeremiah Smith family and the William G Harris Family. The more family research I do, the more Newton County kinfolks we are related to.
Children:
(i)Bertha Lemay Ricketts, 1901, who married KIVEL J. MEDLOCK.

(ii) Fred W Ricketts, 1903.

(iii) Johna Merle Ricketts, 1905.She married FLOYD WILBURN.

(iv) Rotha Leora Ricketts, 1908. She married JAMES DAVE BURDINE.

(v) Ira Bufford Ricketts, 1911.
Ira married AUDA MAE (mnu)probably in Cartersville, Oklahoma.
They had an unknown son.
Ira married (2)DECIMA DEAN LAWRENCE on 7 December 1937 in Yakimah, Washington.
Ira Ricketts family lived near our Flood family and his children went to school with the Flood kids.
Wish I had known how Ira was related to us when he was living. He could have told me so much.
His family did not have a picture of Ollie Harris Ricketts.
Hopefully, someone out there on the Internet will share HER picture with me.
Ira died in 1968 and is buried at Cherokee Memorial Park near Lodi, California.

(vi) Alma Ricketts, born 1913, who married ARVIL SHATSWELL in 1929 in Newton County, Arkansas.
I am hoping some of the Shatswell family has some pictures to share with me.

Ollie Harris Ricketts died ca 1920 and is buried in Deer Cemetery, Newton County, Arkansas.
Jerry Ricketts married :
(2) FLOY HEYDENREICH PEOPLES on 6 Aug 1922 in Newton County, Arkansas.
Children by his second marriage were: (vii) Arvilla Glatha Ricketts, born 1923, who married HAROLD WILLIAMS

(viii) John Henry Ricketts, born 1925, who married LORENE PETERSON.

(ix) Helen Marian Ricketts, born 1927, who married JOHN LEWIS WHEELER.

(x) William Osmond Ricketts, born 1929, who married LUCY JOAN JOHNSON .

Jerrymiah Ricketts died 21 January 1958,at Haskell,Oklahoma.

continuing with William S and Sarah Smith Ricketts children:
Thanks to Roy and Jackie Ricketts for their information.

(2)JOHN ANDERSON RICKETTS II , born 24 Feb 1875 in Newton County, Arkansas.
John married:
(1) LUCINDA CAROLINE REDDELL on 7 Mar 1895 in Newton County.
Lucinda was daughter of David Vincent Reddell and Elizabeth Criner.
Lucinda was born 30 Nov 1874 in Newton County, Arkansas.
She died in 1907 in Porum, Haskell County, Oklahoma, with burial at Porum,Oklahoma.
Their Children were:
(a) WILLIAM J "DAVID" RICKETTS ( Uncle Will ), born 16 November 1895 /96? .
He never married; he was almost blind . Died 14 June 1969 . No Children.

(b) JOSEPH McKINLEY RICKETTS, born 4 January 1898
Married MARCETTA JACKSON on 24 Sept 1928 . No Children

(c)JEREMIAH (JERRY)HOBSON RICKETTS, b. 25 April 1900 in Jasper (Newton County, Arkansas.
Died 18 Nov. 1993 in Coarsegold California
Married DICEY LUGEAN SMITH, born 7 September 1901 in Clinton Arkansas ( Van Buren County).
He died 18 June 1991 .
Dicey's father was Harvey Monrow Smith and mother was Maudie Stanley.
Their children are:

(i) Floia Alonia Ricketts, born 4 May 1926 in Oklahoma.
Married on 23 July 1948 to SELMER HOOD who was born 30 July 1923.
They live in Ozark, Arkansas.
children were:
1)Johnnie Wayne Hood, born 18 Sept 1949 in Wasco, California .
Johnnie married (1)? . Had no children
Johnnie Hood married :
(2) NANCY SIMPSON WOODALL GREEN on 4 Dec. 1983/84
Had no kids. Lived around Bakersfield CA.

2)Cyntha J. Hood, born 28 December 1954
Cyntha married on 30 Jan. 1976 to PETER L. BARTER.
Live around San Diego, California.
Children are
(1)Jason P. Barter, born 1978
(2)Jennifer E. Barter, born 1981

(ii) Ruby Marie Ricketts ,born 1928.
Married in Wasco California to HAROLD CHAMBERS.
They live in Bakersfield, California.
Children were Jerry Lee , Donna , Ricky Dean , Richard and Kenneth Chambers.

(iii) Verla Mae Ricketts born 10 October 1930
Married on 16 Nov. 1950 at Wasco California to MITCHELL BANKHEAD BINGHAM Mitchell who was born 9 Sept 1924.
Children are:
1)Michael Bernard Bingham who married GLENDA RUTH KELLY
children are:
(1)Kim Marie Bingham
(2)Michael Wesley Bingham
(3) Kelly Michael Bingham

2) Mary Bernice Bingham who married ? HERBERT KALAR.
children are:
Herbert's No.l Marriage:
(1)Camille Leanne Kalar
(2)Melynda Deanne Kalar
Second Marriage:
(3) Dawn Marie Kalar
(4) Denise Nickol Kalar

3) Marla Benita Bingham who married ? WADE SCOTT LARSON
Children are :
(1) Warren Samuel Larson
(2) LeahRuth Larson
(3) Anna Grace Larson
(4) Sally Gean Larson
(5) Rebecca Joy Larson

4) Adopted Juanita Marie Bingham b. ?
Juanita married
(1)BILL GRIGSBY
child,Morgan Grigsby
Juanita married (2) PATRICK BURAU.
child, Mathew Cody Burau
Died in 1995/96

5) Adopted Marsha Beth Bingham b.?
Marsha married ? CHARLES RAY JONES
Children are:
(1) Jayda Ashley Jones
(2) Zachary Cameron Jones

(iv) Otha Oleta Ricketts
Married (1) L.B. COBERT L. B.; all live at Hollister CA.
children are
1) Larry Boyd Cobert b. ? M 2 times ?
2) Pamela Cobert b. ? m. ? CLAUDE WILSON b.?
children are
2Boys
3)Kathy Cobert b.? m?
children 1 boy 1 girl b?

(v)Roy Dillard Ricketts born at Butner, Oklahoma.
Married at Bakersfield California to HILDA RUTH DAWSON, born 26 June 1941 at Clayton, Oklahoma.
Children are :
1) Debra Lugean Ricketts, born Delano California
Married SALVATORY (SALL) DIAZ.
children are :
(1)Kenneth David Diaz
(2) Daniel Roy Diaz

2)Ricky Dean Ricketts
Ricky married #1- DONNA JACKSON
Rickey married #2 SUE ANN (mnu)?
children are :
(1) Aleisa Ricketts

(2) Nichol Ricketts

3) Tammie Suann Ricketts ,married WILLIAM TAYLOR (Divorced )
children are:
(i) Niki Taylor
(ii) Garrett Taylor

4) Patricia Dawn Ricketts
married to RUSSEL WAYNE WILSON
children are
(1) Dylon Wayne Wilson
(2) Cory Sean Wilson

(d)JOHN BEE SANFORD RICKETTS, born 8 March 1903
Died about 1997
Married on 3 Oct. 1931 at Okemah , Oklahoma to NELLIE MOZELL LINBARGER, born 22 February 1916 at Jamestown, Arkansas.
Parents was Edward Linebarger & Mamie Etta Grady
stepfather was William Perry Crawford.
children are:
(i)Wanda Lee Ricketts, born 10 April 1932
Married in Ada Oklahoma to :(1) GENE CALVIN CURRY.
Married (2)L.C. BUTLER.
Children are:
Connie June Curry b. ? ;
Gloria Jean Curry b. ? ;
Dianna Lynn Curry b. ? ;
John Calvin Curry b. ?

(ii)Donald Joe Ricketts, born 28 May 1934.Married to OLETA WILLIAMS.Oleta Williams.(Divorced)
Children are :
1)Donnell Ricketts b. ?

(iii) Joyce Maxine Ricketts
d.?
Married in Ada, Oklahoma to RONALD RAY BARNES.
children are
Rhonda R. Barnes b. ?;
Staci Sue Barnes b. ?;
Traci Larou Barnes b. ?

(iv) Arthur Odell Ricketts,born in Okemah, Oklahoma.
Married to CHARLOTTE ANN McCLURE b. ?
children are
1)Shelly Renee Ricketts b.?
2)John Duane Ricketts b. ?

(v) Edward Keith Rickettsin Okemah, Oklahoma.
Married in Ada OK. to UNKNOWN ?
Children are :
1)Lisa Carol Ricketts b.?
2)Kieth Allen Ricketts b.?
3)Jerry Ricketts b.?
4)Carri Ricketts b.?
5) Kimberly K. Ricketts b.?

(vi)Carolyn Sue Ricketts in Okemah, Oklahoma.
Married DAYTON DUANE RHOADES(divorced ).
Married(2)? GREGORY
children are
1)Shannon D. Rhoades b.?
2)Shayna Due Rhoades b.?

(vii)Kathryn Lynn Rickettsin Okemah, Oklahoma
Married to WILLIAM ARLAND GWALTNEY b.?
children are
Monica A. Gwaltney b.?
Jay T. Gwaltney b.?

(viii) Cindy Lou Ricketts
Married #1 in Ada, Oklahoma to RICKEY LEE BROUGHTON(divorced)
Married #2 to ALBERT GRANADO ?
Children are
1)Christy L. Broughton b.?
2)Stevi Elizabeth Granado b.?

(e)ALICE ALONA RICKETTS, born 15 January 1904
Died 16 Jan 1943 at Wasco, California
Buried at Delano, California
Alice married (1)ERNEST SMITH d.? at Okemah, Oklahoma
Alice married (2) CAM WILLIAMS b? M.?
children are :
(i)Virgil Smith b.? d.?
(ii)Lillian Smith b.?
(iii)Carolyn ( Bug ) Smith b.?
(iv)Donald Williams b.?

(f)SARAH ELIZABETH RICKETTS, born 5 April 1905 Newton County, Arkansas. d.?
Married on 22 Aug 1922 to ERNEST LOWE , born 10 June 1902 in Vian, Oklahoma.
Ernest died 25 April 1966
children are:
(i)James Nole Lowe, born 22 Sept. 1923. He died ?
Married ? PEARL MORRISON
Children are
Linda Louise Lowe

(ii)Johnny Lowe married ? VELMA IRENE RUSSELL ,born?

(iii)Cletis Claudine Lowe married LOLLA ? .Died ?
Child :Danny Lowe

(iv) Jerry B. Lowe M.?

(v)Imogene Lowe .

(vi)Minnie Jean Lowe m.?

(v)Melba Marilyn Lowe m.?

(vi)Joyce Marie Lowe m.? ROBERT "BOB" LEADBETTER b.?
(vii)Ronald Dean Lowe , died in the 1960’s or 1970’s at Wasco CA.
Shot by his No.2 wife while fighting with her in a bar .
They Had 3 children

(viii)Ellen Louise Lowe m.?

John Anderson Ricketts married (2) On 28 January 1915 at Porum,Oklahoma to MARY ELIZABETH SMITH BROWN, born 23 November 1891 in Jasper, Arkansas
Mary Elizabeth Smith married (1) to ROY BROWN
She died 15 April 1977 in Calvin ,Oklahoma.
Her father was Silvanis Smith and her mother was Molly Walker.
Daughter Lucy Ethyl Brown, born 22 August 1911 in Briartown, Oklahoma married M. L. BROWN.
No children

John Anderson Ricketts children by second marriage were:

(g)VERON FRANKLIN RICKETTS,born 31 October 1915 at Fanshaw,
Oklahoma.
Veron died 22 May 1972 at Ardmore, Oklahoma.
He Married RUTH WATTS on 31 November 1952 at Ardmore, Oklahoma
Had 2 Children:1 boy & 1 girl .
The girl was killed in Weedpatch, California while playing on the rail road tracks.

(h)CORE CELESTA RICKETTS, born 11 January 1918 at Sallisaw, Oklahoma.
died ? in Marysville California.
Married ? ARB PETTI ? at Talihina, Oklahoma. He d.?
children are
(i)Shirley Petti b.? m.?
(ii)Earl Ray Petti b.? m.?
(iii)Linda Petti b.? m.?

(i)BENNIE LANDIS RICKETTS, born 11 September 1920 at Bearden,Oklahoma.
Married at Lubbock Texas to MYRTA FRANCES NALER, born at Lone Grove, Oklahoma.
Her father was Foy E. Naler & mother was Willora Stanley
Children are:
(i)Landis Ray Ricketts born at Lubbock ,Texas.
Landis married (1)to BARBRA FRETCH .
Landis married (2)to JOHNNY ACCORD in Springdale, Arkansas
Children from marriage No. 1 :
1)Amy Elizabeth Ricketts b.?
2)David Landis Ricketts b.?
Children from marriage No.2:
3)Stephaine Ricketts b.?
4)Misty Ricketts
5)Dee Dee Ricketts b.?

6) Jackie Dale Ricketts ,born at Ardmore OK.
Jackie married :
(1)at Ardmore ,Oklahoma to REGINA M. McKINNEY.
Regina was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma.Her father was Wm. ( Bill ) McKinney . Mother was Lila Mae ?.
Children:
(1) Jason Erick Ricketts
(2) Jon Christian Ricketts
(3) Jacob Lee Ricketts
(4) Cory Ricketts
Jackie married (2)in Los Vegas, Nevada to CHARLENE SIMS
Charlene was born in Amarillo, Texas.
Her father was Herman Sims .Her mother was Katherine Walker
(5)Adopted Kim Ricketts b.?
(6)Tomna Ricketts, b.?
(j) RUBY GALE RICKETTS, born 29 June 1922 in Bearden, Oklahoma.
Died Feb ? 1924 in California.

(k)VIVIAN ADEAN RICKETTS, born 22 May 1924 at Bearden, Oklahoma
Married in 1940 at Clayton ,Oklahoma to GEORGE WATSON
children ?
she shot a son; he was climbing through a window and she thought he was a burglar .

(l)RUFFUS GANO RICKETTS, born 17 October 1926 in Bearden, Oklahoma. Married LEANA (mnu)?
(m) FRANKIE JUNE RICKETTS,
She married :(1)CALVIN WATKINS had 2 boys & divorced .
Frankie married (2)BILL LADD ?

(n) IDA CHRISTENE RICKETTS, at Bearden, Oklahoma.
Married CARL YENDELL.
had 7 children .

(o)MARTHA FAY RICKETTSat Bearden, Oklahoma
Married at Stewart OK. to WILLIAM KELLY Jr.

John Anderson RickettsII died 31 Oct 1957 at Stuart(Hughes County)Oklahoma. Buried at Calvin, Oklahoma.
Mary Elizabeth Smith Brown died on 15 April 1977 at Calvin, Oklahoma.

continuing with William S and Sarah Smith Ricketts children
(3)MARY LORIA ALICE "Laura"RICKETTS, born 17 Nov 1877 in Newton County, Arkansas.
Laura married WILLIAM THOMAS "Tommy" CHEATHAM on 10 Jan 1892 in Newton County.
Laura and Tommy had three children:
i:William Oliver Cheatham 1893-1986 who married MATILDA ESSEX
ii: Sally Jane Cheatham 1895-1969 who married CYL VESTER BURDINE
See Vester Burdine Story
iii: Tandy Frank Cheatham 1897-1974 who married MAMIE OWENS.

Laura Ricketts Cheatham died on 18 Sept 1897 and is buried in Ricketts Mountain Cemetery.
Her father Will Ricketts made her tombstone.

Tommy Cheatham married (2) MARY ELIZABETH "Lizzie" GEORGE on 10 April 1898 in Newton County.
They had several more Cheatham children:
iv: Walter Carol Cheatham, born Feb 1899
v: John Henry Harrison Cheatham, born 1900
vi: Madison McLain Lee Cheatham, born 1903
vii: Robert Lee Cheatham, born 1905, died young
viii: Mary Alice Laura Loma Cheatham, born 1907
ix: Tina Louise Cheatham
ix: Raymon Dee Cheatham

Dr. Melvin Cheatham, neurosurgeon of Ventura, California wrote the book "Come Walk With Me". He is son of LeeRoy Cheatham and the grandson of Tommy Cheatham.

William Thomas "Tommy" Cheatham died 25 Dec 1931 in Oklahoma and is buried in Haskell Cemetery, Muskogee County.
Wife Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" George Cheatham died 16 December 1939 and is also buried in Haskell Cemetery.

(4)MARGARET L "PEGGY" RICKETTS, born 25 Dec 1878 Newton
County.
She married LEVI ROBERT CRINER on 22 July 1896 in Newton County.
I often wonder if Peggy looked like her sister Hester Ricketts Flud (our great-grandmother). Am hoping someone reading this might have pictures to share with us.
The Criner children were:
i: Otis Nalin Criner, born 27 September 1897.
He married ROSA LEE HARRISON on 9 June 1917 in Newton County.
He died 8 April 1942

ii:Mitchell Criner, born 15 October 1900.
He married MINA ANDREWS on 10 July 1921 in Newton County
He died 27 May 1979 with burial in Haskell, Oklahoma Cemetery.

iii: Lola Lee Criner, born 25 October 1902.
She married OREL MARPLE on 2 September 1919 in Newton County

iv: Sarah Lavina Criner, born 25 February 1904.
She married WILLIAM SELMER NICHOLS on 16 September 1923 in Newton County.
Sarah died 31 December 1995 and is buried in Haskell, Oklahoma

v: Child Criner 1906-1906

vi: Ardith Mae Criner, born 12 February 1908.
She married NORMAN HENRY BAILEY on 10 August 1928 unknown place.
She died 27 March 1997 in Haskell, Oklahoma

vii: Oza Fay Criner, born in 1910 .She married WILLIAM BYNAM JONES

viii: Chloe Ilene Criner, born in 1912.She married ALBERT FAUTCH
ix: Doyle Howard Criner, born 1916.He married VERDRADA WEST

x:Homer Dee Criner, born 1919.He married LUCILLE BETHANY

Peggy Ricketts Criner died 12 June 1957 and is buried in Haskell,Oklahoma (Muskogee County)
Levi Robert Criner died on 12 October 1951 and is also buried in Haskell, Oklahoma.

(5)JEROTHA MADELINE RICKETTS,born 4 July 1882 in Newton County.
Married DICK STARR on 20 Sept 1911 at Porum,Oklahoma.
Her Starr children were :
i: Boy Berry Starr who married GLADYS MacBAKER
ii: Oleda Starr 1914-1914
iii: Dixie Lee Starr who married MR. MOFFITT
iv: Jerry Jr. Starr, born 1918.
Madeline Ricketts Starr died 9 Oct 1969 at Okemah Oklahoma, buried Porum,Oklahoma.

(6) HESTER HOSANNIE RICKETTS, born 26 May 1885 in Newton County.
She married SIMON DAVID FLUD on 4 Dec 1902 in Newton County.
She died 26 Nov 1977 in Nowata, Oklahoma with burial there.

THESE ARE MY HUSBAND KENNETH FLOOD'S PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS.

What a memory Granny Hester had.
When I last visited her on her 90th birthday, she could remember the days her children were born.A little bitty thing. Feisty.
She was so good to me
Her husband Simon David Flud was a tall man.
Will be putting Simon David Flud Story on this website soon.

(7) SARAH EMMALINE RICKETTS, born 12 Oct 1887 in Newton County.
She married U.S.GRANT FLUD (brother to Simon David Flud) on 31 Aug 1905 in Newton County.
Sarah Emeline died on 4 May 1971 and buried at Bixby,Oklahoma.
Will be putting the story of U.S. Grant Flood on this website soon, along with pictures.

(8) AULCIE MAE RICKETTS, born 28 Feb 1890 in Newton County.
She married LAFAYETTE "FATS" FRANKLIN FLUD (brother to Grant and Simon David Flud) on 7 Dec 1905 in Newton County.
They had two sons:
i:Delmer Flud (1910-2001) married VIVIAN SIMMONS.
ii: Remmel Flud (1917-1989) married NELL VILLINES
Aulcie Mae Ricketts Flud died 23 May 1974 in Newton County and is buried in the Jasper Cemetery there.

Child No. 2
(b)JOHN ANDERSON RICKETTS I was born 3 March 1852 in Newton County, Arkansas.
John married ELIZABETH JONES on 31 Jan 1877 in Newton County, Arkansas.
Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas R Jones and Elizabeth Hampton.
Elizabeth was born 3 April 1853 in Newton County, Arkansas.

Their children were:
(1)MARY R.J."ROSELLA" RICKETTS born 29 Nov 1877 in Newton County, Arkansas. She married PLES H. HALLUM on 26 Sept 1894 in Newton County, Arkansas.
Their children were:
(1)John M Hallum who married NANCY CRINER, TESSIE GILMORE and LISSIE SAIN.
(2)Lucy B Hallum who married MITCHELL SMITH
(3) Priscilla C Hallum died at 14 months
(4)Artie E Hallum who married COLUMBUS BURDINE.
(5) Ora J Hallum who married THOMAS BROADRICK.
(6)William Glen Hallum who married OLIVE O'NEAL.
(7)Kelse Hallum (is he the Kelse who died 6 April 1908 and is buried in Ricketts Cemetery?).
(8)Lydia M Hallum who married THOMAS McCART
(9)Etta Gertrude Hallum who married ANDREW McCART.
(10) Joyce Dorothy L Hallum who married ANDREW GALLICK
(11) Lemuel Paul"Pete" Hallum who married PEARL PEOPLES.
(12)Iva Nemo Hallum who married LESTER SNOW and GERALD WATSON.

Rosella Ricketts Hallum died 25 November 1944 in Berkeley,California but is buried in Ricketts Cemetery.
Pleas H Hallum died 29 July 1942 at Russellville,Arkansas with burial in Ricketts Cemetery,Newton County,Arkansas.

(2)WILLIAM"WILLIE" S RICKETTS No.2 born 30 Sept 1880 in Newton County, Arkansas.
He married :
(1) SARAH "Dolly" L.B.REDDELL on 2 Feb 1898 in Newton County, Arkansas.
Sarah Reddell Ricketts died on 10 June 1899 in childbirth and is buried in Sexton Cemetery,Newton County, Arkansas.
Willie Ricketts married:
(2) NORA HARRIS on 30 Jan 1900 in Newton County, Arkansas.
She was daughter of Gaines Harris and Narcissus Bowman Harris.
Nora is living with her parents on the 1910 Franklin County, Arkansas Census as Nora PYRON. It is said Nora left Willie Ricketts when she found out that he was the "father" of Homer Ricketts by Lou Etta Atkinson.
Willie married
(3) LOU ETTA ATKINSON on 6 July 1902 in Newton County, Arkansas.
Lou Etta's mother was Melcina Atkinson.
Lou Etta had son Homer before her marriage to Willie Ricketts
Willie and Lou Etta Atkinson Ricketts' children were:
(a) Homer Atkinson Ricketts born Dec 1899 who married BERTHA MAE HURST.
Homer's children were:
i:Vernell Ricketts
ii: Lawrence Ricketts
iii: Etta Jane Bradley
iv:Florence Jean Baker Smith
v: Barbara Sue Bly Freeley
vi: Carl Wayne Ricketts
vii:Georgia Mae Ricketts Pistoni,
viii: Alice Ann Treadway
ix:Norma Jean Ricketts Baer
x: Robert Verdell Ricketts

xi:William W Ricketts.
William W Ricketts' children are:
1)Laura Marie Ricketts Conley
2)Katherine Lynn Ricketts Bean
3) William Michael Ricketts
4)Deena Gail Ricketts Hartsfield
5) Karen Sue Ricketts Russell Maggard
6) Marla Jean Ricketts
7)Douglas Edward Ricketts.

(b) Ruby Ricketts who married HARRIS KING.
She died in 1988 at Clarksville(Johnson County)Arkansas.
Ruby Ricketts King's children were:
James Wendall King and Geraldine King.

(c) Bessie Ricketts who married ROY WILLEY.
Bessie's children were: Lynda Lou and Billy Floyd Willey.
She died in 1991.

(d) Cleamon Houston Ricketts born 9 Mar 1909.
Married LENA CARPENTER on 1 Aug 1931 at Plumerville,Arkansas.
He had one daughter Rebecca Ann Ricketts Lee.
Cleamon died 25 Feb 1978 at Clarksville,Arkansas.

(e) Georgia Mae Ricketts#1 born 19 April 1914
who married HORACE TOLBERT on 29 April 1934 at Clarksville,Arkansas.
Her children were:
Sue Carolyn Tolbert Young Bennett
Mary Jo Tolbert Hurley
Jonnie Kay Tolbert Westbrook.
Georgia Mae#1 Ricketts Tolbert died 3 Dec 1985 at Clarksville,
Arkansas.

Willie Ricketts died 4 September 1914 at Ludwig, Johnson County,Arkansas.
Lou Etta Atkinson Ricketts married J. P. WILLIAMS, age 51, on 11Nov1918 (V-583) in Johnson County, Arkansas.
It is unknown when Lou Etta Atkinson Ricketts Williams died.

continuing with children of John A and Elizabeth Jones Ricketts
(3)LEMUEL R RICKETTS born 20 Oct 1881 in Newton County, Arkansas.
He married ANNA J CHEATHAM on 10 Jan 1904 in Newton County,
Arkansas.
Anna's parents were McClain Madison "Mack"Cheatham and Nancy J Tennison.
Lemuel and Anna Ricketts' children were:
(i)Niva Ricketts born 1904 married Charles A Bean.

(ii)Elmer J Ricketts born 9Nov1905 in Newton County.
He married OLETA BINGE.
Elmer's children:
Wanda Jean Ricketts Lashley and Margaret Ricketts Cooper.
Elmer died 20 July 1968 at Tahlequah, Oklahoma and is buried in the
Haskell, Oklahoma Cemetery.

(iii)Nellie Mabel Ricketts born 1907 who married
COLEMAN REED McDANIEL.
Her children are:
1.Jimmie McDaniel
2. Lavon Donnie McDaniel
3.Virginia McDaniel Kuykendall
4. Charlie McDaniel.

(iv)Mamie U Ricketts born 5 Nov 1908 married SOLUS WISDOM.
Mamie had one son, Bobby D Wisdom.

(v) Sanford C Ricketts born 1911 who married JEWELL BINGE DENNISON.
Sanford's children were Doyle Wayne Ricketts and Barbara Ricketts List Brannick.
Sanford died 1 Dec 1955 and is buried at Haskell,Oklahoma.

(vi)Easter Ricketts born 4 April 1915 and died 3 March 1920 in flu epidemic,with burial at Haskell, Oklahoma.

(vii)Dossie L Ricketts born 17 Feb 1917 who married ELLIS "Bub" ALLEN .
Nothing further known.

(viii) Edsel Ricketts born 13 Jan 1918 who died 23 Feb 1920 in flu epidemic and is buried at Haskell,Oklahoma.

(ix) William Ricketts born 20 Jan 1921, married PHYLLIS C. SCHWENSEN on 7 July 1945 in San Marcos,Texas.
William's children are : Elizabeth Ricketts
Charles John Ricketts and
Robert William Ricketts.
William died 26 Feb 1959 and is buried in Haskell,Oklahoma
Cemetery.

(x) Virgil James Ricketts born 1 April 1923, married :
(1) BILLYE RUTH BEBEE and (2) ALICE RING.
Virgil's children are: Linda Sharon Ricketts Fidler and Virginia Ruth Ricketts Dickenson.

Lemuel Ricketts went to Haskell, Oklahoma in 1919.
He farmed until 1936.
Moved to Tahlequah,Oklahoma and was in real estate business.
He returned to Haskell, Oklahoma in 1945.
Lemuel R Ricketts died 11 May 1957 and is buried at Haskell,Oklahoma.
Anna Lee Cheatham Ricketts died 12 July 1955 and is also buried at Haskell,Oklahoma.

continuing with John A and Elizabeth Jones Ricketts children:

(4)JOHN RILEY RICKETTS born 3 Jan 1884 at Red Rock, Newton County, Arkansas.
He married MAUDE LEONA PIERCE , daughter of John L Pierce and Mary Maranda Flood.
Maude Leona was born 6 Nov 1890 in Newton County.
They married on 6 December 1906 in Newton County, Arkansas.
Their children were:
(i)Desmon Devoux Ricketts born 12 Aug 1909. Never Married.

(ii)Alden Anderson Ricketts born 1 March 1911.
Married BESSIE(maiden name unknown).
Alden Ricketts died 16 April 1986 in Muskogee,Oklahoma.

(iii)John Hildred Ricketts born 28 July 1913, married MURIEL MARVIN.
Their children are:
(a) James Ray Ricketts,
(b) Melvin Leon Ricketts,
(c) Allen Dale Ricketts and
(d) John Wayne Ricketts born 1941.
John died 23 Nov 1973 at Bakersfield,Cal. with burial at Wasco,California.

(iv)Raymond Garland Ricketts born 4 Nov 1915.
Never married.
Died 6 Feb 1937 at Tulare,California with burial in Tulare Cemetery.

John Riley Ricketts died on 23 Oct 1963 at Tulare,California.
Maude Leona Pierce Ricketts died 23 June 1983 also at Tulare,California.

(5)MANDY JANE RICKETTS born 13 Dec 1885 at Red Rock,Newton County,Arkansas.
she married JOSEPH W. ESSEX on 6 March 1910 Newton County, Arkansas.
Their children:
i:Fred Essex and
ii: William "Bill"Essex.
Joseph Essex died 29 Aug 1925 and is buried in Crossroads Cemetery, Jasper, Arkansas.
His parents were Esquire Essex and Sarah Jane Shatswell.
Mandy Jane Ricketts Essex died 2 Dec 1966 in California and is buried at Crossroads Cemetery,Jasper,Arkansas.

John Monroe Hallum and Maude Pierce Ricketts

(6)SARAH "ANNIE" RICKETTS born 3 Oct 1888 in Newton County,Arkansas.
She married OLIVER F. CAMPBELL, son of Charles Edward Campbell and Eliza Caroline Greenhaw.Married on 22 February 1906 in Newton County.
Their children were:
i:female infant Campbell
ii: Thelma Campbell born 1908.
iii: William Carlos Campbell, born 1910
iv: James Coleman Campbell, born 14 May 1912. He married ALMA SPARKS. James died 1970.
v: female infant Campbell
vi: Annie Campbell,
vii:Jay C Campbell
viii: and female infant Campbell.
Sarah Annie Ricketts Campbell died 10 Oct 1945 and is buried in Ricketts Cemetery, Newton County, Arkansas.
Oliver Franklin Campbell died 17 Sept 1964 and is also buried in Ricketts Cemetery,Newton County
as are the three infant children.

(7)SIMON MONROE RICKETTS born 28 Sept 1890 in Newton County, Arkansas.
He married BONNIE ROSETTA SMITH on 28 Feb 1915 in Newton County, Arkansas.Bonnie's parents were James Pleasant Smith and Susanna Jane Pierce Smith.

John Hallum and Nancy B Criner on left. Simon Ricketts and Bonnie Smith on right
Wedding Day, 28 February 1915

Simon Ricketts' children are:
(a) John Amos Ricketts born 14 Jan 1916 in Newton County, Arkansas.
He married :
(1)HILPA PIERCE and had daughter Shirley Ann Ricketts Stone.
John Amos married (2)LORENE BATES and they had :
(1)Sharon Ricketts Dial,
(2)Johny Lee Ricketts and
(3)Michael Lee Ricketts.

(b) Gladys Ricketts born 3 Nov 1920 who married ORVILLE F. NEIGHBORS in 1945.

(c) Lebrisha Sue Ricketts born 18 April 1924 who married:
(1)W.D."CURLEY" MOCK and (2)DAVID HURLEY.

(d) Pleas H Ricketts born 8 Oct 1926 who married BARBARA J. SNYDER .

(e) Janice Ricketts born 11 Dec 1929 who married :
(1) VIRGIL WALTERS and (2)CORBETT NICHOLS.

(f) Loleta Ricketts born 6 Nov 1934 married JIM MORRIS.

Simon M Ricketts died on 6 March 1969 in Haskell,Oklahoma but is buried in the Smith Cemetery at Vendor (Newton County)Arkansas.
Bonnie Smith Ricketts died on 29 March 1969 and is buried in Smith Cemetery,Vendor,Arkansas.

(8)GEORGE K RICKETTS born 2 May 1893 and died 14 Oct 1893 with burial in the
Red Rock Cemetery,Newton County, Arkansas.

(9)VICTORIA RICKETTS born 26 December 1894 and died 29 August 1906 with burial in Ricketts Cemetery,Newton County,Arkansas.

John Anderson Ricketts No. 1 died on 15 February 1917 and is buried in Ricketts Cemetery.
Elizabeth Jones Ricketts died 13 May 1936 and is likewise buried in Ricketts Cemetery,Newton County,Arkansas.

**********************************************

continuing with William S and Sarah Smith Ricketts children:

(c) MANDA J RICKETTS born 11 April 1855 in Newton County.

Mandy J Ricketts married WILLIAM G. TENNISON on 8 February 1877 in Newton County, Arkansas.
William G Tennison had married (1) SARAH SMITH ca 1866 and he was the father of:
Rebecca J Tennison who married JESSE O'NEAL; Gwinn Tennison and Monroe Tennison.
William G and Manda J Ricketts Tennison had the following children:
i:John A Tennison who married (1)NANCY DELFINA "Finer" CHEATHAM and (2) IDA WHEELER.

ii:Permelia Angeline Tennison who married JAMES COLUMBUS FLUD
See the "James Columbus Flud Story" in my Kinfolks Stories.

iii:Mathew Asa Tennison who married (1)UNKNOWN (2) SARAH HEFLEY (3) THENIA CAMPBELL, and (4) Mrs. DORA DOTSON SMITH.

iv:William Austin Tennison who married MINNIE MITCHELL

v:George H Tennison, born Dec 1887. Nothing further known.

vi:Robert Kelse Tennison who married DULLIE SHATSWELL. See the "Shatswell Story" in my Kinfolks Stories for a picture of Dullie Shatswell.

vii: Mary C Tennison 1887-1888

*************************************************

(d) MARGARET "COON" RICKETTSborn 1857 in Newton County.

Margaret "Coon" Ricketts

Margaret did not marry until 10 April 1904, at which time she married NATHAN PEOPLES on that date in Searcy County, Arkansas.
Margaret's children were:
(1)Aulcie May Ricketts, born 19 May 1881 who married ASA NATHAN HOLT Jr. on 31 October 1898 in Van Buren, Arkansas.
It is said Aulcie May's father was Jerry Smith (son of Alfred and Rebecca Flood Smith)

(2) Mary Ricketts, born Jan 1884 who died young

(3) Tennie Elizabeth "Lizzie B" Ricketts, born 1 March 1887.
She married JAMES ZACHARIAH PEOPLES on 24 July 1902 in Newton County, Arkansas.

(4)Alden Calhoun Monroe "Acey" Ricketts, born 30 Mary 1888, who married:
(1) DELPHIE COLLINS in 1909 and (2) MARY VIRGINIA FLUD BROWN.
Acey Ricketts children by first marriage were:
(1)Mitchell Garland Ricketts who married ADALEE BOLIN

(2)John Kenneth Ricketts who married DAISY LEE MARTIN

(3)Eva Louise Ricketts who married HERSHEL VAN METER

(4)Dave H Ricketts (twin) who married IVA MARTIN

(5)Rase H Ricketts (twin) who married NANCY CAMPBELL

(6)Harold Monroe Ricketts who married ELLEN JOHNSON and others

(7)Virlin Eugene Ricketts who married ALBERTA JONES.

(8)Ellen Ricketts

continuing with Margaret "Coon" Ricketts children:

(5) Elizabeth Silistine Ricketts, born November 1890 (tombstone 21 Nov 1887)who married:
(1)ALEX PEOPLES on 23 July 1904 in Searcy County, Arkansas
Alex was son of Gilbert Peoples and Mary Gibb.
No children by Alex.

Elizabeth Silistine Ricketts Peoples then married:
(2) JOHN EARWOOD (born 1866) on 9 February 1907 in Newton County, Arkansas
Earwood children (not in date order)were:
i: infant Earwood 1907-1907

ii: Willie E Earwood, born 1909. Willie married GURSTAL SKAGGS(1910-1996).
Willie died, date unknown, but is buried in Russellville, Pope County, Arkansas.

iii: Elva J "Nettie" Earwood, born 17 Jan 1911, who married FRANK ISAAC TENNISON in 1927. She died in 1985 and is buried in Smith Cemetery, Newton County

iv: Verna Earwood who married a COLLINS

v: Garland Earwood born 2 October 1913.
He married (1)UNKNOWN and (2)EDNA BERNICE MARTIN RHYNES
Garland died on 11 March 1987 and is buried in Mt. Judea Cemetery, Newton County.

vi: Austin O. Earwood, born 31 March 1922 who married RUTH CHEATHAM. Austin died 19 December 1972 and is buried in Smith Cemetery, Newton County, Arkansas.
John Earwood died on 19 September 1923 and is buried in Smith Cemetery, Newton County, Arkansas
I do not know who his parents were.

Elizabeth Celestine then married:
(3) ABE MAYBERRY on 4 February 1925 in Newton County, Arkansas.
Mayberry children were: vii:Simon Mayberry, born 1924. He died in World War II in 1944.
See WORLD WAR II SOLDIERS FROM NORTHERN ARKANSAS on my main page.

viii: Bessie Mayberry, born 1926. She married RALPH COONTS.
Bessie is stil living in Newton County, Arkansas

ix:John Newt Mayberry , born 6 September 1928.
Do not know if he married.
John died 12 May 1963 and is buried in Smith Cemetery, Newton County

x: Vercie Gertrude Mayberry 1930-1930, buried in Mayberry Cemetery
Newton County, Arkansas

Elizabeth Celestine had several infants who are buried in the Charley Bolin Cemetery, Newton County.
Elizabeth Celestine Ricketts died on 3 February 1951 with burial in Smith Cemetery, Newton County, Arkansas
Abe Mayberry, born 25May1873, died 5March1956 and is also buried in Smith Cemetery.

(6)Daniel "Dan" Abraham Ricketts, born 7 April 1893 in Newton County.
Dan married ELLER NAOMIE SMITH on 17 October 1917 in Newton County.
Children were:
(1) Viola Ricketts who married CONARD W. SMITH
(2) Lloyd Moses Ricketts who married VIOLET ALSPACH.
(3) Imo Pearl Ricketts who married HOLLIS REDDELL
(4) Hurshel Ricketts who married VENITA FOSTER
(5) William Walter Ricketts (1924-1926), (buried Melette Cemetery, Eufaula, Oklahoma)
(6) Louise Ricketts who married VIRGIL SPEARS
(7) Daniel "Junior" Ricketts who married ARDITH FLUD
(8) Priscilla Ricketts who married DALLAS FOSTER
(9) Ardell G Ricketts who married JANE FIELDS
(10) Dessie M Ricketts who married RALPH WALLIN
(11) Katherine Ricketts who married ELMER LEE JONES

Margaret "Coon" Ricketts Gravestone, Smith Cemetery,
Newton County

***********************************************

continuing with Stephen and Tibitha Nichols Ricketts children:

(e)Malinda Ricketts born 1858, died at birth.

Mother Tibitha Nichols Ricketts died in childbirth and she and her baby Malinda Ricketts are buried in Ricketts Mountain Cemetery, Newton County, Arkansas

Front of Tibitha Nichols Ricketts tombstone

Back of Tibitha's tombstone showing her childrens' names

Tibitha Ann Nichols Ricketts parents were "old John" Nichols and Margaret(possibly Flood).
"Old John" Nichols was married about three times probably in Tennessee ....wives maiden names have been said to be Smith, Sexton and Flood
From the late Remmel Flud's notes, there was a Margaret Flood mentioned.

Old John Nichols married about three times and had approximately
15 children (the names of ALL of his children are unknown).
See the "Old John Nichols Story" in my Kinfolks Stories on my webpage.

During the Civil War, both the Confederate and Union sides were said to have taken Stephen Ricketts in their service but let him go when they found out he was deaf. Stephen became deaf after working in the stamp mills in Tennessee.
He was 6 feet tall with red hair. It is said that his father-in- law "old John" Nichols ran him off after his wife Tibitha died and Steven went to Madison County, Arkansas.
"Old John" Nichols was said to be a mean old cuss
Then another story tells that Steven "gave" his children to "Old John"Nichols and his wife Margaret and they raised the four Ricketts children in Newton County, Arkansas:
(1) William S.Ricketts
(2)John A. Ricketts
(3)Manda Ricketts and
(4)Margaret"Coon" Ricketts.

*****************************************

Stephen Ricketts moved to Madison County, Arkansas
Steven Ricketts married :
(2) MARIAH McADOO who was born 18 Nov 1835 in Taney County,Missouri.
They married 22 Dec 1859 in Madison County, Arkansas.
Her father was Elijah McAdoo and her mother was Fanny Lively.

Mariah McAdoo Ricketts

Steven and Mariah McAdoo Ricketts had the following children:
(vi) George Stephen Ricketts (1860-1930)
(vii) Louis Harvie Ricketts (1862-1929)
(viii) James Monroe Ricketts (1869-1951) He married EMILY JANE HOOPER.
(ix) Jay Ricketts (1871-1899) and
(x) Mary Tennessee Ricketts (1873-1879) all these children were born in Madison Co. Arkansas.
Steven Ricketts died on 11 December 1878 at Dutton, Madison County, Arkansas and is buried in Riverside Cemetery at St.Paul, Madison County,Arkansas.
Mariah McAdoo Ricketts died 16 July 1920 and is buried also in Riverside Cemetery at St. Paul, Madison County,Arkansas.

************************************************

continuing with Barzilla and Rebecca Clemons Ricketts children:

(6)SARAH RICKETTS born 1826 Greene County, Tennessee

(7)BETHANY RICKETTSborn 1829 in Greene County,Tennessee.
Died 1874.

(8)IRA H RICKETTS born 1832 in Greene County, Tennessee.
Ira was in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1877.
So possibly the Indiana Ricketts are his descendants.

(9)PATSY RICKETTS born 1834 in Green Co. Tenn.

(10)ELIZABETH "BETTY" RICKETTS born 1837 in Greene Co.Tenn.

On 1830 Greene Co. Tennessee census (Barzilla)

1840 in Warren County, Tennessee(W369)
0012201--0220001---
if you know how to read the 1840 census this would show 5 boys and 4 girls with the last numbers representing the father and the mother .

1850 Grundy County,Tenn. 81-685 with son John 30 and Barzillor Ricketts age 57

1850 Marion County, Tenn. 356-803.
Rebecca lived with Ira H, Patsey & Elizabeth Ricketts.

1860 Sequatchie Co.Tenn 47-243 John C age 41 and family

1860 Marion Co.Tenn. 20-235 Rebecca age 68 with Ira 27 and Elizabeth age 22.

It is thought that Barzilla Ricketts died between 1850 and 1860, probably in Grundy County, Tenn.
Rebecca probably died between 1860 and 1870 in Marion County, Tennessee.
Information from Newton County, Arkansas Marriage , Census and Cemetery Records.

Thank you Clyde Ricketts, Roy Ricketts and Jackie Ricketts
for your help with these families.
Thanks Kathy Mitchell for the picture of Sarah McDaniel Ricketts.
If anyone has pictures relating to these families, would you please share them with us?
Would place them on this website along with the families listed, and give you credit for the photos.
If anyone sees corrections or additions, please let me know by E-mail.

=================================================================
MORE INTERESTING RICKETTS INFORMATION:
EDWARD FLANDERS ROBB RICKETTS
Edward Flanders Robb Ricketts was born on May 14, 1897 on the northwest side of Chicago. He attended Illinois State Normal University for one year, but left to see something of the world. He served a tour of duty in the Army Medical Corps during WWI, and entered the University of Chicago on his return (in October 1942, Ricketts was called back into the Army, serving in the VD clinic at the Presidio). He attended classes sporadically between 1919 and 1922, taking classes in zoology, philosophy, Spanish and German, but left without taking a degree. He was, however, profoundly influenced by one of his teachers, W.C. Allee, an ecological theorist whose 1931 treatise Animal Aggregations dealt with the universality of social behavior among animals (including man) and the theory of social transition, that animals act differently in groups than as individuals.

Ricketts Comes to California
In 1923, Ricketts came to California with his Chicago roommate, A.E.Galigher, and opened Pacific Biological Laboratories. Located at the corner of Fountain Avenue and High Street (now called Ricketts Row) in a one-story board and batten building, the lab supplied biological specimens and slides to schools and research institutions. Eventually, Galigher moved to Berkeley, and Ricketts became the sole owner of the business.

In 1925, Ricketts published an article, Vagabonding Through Dixie, (Travel, June 1925), which described his walk from Chicago through the South. PBL moved to 740 Ocean View Avenue in Monterey in 1928 (the street was later renumbered, and the lab's address changed to 800; it was renamed Cannery Row in 1958).

During the 1920s, Ricketts lived with his wife, Anna, and three children at several homes in Pacific Grove and Carmel. Even after Ricketts moved the business to Monterey, he maintained a P.O. box at the Pacific Grove post office. Ironically, he took up full-time residence at the Monterey lab in 1936, and several months later, on November 25th, a fire started in the adjacent Del Mar Cannery, destroying the lab and most of its contents (including Ricketts extensive marine ecology library and family heirlooms). Fortunately, the manuscript of Between Pacific Tides had already been sent to Stanford University. The lab was a meeting place for local artists, writers and scholars, including Joseph Campbell and Henry Miller. After the fire, many of Ricketts' friends helped him reconstruct the lab and replace its contents.

Ricketts Meets Steinbeck
In October 1930, Ed Ricketts and John Steinbeck met at the cottage of a friend in Carmel, although Steinbeck told the story of their meeting at a dentist's office in “About Ed Ricketts” in The Log from the Sea of Cortez. They had an immediate rapport, and the two shared their experiences and ideas in what might best be described as a commensal relationship. Ricketts was a major influence on Steinbeck's writing and philosophy, and, as Jackson Benson notes in his exhaustive biography The True Adventures of John Steinbeck, Writer (New York: Viking, 1984), the main themes in Steinbeck's writings “were developed and nurtured in the rich soil of their mutual enthusiasm for exploring ideas and their implications.” The period of time that Steinbeck and Ricketts were in each other's company, between 1930 and 1941, was one of the most productive periods of Steinbeck's writing. Ricketts was the inspiration for Doc in Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday, Doc Burton in In Dubious Battle, Casy in The Grapes of Wrath, Doctor Winter in The Moon is Down, as well as characters in several other works.

Ricketts' Work
Ricketts was not just a catalyst for Steinbeck's writing; Stanford University published his ecological handbook of intertidal marine life, Between Pacific Tides, in 1939. The 5th edition is still used as a textbook at many universities. From March 14 to April 18, 1940, Ricketts and Steinbeck took their famous sojourn on the Western Flyer to the Gulf of California, which resulted in the book The Sea of Cortez. Steinbeck kept no journal of the trip, except in his head, and relied heavily on Ricketts' notes when he wrote the narrative half of the book.

In fact, Ricketts' philosophical "Essay on Non-Teleological Thinking" was revised by Steinbeck as the Easter Sunday chapter.The Log from the Sea of Cortez (1951) differs from The Sea of Cortez (1941) in that the phyletic catalogue that Ricketts compiled is omitted, as is Ricketts' name as co-author. It also includes the poignant quasi-biographical essay, About Ed Ricketts. Later editions have reinstated Ricketts' name on the title page. He developed a filing system for the specimens he gathered which, according to his friend Ritchie Lovejoy, “when finished [would be] a complete and comprehensive survey and index of every known marine animal from the Gulf of California to Alaska." Lovejoy also noted that Ricketts produced the “most comprehensive study of sardine habits and migration ever compiled. There is nothing else to compare with it in detail, observation and conclusion."

The Man vs the Myth
While "Doc" of Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday is a character based on Steinbeck's close friend Ed Ricketts, there are distinct and pronounced differences between the fictional hero and the real man. Many of Ricketts' quirks and traits become part of Doc's persona, and the distinctions become quite blurred, perhaps due to Steinbeck's great capacity for capturing telling points of character and description through apparently superficial detail. Or perhaps Steinbeck's portrayal tells more about himself than about his friend. The Ricketts we see through Steinbeck's eyes, the solitary bachelor, "concupiscent as a rabbit," who spent most of his time interacting with the fringe of conventional society, contrasts with the serious, hard-working scientist who spent most of his energies searching for his ultimate goal, the truth. Steinbeck may have created this persona to demonstrate that the traditional values cherished by middle-class society were invalid, using the Ed/Doc character to point out the disparity between sinner and saint. Whatever Steinbeck's motivation, the life and lore of Ed and Doc have melded together, leaving the real Ricketts clouded in mystique. Ultimately, one must realize that Steinbeck was creating art, not writing history, and the disparities between fact and fiction are simply literary license.

Ricketts' Philosophy
In addition to being a marine biologist, Ricketts was a philosopher. Using a unique combination of scientific method and metaphysics, he attempted to tie together apparently unrelated elements into a unified whole. He referred to this holistic idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts as the "toto picture." He called the means by which he tried to achieve understanding the philosophy of "breaking through," from a line in Robinson Jeffers' "Roan Stallion," and attempted to achieve his ends through a method he called "non-teleological thinking" or is thinking, in which the search for cause and effect are abandoned for a Zen-like acceptance of things as they are.

Ricketts' Later Years
After the breakup of Ricketts' marriage in the mid 1930s, he lived at the lab with Toni Jackson, who was his companion from 1941 to 1947. Although Ricketts' divorce from Anna was never finalized, on January 2, 1948, he married Alice Campbell in Barstow, California. After Steinbeck moved to New York in 1941, he and Ricketts rarely saw each other, although they corresponded up until the time of Ricketts' death. The two had plans to take another collecting trip, this time to the Queen Charlotte Islands, when Ricketts' car was struck by the Del Monte Express on May 8, 1948. He died on May 11th.

Ricketts' Legacy
Ed Ricketts has left his legacy on the Monterey Peninsula and beyond. His work has inspired several generations of biologists, particularly, as John E. McCosker has noted, his benchmark theses on the effect of wave shock and tides upon animals and plants. Despite the fact that his manuscripts were destroyed in the 1936 fire and never rewritten, students at Hopkins Marine Station were familiar with them and built upon Ricketts' ideas. The Outer Shores, a two-volume collection of Ricketts' scientific and philosophical essays (edited by his friend and fellow marine biologist Joel W. Hedgpeth) was published in 1978, and is essential reading for a better understanding of the man and his ideas. A sea spider, Pycnogonum rickettsi, originally collected from local anemones by Ricketts, was named for him. Recently, two species of sea slugs were named after Ricketts and Steinbeck, Catriona rickettsi and Eubranchus steinbecki. To learn more about these nudibranchs, visit The Slug Site. In 1979, over 30 years after Ricketts' death, Moss Landing Marine Laboratory christened their research vessel, a 35-foot lobster boat, the RV Ed Ricketts. On July 14, 1994, the City of Pacific Grove renamed High Street, where the first lab once stood, Ricketts Row.
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Want to thank everyone who helped me with the Ricketts families by sharing your research and photos.
A huge thanks to Clyde Ricketts. Without his help, would not be able to find half this research.

Evelyn Flood
Rkinfolks@aol.com
Write me:
Rkinfolks@aol.com

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Updated 3 May 2006

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