My Genealogy Hound

HON. JOHN B. RICKMAN was for two terms Mayor of Sedalia, and has also been an Alderman from the Third Ward three consecutive terms. A leader in the local Democracy, he is very popular with his party. He is one of the old citizens of the place, having resided here for over a quarter of a century, and is proprietor of one of the finest meat-markets in Sedalia, the location being at No. 918 East Third Street. It is one of the oldest markets in the county, having been established in 1869.

Mr. Rickman was born in Sussex County, England, December 22, 1841, being a grandson of Alexander and son of Edward Rickman, who were also natives of that county. The father brought his two sons to America in 1846, the mother, Catherine (Barton) Rickman, having died in England. The family became residents of Rochester, N. Y., where the father conducted a meat business until his death, in 1865. Both he and his wife were faithful members of the Episcopal Church.

Young Rickman grew to manhood in Rochester, where he attended the public schools, but as he was early obliged to earn his own livelihood he worked for some time on a farm near Rochester. In 1861 he returned to England on a visit, remaining there four months, and on his return to New York made arrangements to proceed to San Francisco, by way of the Isthmus of Panama. On reaching the Pacific Slope he engaged in hydraulic mining about two years, but a desire for further travel taking possession of him, he embarked on the sailing-vessel “Constance,” bound for Auckland, New Zealand. On the voyage the ship caught fire, and destruction seemed
imminent, but at last the crew obtained the mastery over the flames. In New Zealand Mr. Rickman was moderately successful in gold mining, but at the end of two years he left the island in a brig, proceeding to Tasmania, where he remained a few months, then going to Sidney, New South Wales. For a few years he operated a line of hansom cabs in that city, but later sold out and became a member of the police force, being sent to Bathurst, New South Wales, where the bushwhackers were numerous and troublesome. Later he went to Brisbane, Queensland, thence on a prospecting expedition inland, and afterward by boat from Brisbane to Rockhampton, where he was employed as a miner. Then, taking passage on a trading-vessel, which stopped at different islands in the Indian and Southern Pacific Oceans, he visited the principal seaports of the large Pacific islands, and had many interesting experiences. For a short time he was engaged in the grocery business in Auckland, New Zealand, and during his short stay at other points was variously employed. At last he started on the brig “Dublin,” bound for San Francisco, and stopping at Tahiti, Samoa, Ruralonga, Tangulaboo, and many other places. The bark sprang a leak, and for fifty-two days the passengers were obliged to relieve the crew by working at the pumps. From San Francisco Mr. Rickman went on an exploring and hunting tour on the northwest coast, north of the United States dominions.

In 1866 our subject went to Shawneetown, Ill., where he engaged in buying cattle, sheep, horses and poultry, shipping them to Vicksburg, Memphis and New Orleans. In 1867 he came to Sedalia and started in the butcher business, in which he is still engaged. Soon afterward he became the owner of a slaughter-house, and also fed stock for the market. Everything about his establishment is constructed on modern plans, and ingenious machinery is used for preparing the meat.

Fraternally Mr. Rickman is a Knight of Pythias and a Knight of Honor. In 1885 he was elected Mayor of Sedalia, and after serving for a year was honored by re-election. In July, 1879, he was elected Alderman from the Third Ward, to succeed Mr. Brown, deceased; was re-elected in 1881 and in 1883, and served as Chairman of the Committees on Streets and Alleys and Cemeteries. Mr. Rickman readily makes friends, for he is uniformly genial and courteous to one and all.