Pvt. Jacob D. Rickert

Pvt. Jacob D. Rickert

D Co. 8th Ill. Cav.

Three Years Service

Farnsworth’s Regiment

   Enlisted Aug. 20, 1861.
   Home of record listed as Elgin, Ill's.
   Aged 23 years.
   Mustered in at Camp Kane in St. Charles Sept. 18, 1861
   Issued .56 7 shot Spencer Carbine, Revolver, and a Saber.

   Notice: Dec. 25, 1861 issue Elgin's Weekly Gazette.
   We give space also to an article from the Chicago Tribune, with reference to the purchase of Cavalry horses for this Regiment.  Now will some one give us the figures on Farnsworth's 1200 horses.  We know that many of the horses were bought for seventy and seventy-five dollars.  What did the Government pay for them?  And among whom was the forty or fifty thousand dollars divided.  Out of that sum the Government was defrauded.  Who has it?  We advise ambitious young men to keep a pure record in these matters.  By and by this money will have to be raised by a direct tax, and then a thousand ***** ***** will be open to see who had **** **** while ****** the debt they are taxed to pay.  The a dollar traced to your ******* when you cannot honestly account, will burn like an unquenchable fire.  Take care.

   Captured at Bull Run March 10, 1862 and confined at Libby Prison.
   Paroled due to ill health and Mustered Out of the service, May 20, 1862.

Known Actions;
Bull Run, Va. March 10, '62

Post war;
   Engineer at the Watch Factory.
   Listed on the 1870 Census #237/314 as aged 32 years, from Pennsylvania, living in Elgin, Ill.
   Joined Elgin GAR Veteran's Post #49 May 27, 1884.
   Member A.O.U.W.
   Member of the Royal League.
 
   Obit; July 13, 1901 issue of The Elgin Weekly Courier.
   After a critical illness of three weeks, during which there was at no time hope of recovery, Jacob D. Rickert breathed his last at 1 o'clock Tuesday, at his home on Grove avenue.
   He was born May 25th, 63 years ago and came west with his parents when but four years of age.  The family lived at Elmhurst, Geneva, and Naperville and was well known throughout that section.
   At the latter place the deceased grew to manhood and when the Civil war broke out was among the first to volunteer his services.  He enlisted in the 8th Illinois cavalry.  He was for a time confined in Libby prison and owing to the resultant ill health was paroled.
   Upon his return to Naperville he was married to Hattie Smith, daughter of the late Alvin Smith, an old resident.
   Mr. Rickert came to Elgin 38 years ago to take the position of engineer at the watch factory, which position he held for 36 years, or until failing health caused him to resign.  He was most trustworthy in every respect and discharged his duties with unfailing care and faithfulness.  He was highly valued by the company.
   He was a man of strictest integrity, kindly in his nature and ever ready to go out of his way to do someone a kindness of help those in sorrow and disease.  In every respect hoe was an excellent citizen and ideal husband and father, devoted to his family.  There are none but kindly words spoken of him and general sorrow among all who knew him at his taking off.
   Mr. Rickert was a member of the A.O.U.W., the Royal league and Veteran post, G.A.R.  A widow, two sons and two daughter are left to mourn his loss.  The latter are Charles A., Judson d., Lillian and Nellie, all of Elgin except Judson who now makes his home at Waltham.

   Buried at Bluff City Cemetery in Elgin, Ill.

Used with permission Dan Mallett

Many members of Post #49 sewed watch faces to their ribbons to show they were from Elgin.