Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography

Thousands of short American lives — soldiers, inventors, preachers, governors, novelists — each given a paragraph: born where, did what, and why anyone remembered.

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Rickards, John Ezra

merchant, legislator, governor, was born July 23, 1848, in Delaware City, Del. His early life was spent on a farm; and was subsequently a clerk and bookkeeper. In 1870 he located in Colorado, and nine years later in California; and in 1882 in Butte City, Mont., which has since been his home In 1888 and again in 1892 he was elected to represent the laymen of Montana in the general conference of the methodist episcopal church. He served as a member of the board of aldermen in Butte; was elected a member of the constitutional convention; then became lieutenant-governor; and in 1892 was elected governor of Montana, and was popularly known as Montana's model governor. He was instrumental in the establishment of a reform school; is a strong and unyielding advocate of bimetallism, and his wellknown ability and integrity of purpose have made him invincible in every political contest he has undertaken. RICKETTS, JAMES BREWERTON, soldier, was born June 21, 1817, in New York city. In 1839 he graduated from the United States Military academy. In 1864 he passed from the campaign against Richmond to the defence of Washington, when threatened by General Early; and then took part under Sheridan in the pursuit through the Valley, receiving at Cedar Creek a wound which disabled him for the winter. He received the brevets of major-general of volunteers in 1864, and of brigadier and major-general in the regular army in 1865. He died Sept. 22, 1887, in Washington, D. C.

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