The History of Greene County, Ohio, R. S. Dills, 1881

Xenia Township, Biographical

Joseph A. Simons, coal and lime dealer, was born in the state of New York, where he was married to Miss A. J. Gillett, of the same state. In 1854 he came to Ohio, and settled in Cortsville, Clarke County, and engaged in the corn planter business. After a time he moved to Cedarville, and engaged in the coal and lime business. From there he went to Michigan, but remained only a short time, and returned to Cedarville, whence he removed to Xenia, where he has remained ever since, engaged in the same business. He has a family of three sons and four daughters. The oldest son is married, and is a lieutenant in the United States Navy. Mr. Simons is a member of the Odd-fellows, and has passed all the chairs of both the lodge and encampment; has also taken the degrees in the grand encampment. Is also a member of the First Baptist Church.

The Xenia Daily Gazette, Xenia, Greene Co., OH, October 31, 1891

Mr. and Mrs. George Bickett, of Spring Hill, have welcomed a young son to their home.

The Xenia Daily Gazette, Xenia, Greene Co., OH, August 22, 1892

Mr. George Bickett, of Spring Hill, left this morning for Paxton, Ford Co., ll., to attend his father and mother's golden wedding. He took his two youngest children with him.

The Xenia Daily Gazette, Xenia, Greene Co., OH, Wednesday, November 9, 1892

The year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Bickett, of Spring Hill, died last night of membraneous croup. The funeral will occur from the house tomorrow afternoon at half-past one o'clock.

The Xenia Daily Gazette, Xenia, Greene Co., OH, Wednesday, June 15, 1904

ANTIOCH COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT.

Invitations have been received reading as follows: "The senior class of Antioch College requests the honor of your presence at their commencement exercises on Wednesday morning, June 22, 1904, College Chapel." There are four graduates: Miss Alice Griffith Carr, Miss Gertrude Baker, Mr. Ralph O. Wead and Mr. Harry H. Howett.

The Xenia Daily Gazette, Xenia, Greene Co., OH, Thursday, June 23, 1904

YELLOW SPRINGS

The 47th annual commencement exercises of Antioch College took place to-day in the college chapel. There are four graduates as follows: Gertrude Baker, Alice Carr and Harry Howett, Yellow Springs, and Ralph O. Wead, Xenia. 

The Daily Gazette, Xenia, Greene Co., OH, Friday, February 10, 1905

ANOTHER OLD CITIZEN ANSWERS LAST CALL.

Mr. J. A. Simons, the Veteran Coal Dealer, Died Thursday Evening, Aged 82.

Joseph Arnold Simons, one of the oldest citizens of the city, died Thursday night at 8 o'clock of senile gangrene, aged 82 years. He was born in Cuyahoga county, New York, and had been in Xenia thirty-three years, being in the coal business for twenty-one years. His wife died last July, after nearly fifty-six years of married life. Before marriage his wife was Miss A. J. Gillett, to whom he was married at Port Byron, State of New York, on October 8, 1848. In 1854 he came to Ohio, and settled in Clark county and engaged in the corn planter business. After a time he moved to Cedarville and engaged in the coal and lime business. From there he went to Michigan, but remained only a short time, when he returned to Cedarville, from whence he came to Xenia, where he remained until his death. Mr. Simons was a kind hearted and well esteemed citizen and was well known throughout the county. A large circle of friends will deeply regret to learn of his death. The following children survive: Mrs. Eila Wagner, Mrs. Elizabeth Bickett, Mrs. Frank Junkins, William and Oscar Simons, Xenia; Dr, Manley Simons, surgeon at Mare Island government hospital; Mrs. Clinton Manor, Spring Valley. Two sister survive, Mrs. Letty Baker, North Baltimore, and Mrs. Elizabeth Brightman, Springfield. The funeral will take place Saturday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the First Baptist church.

The Xenia Daily Gazette, Xenia, Greene Co., OH, Friday, September 24, 1915

GEORGE M. BICKETT, WELL KNOWN XENIAN, CALLED BY DEATH

LONG ILLNESS OF HEART TROUBLE TERMINATES IN DEMISE OF LOCAL MAN AT HOME ON CHESTNUT STREET.

George M. Bickett, one of Xenia's best known residents and a member of a large and widely connected Greene county family, died between 8 and 9 o'clock Friday forenoon, at his home, 242 Chestnut street. Although he had not been well since last winter, Mr. Bickett had kept at his employment until seven weeks ago, when he was obliged to give up his work owing to his state of health. He suffered from heart trouble, and a dropsical condition developed. It was known that his condition was serious, but during the last day or so he appeared much better. Thursday morning he suddenly relapsed, and died before all the members of his family could reach his bedside. George McVey Bickett was born in Jamestown, September 29, 1852, and would have reached his sixty third birthday anniversary this month. He came to Xenia to live in the early seventies, and his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Simons took place in this city in 1875. With the exception of a short time when they lived in Chillicothe, Mr. and Mrs. Bickett made their home in Xenia through their married life. Mr. Bickett was a plumber, and was employed by the firm of Baldner and Fletcher, and by their predecessors, for many years. Surviving him are his widow and the following children: Leroy M., of Yellow Springs; Arnold, Earle, Miss Maude and Miss Agnes. Miss Agnes is a teacher employed in Central school. Mr. Bickett leaves a brother, R. H. Bickett, of College Corner, O., and the following sisters: Mrs. Mary E. McQuiston and Mrs. Albert McQuiston, of Fowler, Cal.; Mrs. Alice Wallace, of Vinton, Ia., and Mrs. Nettie Colvin, of Chicago Heights, Ill. There is one granddaughter, little Helen Bickett. Mr. Bickett was a member of the First United Presbyterian church, having been connected with that faith for many years. Funeral arrangements have not been completed.

The Xenia Daily Gazette, Xenia, Greene Co., OH, Monday, March 27, 1916

FOR QUICK SALE

I offer for quick sale the home of the late George Bickett at 224 Chestnut St., 8 room, two story frame. Bath, gas and city water. Lot 57 1/2 x 200. A nice home in a nice place. Ask me the price. Call or see Jno. W. Prugh, The Real Estate Man. Both phones. 3-27

The Xenia Daily Gazette, Xenia, Greene Co., OH, Monday, July 16, 1917

RUBBER PLANT SOLD AND WILL BE MOVED AWAY

The Old Town Rubber Company, and The Xenia Rubber Company, with a combined capitalization of $70,000, have sold their interest and holdings in the rubber manufacturing plant at Oldtown, to Milwaukee capitalists. The deal by which the sale was made, was completed Saturday. The equipment of the Old Town plant will be moved at once to Milwaukee, where a company which will probably be incorporated as The Wisconsin Rubber Company, will continue the manufacturing of rubber products along the same lines, but on a much more extensive scale than was done while the plant was situated here. Roy Bickett, who originated the Xenia Rubber Company, and who is vice president of The Old Town Rubber Company, and secretary of The Xenia Rubber Company, will go to Milwaukee, and will be factory manager and superintendent for the new company. His sister, Miss Agnes Bickett, who has been bookkeeper at the Old Town plant, will also go to Milwaukee to take a similar position with the new corporation. The Xenia Rubber Company, capitalized at $40,000, is the holding company, owning the real estate, buildings and equipment of the rubber factory at Old Town. The Old Town Rubber Company, capitalized at $30,000 is the operating company. The real estate and buildings will be sold and the equipment moved to Milwaukee. Robert Kuhn, a Cincinnati capitalist, is the president, and princial stock holder of the Old Town Rubber Company. He intended the business for his son, Robert Kuhn, Jr., who is secretary and treasurer of the concern, and has been actively engaged in the work. The son recently joined a branch of the military service and has already joined his command. The Xenia Rubber Company was started in this city in 1913 by Roy Bickett. It manufactured several rubber products in the plant on West Main street. Afterward it was moved to the Old Town property, and some time later The Old Town Rubber Company was formed. The plant now employs 35 people and its chief article of manufacture is rubber heels. L. S. Pease of Milwaukee, a corporation lawyer, is here representing the Milwaukee people who will take over the plant. D. N. Russell of Cincinnati is here representing the Kuhn interest in the companies. Mr. Bickett, who originated the rubber manufacturing business in this city, worked hard, and brought the business to a point where it has become an industry which promises to develop into a large concern. He received little encouragement from local capital, but strangers were quick to see the possibilities of the industry.

The Galveston Daily News, Galveston, TX, Friday, July 2, 1920

Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby J. Chapman and Baby Jean Elizabeth left yesterday for Yellow Springs, Ohio, to visit Mrs. Chapman's mother. They will also visit Mr. Chapman's mother and sisters at Akron, Ohio. Mrs. Chapman and baby will spend the summer months with Mrs. Bickett at Yellow Springs, Mr. Chapman returning home the latter part of July after attending to some business matters.

The Galveston Daily News, Galveston, TX, Sunday, March 13, 1921

Mrs. Willoughby Chapman and baby, Jean Elizabeth, will leave today for Yellow Springs, Ohio. Mrs. Chapman having been called there by the serious illness of her mother, Mrs. George Bickett.

The Evening Gazette, Xenia, Greene Co., OH, Tuesday, January 29, 1924

Leroy Bickett of Watertown, Wis., visited his mother for a few days this week.

Mrs. George Bickett who has been in the hospital in Xenia suffering from a fractured hip was able to be brought home Thursday.

The Evening Gazette, Xenia, Greene Co., OH, Thursday, April 8, 1926

Mrs. Roy Bickett, Milwaukee, Wis., has been called here on account of the accident suffered by Mrs. George Bickett, Yellow Springs, who is in McClellan Hospital with a fractured leg.

Mrs. George Bickett, Yellow Springs, fractured her right leg when she fell at her home, Wednesday. She was removed to McClellan Hospital, this city, Wednesday night. Mrs. Bickett broke her other leg when she fell a year ago and has walked with the aid of a crutches since that time.

The Evening Gazette, Xenia, Greene Co., OH, Friday, September 3, 1926

YELLOW SPRINGS RESIDENT DIES

Mrs. George Bickett, 73, formerly of Xenia, passed away at her home in Yellow Springs, Friday morning at 6 o'clock. Death was caused by gangrene and diabetes, resulting from a fractured hip received several months ago. Mrs. Bickett had been bedfast five months. She was born in Greene County and would have reached her seventy-fourth birthday September 9. She spent practically all of her life in this county, and moved to Yellow Springs from Xenia, where the family lived for some time, twelve years ago. Mr. Bickett preceded his wife in death in 1914. Four children survive: Arnold and Earl Bickett, at home; Mrs. W. .J. Chapman, Galveston, Tex., and Leroy M. Bickett, Watertown, Wis., with two sisters, Mrs. Clint Manor, Xenia and Mrs. George Junkins, Jamestown. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. Mrs. Bickett was a member of First U. P. Church, this city.

GEORGE MCVEY AND RUTH BICKETT (by Helen Bickett Fiegel)

I know very little about my grandfather, George McVey Bickett. His middle name (and my father's) gave me a problem in tracing family history. I thought I must have McVey ancestors, but his parents followed what I have since learned was a common practice -- naming children for in-laws who are in no way related by blood. George's middle name came from the married name of his great-aunt Peggy Irwin McVey, who must have been a beloved aunt. And the name came down another generation, to my father.

George was listed as a farmer on the 1870 census, but as a plumber when he later lived in Xenia. I have a picture of him which was in a photo album in western IA for over 100 years. It was taken around 1870 when he visited some relatives in IA. It was labeled "Cousin George Bickett of Xenia, OH" and the descendants of the Latta family in Iowa didn't know how Bicketts were related to them (through the Junkins) until a copy of one of my letters was sent to them. They graciously gave me the picture and I will try to copy it here. I see a resemblance to my cousin Jean Chapman Bashor, in TX.

Four sons and two daughters were born, but only one son and one daughter married and had families. The entire family with the exception of George, was afflicted with diabetes. My father thought he was going to escape, but it developed in 1951, when he was 68. The diabetes tendency comes from the Simons side of the family.

[NI2683] More information about Helen under her husband Victor.

The following letter is included since I felt it might give clues to future family genealogists. This letter was sent to Mrs. Helen (Bickett) Fiegel, 434 Oakland Lane, Elkhorn, WI from Sylvia Walker Caven, Holladay Park Plaza, 13300 NE 16 Ave., Portland, OR on 22 Mar 1976.

Dear Mrs. Fiegel:

I am again getting settled down and picking up my genealogical leads. I am anxious to learn more of my Bickett ancestry. (Nathaniel Hamill - Martha Bickett), I have misplaced our former correspondence with the exception of your reply dated July 17, 1975.

I have a copy of a letter written Sept. 5, 1864 by Sally Hamill, only daughter of Nathaniel and Martha Beckett Hamill to her cousin Joseph Hamill, which I now copy excerpts from: "I find by the run of your letter that you do not know who I am. I am a daughter of Nathaniel Hamill, a brother of your grandfather, Robert Hamill, and my mother a sister of your grandmother (two Bickett sisters), Martha and Mary. I remained single and lived with my mother and am now 81 years, and am middling frail - but still live alone and am able to do my own work ... Mother died April 1817 ... she had the satisfaction of sitting in communion with all her children. John and Nathaniel (her brothers) were Elders in the Church ... Aunt came with him into Xeniatown the last morning (of Synod) and went to see Uncle John Bickett - the next was when John Hamill was down to see you and Uncle John Bickett and when he came home he came to see me and told me all about the friends." Aunt Sally lived in what is now Lawrence Co., PA. And the church is an ancient church, still in existence and is known as the Bethel United Presbyterian Church - this was before the merger of the Pres. and United Pres. This was a psalm-singing church - no hymns. I was baptised in this church and a few years ago when AI was working for data for visa, and after trying a number of sources to prove my American ancestry, I finally wrote back there and received a copy of my baptismal in 1892. Aunt Sally wrote the above letter to Joseph Hamill of Xenia.

Now do you have and Beckett (Bicket, Bickett, exc.) material naming these three - Martha, Mary and John Bickett as children of? I can't seem to locate my copy of my original letter to you, so maybe I will be repeating.

Martha Beckett Hamill was born in 1734 - died April 20, 1811, and is buried in Bethal graveyard, Lawrence Co., PA. Aunt Sally lived to be 92 years old. The church records of Rev. John King of Mercersburg, PA, show that Nathaniel Hamill and Martha Bickett were married by him June 13, 1775.

Continues on Page 45 of Bicket-Bickett Family 1756-1989

[NI2684] Victor G. Fiegel was born in Little Rock, AR in 1910, and when he was four years old the family moved to Los Angeles, CA. On January 28, 1919 he was run over by the wheel of a wagon, and the injuries to his leg kept him hospitalized for four months. His parents had divorced, and in May, he went back to TX with his father and lived with an aunt and uncle in Austin while recuperating. In June, 1920 he went to live with his father in Galveston, where he grew up. After attending a business college in El Paso, TX in 1929-30, he went to Eureka, CA where his mother and stepfather lived, and worked for some time as a dental technician for his stepfather. He enlisted in the merchant marines and made several trips across the Pacific, before returning to Galveston.

Helen was born in Yellow Springs, OH, in 1912, but grew up in Watertown, WI, where the family moved in 1921. After high school, where she was active in music organizations, she graduated from the University of WI in Madison with a degree in Business Administration (School of Commerce). She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. These were Depression years and she worked on several of the student-assistance programs.

We met in Galveston, TX, and were married in Watertown, WI, October 16, 1938. We lived in Galveston until 1940 when we moved to Watertown and Vic worked at the L. M. Bickett company. After World War II began, in 1942, we moved back to the Galveston area and lived in La Marque and Texas City while Vic worked at the Pan-American oil refinery. We returned to Watertown in 1944 and Vic worked at the L. M. Bickett Company until September, 1952, when we moved to Walworth, WI and started the A. K. Rubber Products company, on the proverbial shoestring. The company prospered, and in 1956 we bought property in Elkhorn, put up a building, and moved the company there. In the fall of 1957 we ourselves moved to Elkhorn. The company was incorporated in 1959, and at this writing it has been in existence for 28 years and has a very solid foundation.

We have been active in the Congregational Church in Elkhorn, both of us having served in a number of capacities over the years. Vic has been moderator, and as chairman of the building committee when our Christian Education Building was erected in 1970. He was a member of the Elkhorn Kiwanis club and the Walworth-Fontana Rotary Club, with 27 years perfect attendance in the Rotary Club. Helen has enjoyed serving as piano accompanist for music contestants from the Elkhorn school for about 15 years, and has pinch-hit as organist at the church on occasion. Also--she spent eight years working on this genealogy project, searching libraries and county courthouses across the country, writing hundreds of letters, and becoming acquainted with hitherto-unknown relatives.

All three of our children were born in Watertown, although when Todd was born we were living in Walworth. Alan only lived to be 26 months old. Kirt and Todd graduated from Elkhorn High School, where both excelled in instrumental music. Kirt graduated from Carroll College in 1964 with a degree in business administration, having spent his junior year at the University of Hawaii, in Honolulu, Todd graduated from the School of Music of the University of WI-Madison in 1976, with a degree in music education. In 1980 he received his master's degree in conducting, also in Madison.

Kirt took over management and ownership of the A. K. Rubber Products Co. Inc. in 1980, and Todd is now assistant professor of music at Muskingum College in New Concord, OH.