Ricketts - James Thomas
Source: Waveland Independent newspaper, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana June 12, 1931
James Thomas RICKETTS, known to every school child in this community as "Daddy" Ricketts passed away at the Indiana Christian Hospital in Indianapolis, last Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. His death followed an illness extending over many months, although only during the last four weeks had he been confined to the hospital. A very unusual man was "Daddy" Ricketts. Starting in the school teaching profession when only 18 he had continued in his chosen work for 55 years. During the past six years he had been teacher at Manual Training & Arithmetic in the Darlington school and had finished a very successful year at the close of the past school term. However, during the past year his health was on the decline and occasionally he was forced to be away from his classes. He remarked at the end of the school term, that this was the first time that had ever been glad that school was out. He loved his pupils and his school room and for 55 years he taught the boys and girls how to work and how to live. During the many years in the school room, he taught in many of the schools of Tippecanoe and Montgomery counties. Several years were spent at Clarks Hill, Stockwell, Gladden's Corner, Mace, New Ross, and Darlington and it is said that he was the first teacher of sewing in Montgomery County, teaching at that time at Beckville. His accomplishments were many and varied. He was considered above the average as a teacher of manual training. He could sew and knit and do most anything with a needle. He could play various instruments, had composed some musical selections and had taught music in several schools. He was a loveable character, not only to his pupils but to all who knew him. via the Darlington Herald. kbz