Randolph County, Indiana
John E. Rickert
In these days of large commercial transactions, when credits cut a large factor in the daily round of business, the province of the banker is very wide and very important. The excellence of the banks of the present as compared with those of the past gives to all classes of business men first-class security for their deposits, assistance when they are in need of ready money to facilitate business matters in various ways, and a means of exchanging credits that could be accomplished in safety no other way. In a large measure the success at the present time of all branches of business is largely the result of present banking methods. It is quite common for the stockholders of the banks to be business men of prominence in the community-farmers, merchants, manufacturers and professional men-all of whom are known to the depositors and their standing well established. This gives stability to the bank and confidence to the community. Such is the confidence in the State Bank of Ridgeville, Randolph county, of which John E. Rickert is the popular and able cashier, in fact, is the maker of it, and one of the substantial and influential men of the locality of which this history deals.
Mr. Rickert was born in Jackson township, Randolph county, February 19, 1878. He is a son of George and Jane (Stuck) Rickert, whose family consists of three children, our subject, and William A., who lives on the home farm, married Daisy Kemp, a daughter of Rev. B. F. Kemp, and they have four children, Noel, Cecil, Mary and Elizabeth. Mary Rickert married Andrew P. Linn, a farmer and stock raiser, and to them three children have been born, namely: Charles, Carrie and Helen, all married except the last named.
The subject of this sketch is of German descent, and he seems to have inherited the characteristic thrift and industry of his progenitors. His father was a native of Indiana, who devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, became the owner of a valuable farm in Randolph county, and here he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1905 at the age of sixty-five years. The paternal grandparents of our subject were both born in Germany, from which country they emigrated to the United States when young. Grandfather Stuck was an able minister in the German Reformed church. The mother of our subject is living, hale and hearty at the age of sixty-five years.
John E. Rickert grew to manhood on his father's farm where he worked until reaching his majority. He received meanwhile his early education in the common schools, and in the State Normal at Terre Haute, which in after life has been greatly supplemented by actual contact with the business world and by wide and miscellaneous home reading. He began life for himself by teaching school in Jackson township for a period of five years, and one year in the graded schools of Saratoga. Although he gave eminent satisfaction as a teacher and was fast taking his place in the front rank of educators in Randolph county, he resigned his position at Saratoga and entered a business career, accepting a position as assistant cashier of the Ridgeville State Bank, in February, 1902, which position he held until in May, 1906, since which time he has been cashier, discharging his duties in a manner that reflects much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of the stockholders and patrons of the bank. His personal popularity, his able counsel and wise foresight have been the principal factors in the upbuilding of this popular and ever-growing institution, which ranks among the sound and safe banks of this section of the state. He is by nature a financier, and he has kept well abreast of the times in all matters pertaining to the banking business.
Mr. Rickert was married June 16, 1899 to Eva L. Hill, a daughter of William Hill, an artisan of Randolph county, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a lady of culture and many admirable characteristics which have won her a host of warm friends.
To our subject and wife two children have been born, namely: Wayne, born October 3, 1900; and Dale, whose birth occurred February 5, 1904. They are both very bright lads and promising; the elder is a pupil of the Ridgeville High School at the early age of thirteen years.
Politically, Mr. Rickert is a Democrat. He has been a member of the local school board for the past twelve years during which he has done much to strengthen the Ridgeville school system, in fact, no man has done more for the general upbuilding of this city than he, for he has ever had its interests at heart since locating here. The town owes him a debt of gratitude which it can not repay. He is a member of the building committee for the erection of the new hall of the local lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a member. He and his family belong to the Congregational church and are faithful in the work and support of the same.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson