Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Bickley, Thomas R. 1844 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 5, 2013, 10:38 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

THOMAS R. BICKLEY.

Thomas R. Bickley, deputy oil inspector at Ottumwa, one of the veterans of the
Civil war and a highly respected citizen, was born in Newtown, England, October
1, 1844, his parents being William and Nancy (Rogers) Bickley, who were also
natives of the same country. The mother died in England in 1850, and the
following year the father crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling in
Minersville, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in mining and made arrangements for
a home for his family. In 1852 he was joined by his four sons and a daughter,
while one daughter remained in England. They continued residents of the Keystone
state for several years, but in September, 1863, came to Wapello county and
established their home on a farm three miles west of Ottumwa. In 1864, however,
Mr. Bickley returned to Pennsylvania, where his remaining days were passed, his
death occurring in 1876. The family numbered nine children, of whom three died
in infancy, while six reached adult age.

Thomas R. Bickley. however, is the only survivor of the family. In August, 1862,
when a youth of but seventeen years, he enlisted at Ashland, Pennsylvania, for
service as a member of Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry. In less than three weeks he was in active duty at the second
battle of Bull Run, one of the hotly contested engagements of the war. He also
participated in the battle of Antietam and on the 13th of December, of that
year, was in the last charge against Mary's Heights at Fredericksburg. In 1863
he participated in the battle of Chancellorsville, where "Stonewall" Jackson was
killed by a mistaken volley from his own troops. On the 18th of May, 1863, Mr.
Bickley was honorably discharged at Harrisburg. In 1864, however, he re-enlisted
as a member of Company I, First Iowa Cavalry from Ottumwa, commanded by Dr. D.
C. Densmore, of Kirkville, Iowa. With that command he served until February,
1866, and was honorably discharged at Davenport. He then returned to Ottumwa and
learned the plasterer's trade, becoming a contractor, in which business he
continued for many years, enjoying an extensive and well merited patronage. In
1872 he served one term as assessor, while from 1889 to 1891 and from 1897 to
1899 he was justice of the peace. In 1900 he was given a subordinate position on
the public lands committee of the house of representatives and held this until
1906. His official record is commendable, for at all times he has been faithful
to the trust reposed in him and promptness and fidelity have marked the
discharge of his duties.

On the 3d of October, 1870, Mr. Bickley was united in marriage to Miss Jane
Toon, who was born in Leicestershire, England, October, 23, 1849, and came to
America in January, 1869, with her parents, Samuel R. and Mary (Partridge) Toon,
who were likewise natives of England. They came with their family to the new
world and remained residents of Wapello county until death, being laid to rest
in a cemetery at Agency. Mr. and Mrs. Bickley became parents of seven children,
six sons and a daughter, but the first five, Henry M., Samuel Lewis, Grace M.,
Louis R. and Thomas R., have all passed away. Charles Sanders is now a resident
of Boise, Idaho. William F., who is living in Seattle, Washington, completes the
family. The wife and mother departed this life March 31, 1881, and her death was
deeply regretted not only by her immediate family, but also by many friends.

Fraternally Mr. Bickley has been connected with the Masons for forty-four years
and for an extended period has held the office of tyler in the local lodge. He
is also prominent in Cloutman Post, G. A. R., of which he has been commander and
is now quartermaster. Following his return from a trip to the south the Ottumwa
Courier of January 10, 1902, printed the following and it is inserted here
because it breathes the broad and generous spirit of Mr. Bickley, gives an
indication of his ability as a speech maker and shows him to be a most patriotic
citizen. The article reads as follows "Mr. Bickley has a memento which he prizes
very highly and to which he referred in his address made last evening. It is in
the form of a white star from a Confederate flag and was presented to Mr.
Bickley last summer by the sister of the Confederate bearer who fell while
carrying the flag of which the star was a part. Mr. Bickley treasures the
memento very highly and has it mounted and framed with the following inscription
below it: 'This star, a part of the battle flag of the Thirtieth Confederate
Virginia Infantry, was presented to T. R. Bickley, of the One Hundred and
Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, on the battle field of
Fredericksburg, Virginia, June 1, 1901, within fifteen feet of the spot where
General Gregg of South Carolina fell, mortally wounded, December 13, 1862. The
donor was T. F. Proctor, commander of Maury Camp No. 2, Confederate Veterans, at
the request of his wife, Bettie Proctor, whose brother, William F. Jones, was
color sergeant of said regiment and fell mortally wounded while charging our
lines at Drury's Bluff, May 16, 1864, carrying this flag.'

"Fighting the battle over.

"Mr. Bickley made the following address, which is published at the request of
the Post, at last evening's meeting:

'Commander, Comrades and Sons of Veterans: You have asked me to write something
to be read to Cloutman Post. I would gladly evade the task, for to me it is a
new experience, but my relations with Cloutman Post have been so pleasant, and
the "Old Boys" have been so kind, that I can't find it in my heart to say "Nay."

'What I submit pertains to the time that "tried men's souls." One of the hopes I
had cherished for years was that some day I might have the pleasure of again
seeing a few of the places made historic by the valor of the men of the north
and the men of the south. It was my fortune to have received my first "baptism
of fire" on the sacred soil of Virginia. I had intended going to Fredericksburg
on last Decoration Day to witness the unveiling of a monument commemorative of
the Fifth Corps, erected by the order of and paid for by Major General
Butterfield, who commanded said Corps in the battle at that place, but I missed
connection. On the first day of June I took advantage of excursion rates from
Washington and arrived at Fredericksburg at 4:30 P. M., a distance of seventy
miles. I immediately went to the field, following the course of my regiment
after entering the town on the 13th day of December, 1862. Quite a number of
residences have been erected on the field, the city improving in that direction.
I was cordially accorded the privilege to pass through cultivated gardens. When
on the field one "old timer" asked if I had been there in '62. "Yes." "What part
of the line?" I pointed it out. "Why, you were in the hottest of it. We made it
warm for you that day." "Yes, hot as hell, but I think we demonstrated to you
that the Yankee knew how to die, but I am going today where you Johnnies
wouldn't let me go on that day."

'About one hundred and fifty yards from the point where the momentum of our
charge was shattered, I arrived at the sunken road, on the edge of which is a
story- and-a-half house. The house is occupied by T. F. Proctor, who was a
member of the Thirtieth Virginia Confederate Infantry, Company A. The company
was raised in Fredericksburg. Said Proctor is employed during the summer months
in the National Cemetery. He was at that time commandant of Maury Camp No. 2,
Confederate Veterans.

'In a friendly way we fought the old battle over again. I was surprised to hear
the following sentiment. "While we are proud of the military record we made
during the Civil war, we recognize now that our defeat was the best possible
thing for the south, for the development of its resources, and especially for
the improvement of the condition of the poor white man, who was thought less of
then the 'nigger.' It was a rich man's war and a poor man's fight."

'I was informed that they had three sons who had marched under the Old Flag
during our little fracas with Spain. I remarked that I, too, had a boy in that
affair, and I little thought thirty-eight years ago that a boy of mine would be
subject to the orders of a Fitz Hugh Lee, and that that Lee would be a corps
commander in the United States Army, but I rejoiced in the fact. We became quite
chummy.

'After securing a few mementos and just upon leaving, the mother said: "I have
something I want to show you." She brought out the battle flag that had been
presented to the regiment by the ladies of Fredericksburg. It was in ribbons
with but one of the thirteen stars left. Handing it to me she said: "My brother
carried this flag and fell with it mortally wounded, charging your lines at
Drury's Bluff, May 16, 1864." I took it in my hands and gazed at it reverently.
I knew that at one time it was to me the emblem of treason, but I could not help
regarding it as a thing made hallowed by the blood of as brave men as ever
followed any flag of any country. I do not know how long I looked at it. My
thought was concentrated on that dread past. I silently handed it back to the
lady. Then I heard a voice say, "Mother, let us give the gentleman the star." I
was thunderstruck. I thought of the brave men dead and living who had followed
that bit of silk to victory, defeat, and death. I would not have been more
surprised if revolvers had been drawn upon me. The mother, looking upon the
grizzled old Confederate, said: "Shall I?" He said, "No! There is but one star
on the old flag." She quickly said, "I have one framed, and no one has a better
right to this flag than I, and I know this gentleman will appreciate it." He
said, "I don't care." So they separated the star from the flag and gave it to
me. (It is with us tonight). I need not say I value it above money or prize. It
was cheerfully given to me. A money consideration was not thought of. It would
have been sacrilege. The moment seemed to be entirely one of sentiment, but I
confess to feeling that I was "spoiling the Egyptians."

'The two following days I spent roaming over the disastrous field, and I took a
melancholy satisfaction in living again that terrible time. The enemy's position
was practically impregnable. They had five lines of intrenchments on that part
of the line we charged. Our attack was a frontal one, and I do not wonder that
after that battle our commander-in-chief was referred to as "Butcher Burnside."

'The National Cemetery is enclosed by a stone wall, having an area of thirteen
acres, much of it at an angle of forty-five degrees. The terraces are quite
numerous. It was established July 15, 1865. There were fifteen thousand two
hundred and forty-three interments, twelve thousand seven hundred and seventy of
which were unknown, and but two thousand seven hundred and forty-three known.
Not a member of mv regiment was among the known. My bunk-mate and boyhood
friend, a pure, noble minded young man, with whom I touched elbows in that
charge, was one of that twelve thousand seven hundred and seventy. Their bones
lay bleaching on that field until reverently gathered and interred two and a
half years after the battle.

'We hear much of the generals and officers of all wars. Very little is said only
in a general way of the man behind the gun. I think every man who suffered and
fought with the great leaders helped to bring them fame, and are sharers in
their renown. Every soldier who fought at Thermopylae helped to make Leonides
immortal, helped to make courage and patriotism immortal. Every Union soldier
who fought under its leaders helped to make them immortal, and thus helped to
fill our history with the names which inspire a nations pride and patriotism.
The bravest and most patriotic thing a man can do is to enter the ranks as a
common soldier, animated by patriotism alone. It is not remarkable that men who
have made a profession, men who have been educated in the art and science of
warfare, should offer themselves to their country in time of war. That is what
they have been looking for, if not praying for. It is no disparagement of their
virtue and honor to say they have cultivated an ambition for fame, and they hope
that in war their genius will manifest itself and the opportunity offer for
their achieving distinction, and by gallant deeds rise to high position and
enviable immortality. But no such ambition is held out before the volunteer
private—the glittering promise of promotion and fame. With a love of country so
great as ever moved the heart of a Washington, or Hamilton, or Lincoln, or
Grant, many a lad from the farm, many a red-headed, freckle-faced boy from the
district school, many a grimy miner, many a young hustler from the workshop,
shouldered his musket in the days of the Civil war and went forth to his death
without the hope of fame or the dream of glory, but simply with his
mother-taught conviction of duty, and with a purpose of defending the flag of
his country and preserving this national union. That is the bravest kind of
bravery, the most heroic kind of heroism, the most patriotic kind of patriotism.

'Those men of 1861 and 1865 were not the victims of unholy ambition, nor the
dupes of ignorance, nor the rash champions of false and vicious sentiments. They
went to war, not from a greed of gain, filled with the conqueror's inhuman
spirit. They drew their swords, not from hope of dominion, inspired by the
deceitful dreams of power. They fought to victory not from pride of opinion,
animated with the stubbornness of ancient bigotry. It was love, not anger, that
filled the soldier's heart with his magnificent courage. And it was the love of
country, the love of liberty, that sent him forth to glorious sacrifice.

'Their work is secure, they did not fight in vain. The world cannot go back of
those graves and battlefields. They mark a new advance of humanity in
civilization. There can be no rediscussions of questions that were settled in
battle and death; no rewelding of shackles there broken; no rewriting of laws
and precedents there blotted out in blood; no resurrection of disputing issues
that were buried with the men who took them for arbitrament to the cannon's
mouth. The country owes a debt of perpetual and eternal gratitude to the memory
of the men who saved this republic. Above all other benefactors, their names
should be cherished and their deeds extolled. All honor to the men who walked
and fought and died in the ranks. Honor this day and forever to the American
private soldier, to the volunteers who came from the ranks of the toiling common
people to preserve the government of the people.' "


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914


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