Howard-Henry County IN Archives Biographies.....Pickett, John 1865 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 24, 2006, 2:03 am

Author: Jackson Morrow

JOHN PICKETT.

    This honored veteran of the Civil war is to be designated as one of the
progressive and influential citizens of Howard county where, for more than a
quarter of a century he has maintained his home in Taylor township, near
Greentown, figuring as one of the builders of the community and is especially
worthy of consideration in this work. He has not only by his industry and sound
judgment improved a fine farm and gained a fairly large competence for his old
age but he has materially assisted in the general welfare of the community, in
many ways lending his valuable time and influence in the promulgation of various
uplifting movements.

    John Pickett was born in Henry county, Indiana, May 20, 1839, the son of
Joseph and Elmima (Chew) Pickett. Grandfather Pickett was a native of North
Carolina, who moved to Wayne county, Indiana, coming through Cincinnati, Ohio,
when it was merely a village. After remaining in Wayne county for a time he came
to Henry county, entered land there, and the first season, not having time to
clear the ground, he "barked" the trees so the leaves would wilt and not shade
out his corn which he planted among them. The land was cleared as soon as
possible and an excellent farm finally developed, on which he reared his family
and where he passed to his eternal reward, leaving eight children, seven of whom
were girls: the boy became a teacher as was also his wife. The Pickett stock is
Scotch-Irish and English.

    Joseph Pickett, father of the subject, had a fairly good common school
education. He worked on the Wabash & Erie canal at twenty-five cents per day
until he had laid up enough money to enter eighty acres of land, which had to be
entered in his father's name on account of his minority. He walked from
Greensboro to Marion, Indiana, a distance of sixty miles, to pay his taxes.
After he was married he entered land on which he farmed ten or twelve years,
then he bought a farm in Henry county. It was all heavily timbered, but he was a
hard worker and soon had it cleared and a comfortable home established, where he
reared his family and where he died in 1885, his widow surviving until February
9, 1893, reaching a very old age. They were the parents of four sons and three
daughters, all but one of whom lived to raise families of their own, the subject
of this sketch being the oldest child. The parents of these children were strict
Quakers.

    John Pickett, our subject, did not have the educational advantages that he
desired, attending several terms of subscription schools, which were taught only
a few months each year. He worked on his father's farm until August 26, 1861,
when he responded to his country's call for loyal citizens to defend the flag,
enlisting in Company D, Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and he proved
to be a very courageous and valiant soldier for the Union, his first battle
being the great engagement at Chickamauga, then he fought at Lookout Mountain
and at the battle of Missionary Ridge and at Ringgold, Georgia. His brigade was
sent back to the battlefield of Chickamauga on December 1, 1863, to gather up
the bones of the Union soldiers who fell in battle and- bury them. May 4th of
the following year the regiment, of which our subject was a member, started on
the Atlanta campaign. At the battle of Buzzard Roost, the Fourth Corps, of which
this regiment was a part, occupied the center of the army, also the same
position on the march to the sea, the principal battles being fought at Resaca,
Berrysville, Kingston. Dallas and Kenesaw Mountain. Around the latter place
there was more or less fighting for ten days. They were also in the battle of
Peach Tree Creek and in the siege of Atlanta, also in the engagement at
Jonesboro. The enlistment of the subject having expired he came to Indianapolis
and was mustered out on September 21, 1864. On March 13th following, he enlisted
in Company A. Fourth United States Volunteer Infantry and went to Washington
City, where he remained on guard duty until March 13, 1866, when he was mustered
out, receiving an honorable discharge.

    After his military career, Mr. Pickett went to Missouri, where he remained
nine years, farming with pronounced success, after which he came to Howard
county, Indiana, and purchased forty acres of improved land. Later he added
twenty to this, all of which, with the exception of seven acres, is under plow.
It is under an excellent state of cultivation, being well drained and the soil
has been kept up to the standard through the skillful management of the subject.
He employs the usual system of crop rotation, and he feeds all his corn to
stock, mostly to hogs. He is considered a very careful farmer and good manager
of both his crops and stock.

    Our subject was married September 27, 1866, to Mary Jane Kern, daughter of
Henry and Rebecca Ann (Waldron) Kern. Five children have been born to this union
as follows: Sherman, born February 18, 1868, is married and has one child;
Bertha V., born May 10, 1869, died in 1872; G. W., born October 16, 1870, is
married and has one child; H. A., born December 2, 1874, is married and has four
children: Joseph W., born March 26, 1878, is married and has three children.

     The subject is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Harrison
Post, No. 30. He is a loyal Republican. Mrs. Pickett is a member of the
Christian church and they are both esteemed throughout the township where they
reside for their integrity. uprightness and hospitality.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA
BY
JACKSON MORROW, B. A.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

(circa 1909)

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