Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Bickley, Samuel 1816 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com August 31, 2007, 12:13 am

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

PROF. SAMUEL BICKLEY is an ardent believer in the applications of sociology and
also believes that one can tell the characteristics of the human animal by the
means of phrenology. Although he has never accumulated great store of wealth
Prof. Bickley has certainly been an intellectual stimulus to society in Flint,
for so fresh and original are his ideas as to invariably call out thought in
others. He is now engaged in market gardening and finds great pleasure in
watching the growth of the green things of earth.

  Prof. Bickley was born in Anfield, Middlesex, England, about ten miles from
London, November 30, 1816. He is a son of Samuel and Mary (Alford) Bickley. His
father was a carpenter and an architect. On locating in London he became a
member of the first cooper's society in that city. He was pressed into the
English naval service and was on Nelson's ship "Trafalgar" for seven years. In
1836 he brought his family to America and located in Flint where he became
engaged as a gardener. He lived to be one hundred and nine years old and during
his last years was a great sufferer, as he became almost petrified. The family
is a long lived one, our subject's grandfather living to be one hundred years
old. The ancestry on the maternal side of the house is of excellent stock. Mrs.
Bickley's father was a man of wealth but running through several estates, he
finally died a poor man. He belonged to the nobility of England. Mrs. Bickley
died in Flint at the age of eighty-five years.

  Of three children that comprised the family to which our subject belonged he
is the only one living. He was reared in London from the time he was fifteen
years of age and was engaged in gardening. He left London on the sailing vessel
"President" and arriving in America came to Flint in the fall of 1836. He
purchased one hundred acres three miles west of Flint. This he cleared and built
a log house. He manufactured brick upon his place from which he built a fine
residence, and improved his place to the fullest extent. He took great pride in
his farm, having the best orchard in the county. In 1877 he sold his farm and
came to the city, purchasing a residence on Beach Street and has since been
engaged in gardening.

  It was our subject who conceived the idea of improving the Hascall swamp by
drainage and fertilization. It is now the richest garden in the county,
comprising three acres. The celery which is taken from it sells for $600 per
annum and other stuff for $400. Mr. Bickley's interest in phrenology dates from
his meeting with a Mr. Deville of London, a gentleman who devoted himself to
science. He later met other phrenologists and so greatly was his interest
aroused that be began his study in 1843 and has since devoted a great deal of
time to it. He has had quite an extensive lecture tour where he was always
greeted cordially and received with pleasing interest. He frequently contributes
articles on his favorite topic for the press and he believes his masterpiece in
this direction to have been the phrenological study of Victoria Wood-hull's
history. He is a ready and fluent speaker and is conversant with French besides
his native language.

  Prof. Bickley was married February 10, 1843, to Miss Rachel Barry, a Canadian
lady. Five children were born to this union. Their names arc Samuel, George,
Charles, Linda and Victoria. The eldest son is a farmer and stockman in Flint
Township; George is a mechanic and millwright; Charles is a fine musician;
Linda, Mrs. Murray, resides in Flint; Victoria, Mrs. R. Webster, lives in
Gladwin. While our subject was on the farm he took the first premium at Flint
for the finest farm in the county. He is a Republican.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/genesee/bios/bickley812gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/

File size: 4.6 Kb