PICKERILL BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri
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PICKERILL, Jesse M. - b: 1831 Brown Co, OH
source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 590
residence: Windsor Twp

Jesse M. Pickerill was born in Brown County, Ohio, January 19, 1831. His father, 
William F. Pickerill, who was born in Virginia, died in April, 1864, and his 
mother, formerly Abbie Fisher, was born in Ohio and is of German parentage. 
Jesse M. was brought up as a farmer, and in March, 1852, he emigrated to 
Woodford County, Illinois, and in 1853 bought a farm, on which he lived for eight 
years. In the fall of 1859 he moved to Missouri and settled in Henry County in 
Springfield Township. Returning in 1861 to Ohio, he remained there during the 
war. In September he enlisted in the Fifth Ohio Cavalry under Captain Henry and 
Colonel Taylor, and was at the battles of Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing and in many of 
the hard-fought battles of the war. His horse fell with him while near Corinth, 
injuring him severely, and this perhaps had much to do in causing his death. He 
received his discharge at Camp Dennison on account of disability, and returned 
home in 1863. In March, 1867, he came back to his home in Henry County, and 
from that time on was very successful in his farming operations. He owned 185 
acres of improved land, with commodious and convenient buildings. In 1874 he 
discovered that broom corn was well adapted to this soil and was the first man 
to try the experiment, and found that it was one of the most profitable crops 
raised. He married Miss Sarah A. Smithson April 10, 1851. She was the daughter 
of Thomas H. Smithson, of Maryland, who was born in 1805. He was raised in 
Kentucky, and in 1826 he moved to Brown County, Ohio, where Sarah was born 
September 18, 1831. Her mother was formerly Elizabeth Wright, daughter of 
Gilbert Wright, born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. P. had eleven 
children: William H., Sarah Emma (Mrs. Alonzo Foster), Elizabeth (Mrs. Judson 
Gray), George F., Samuel W., Eva Baker, Belle Duvall, Worthington W., Jesse M., 
Dora L. and Minnie E. Politically, Mr. P. was a Republican. He and his wife both 
joined the Christian Church in October, 1851. He was once elected justice of the 
peace and served several years, and also belonged to the Masons. He was a 
thorough business man, and in that secured the friendship and confidence of all. 
Not long before his death he moved to Windsor, bought a comfortable residence 
and started a broom factory, in which business he was engaged at the time of his 
demise, which occurred December 20, 1882.

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