William J. Bickett
History of Montana, 1898
US Genweb Montana Archives

William J. Bickett, County Assessor of Lewis and Clarke County 
was born in Marion County Kentucky, January 1, 1856.  He comes of 
a family who were early settlers of Kentucky, his father, William 
J.W. Bickett having been born in that State in 1822.  William 
J.W. Bickett was a physician by profession.  He married Miss 
Martha Collet, a native of Missouri, her ancestors being among 
the early settlers of the South.  Dr. Bickett came out to Montana 
in 1864 and in 1869 returned East for his wife and two children, 
whom he brought to Montana.  One of these children, Anna, is now 
the wife of R.P. Thoughman and the other William J. is the 
subject of this sketch.  Soon after his return to Helena in 1869, 
Dr. Bickett died from the effects of an overdose of medicine 
taken while sick.

William J. Bickett was just entering his teens at the time of his 
father's death and at that early age he was thrown upon his 
own resources.  He worked at whatever he could get to do and 
when he was sixteen he was employed as clerk in the dry goods 
store of J.R. Boyce and Company, retail dealers with whom he 
remained seven years, his long continuance with the firm being 
ample evidence of his ability and their confidence in him.  
Then with all the money he had saved during these years, he 
invested in the sheep business in which he met with success 
until the severe winter of 1880 when on account of deep 
snows, he lost heavily.  This loss caused him to return to 
the mercantile business and for three years he was employed 
as clerk by Vanwart and Company of Helena.  At the expiration 
of this time he was elected Assessor of Lewis and Clarke 
County (1886).  

Mr. Bickett married July 31, 1889 to Mrs. Vena E. Swett a 
native of New York, daughter of A.B. Taylor of that State 
and widow of W.C. Swett who was a cattle dealer in Montana.  
She had a son and daughter from that marriage and by Mr. 
Bickett she has one daughter, Verna.

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