FRANKLIN COUNTY OHIO - BIOS: RICKENBACHER, John C. (published 1880)
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History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties,  Ohio
Pub by Williams Bros.,  1880

JOHN C. RICKENBACHER

The subject of this brief biographical notice,  sheriff-elect of
Franklin County,  was born in Canton Bossel,  Switzerland,  November
30,  1822.  His parents,  Jacob and Elizabeth Rickenbacher,  were
farmers;  but as they did not desire their son to follow their own
calling,  he was apprenticed,  at the age of fifteen years,  to a
tailor,  with whom he remained eight years.

In 1846,  he emigrated to America,  landing in New York August 13.  On
the sixth of October,  the same year,  he came to Columbus,  where he
has lived ever since,  with the exception of the time he was with the
United States army,  in Mexico.  He enlisted in the spring of 1847,  in
company B,  of the fourth regiment,  Ohio volunteer infantry,  and
remained in the service until honorably discharged,  after the
declaration of peace,  in July,  1848.  He was in the engagements at
Homaudla,  Pueobla,  and Atilsco.  He enlisted as a private,  and was
promoted to the position of sergeant.

On the close of the Mexican war Mr. Rickenbacher returned immediately to
Columbus,  and resumed work at his trade.  He was employed as a
journeyman tailor three years,  by N. Burgle,  and nine years,  by H.
Coit & Company.  After the expiration of the latter term he went into
partnership with C. Hertenstein,  with whom he remained for six and a
half years,  and severed the connection in 1866,  only to engage in the
same business,  merchant tailoring,  alone.

Politically,  Mr. Rickenbacher was an independent voter,  until the
candidacy of John C. Fremont,  when he became affiliated with the party
of which he has ever since been an adherent and supporter.  He was a
strong Union man during the civil war,  did much to help the cause,  and
but for circumstances,  too strong to be overcome,  would have been
found in the fighting ranks.  Although having a warm interest in the
success of those principles which he deemed right,  he took no very
active part in politics until 1872,  when he was elected councilman from
the fifth ward.  His term expired in 1874,  and he was re-elected, 
serving two more years.  In the spring of 1877 he was elected police
commissioner,  for a term of four years, but resigned his office,  when
he accepted the nomination for the sheriffalty.  The Republicans of
Franklin County paid him the deserved compliment of this nomination,  at
the convention held August 1,  1879,  and he was elected October 14th, 
following.

The subject of this sketch was married,  December 6,  1848,  to Miss
Elizabeth Christina Schafer.  The offspring who blessed this union
were:  Franklina (deceased);  William,  who is a resident of Mifflin
township;  Caroline (Shrader),  Albert,  and John M.,  who are living in
Columbus.

About the time that he was married Mr. Rickenbacher became a member of
the German Lutheran church,  and in later years of the Evangelical
church,  of which he was one of the leading supporters.

Mr. Rickenbacher in his public and private relations has had the warmest
regard and highest respect of all with whom he has come in contact.  He
is a man of simple,  quiet tastes,  careful and conscientious in
business affairs,  and of absolutely unsullied reputation and
character.  His successful career has been,  and is,  equally
illustrative of the worth of honest,  manly,  personal endeavor,  and of
the beneficial effects of a Republican form of government,  in which the
foreigner and the native born,  the wealthy and those of humbler
condition,  have the same opportunities of social or business
advancement,  and of political preferment.
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