BIO: James ALRICKS, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 196-197. 
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  ALRICKS, JAMES was fourth in descent from Pieter Alricks, who became 
very prominent in the early settlement of the Dutch on the Delaware, 
was a member of the first Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania, and 
from 1685 to 1689 served as one of William Penn's counselors.  James 
Alricks was born December 2, 1769, at Carlisle, Pa., and died October 
28, 1833, at Harrisburg, Pa.  He received a good education in the 
schools of the day, and was brought up to a mercantile life.  In 1791-
92, he was engaged in business in May Town, Lancaster county, and in 
1814 he removed with his family from Lost Creek Valley to Harrisburg.  
He was a man of extensive reading, passionately fond of books, and he 
regarded an honest man, of fine education and refined manners, as the 
most remarkable object on the face of the earth.  After his father's 
death, he was raised on a farm in Donegal, Lancaster county, and used 
to say at that period no one could get an education for want of 
teachers.  While lamenting his own lack of education, he was remarkably 
well acquainted with history, ancient and modern, and with geography.  
He was likewise quite familiar with the writings of Shakespeare, 
Goldsmith, Burns, Campbell, etc.  While living in the prime of life on 
the Juniata, he was delighted to meet and converse with such men as the 
Rev. Matthew Brown, the first Dr. Watson, of Bedford, Judge Jonathan 
Walker (the father of Robert J. Walker), William R. Smith, etc.  On 
March 10, 1821, he was appointed clerk of the orphans' court and 
quarter sessions, serving until January 17, 1824.  He subsequently 
served as one of the magistrates of the borough.  Mr. Alricks, married, 
July 21, 1796, at Harrisburg, by Rev. N. R. Snowden, Martha Hamilton, 
born August 5, 1776; died March 16, 1830; daughter of John Hamilton and 
Margaret Alexander.