From "The History of North Washington" Published 1904

Transcribed by: Nancy Grubb (nancyg@theofficenet.com)
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JOHN RICKEY 
	John Rickey is at the present time devoting his attention to farming 
and raising stock and is making a good success in these lines. He is one of 
the oldest pioneers of the country and is one of the leaders in general
development and in commerical relations. During all the years since 1866 he 
has been allied with the interests of this valley and much credit is due him 
for the advancement and progress brought about by his enterprise and wisdom. 
He was born in Knox county, Ohio, on October 19, 1844, the son of Foster and 
Nancy (Bowles) Rickey, also natives of Knox county. The father was a 
physician and removed to Albany, Gentry county, Missouri, in 1845, where he 
practiced until death in 1853. The widow moved to Lafayette county, Wisconsin
and later to Wapello county Iowa and married again. She died in 1863. Our 
subject was educated principally in Iowa and in 1864 came across the plains 
to California with Benjamin Ingles, where he lived two years. It was 1866 
when he came to the Colville valley, whence he went to British Columbia and 
mined on the Columbia river and then returned to this county and mined with 
George Weaver for about six years. Then Mr. Rickey took a right on unserveyed
land and for twenty years he lived on that land and improved it in good 
shape.  He traded with the Indians and the incoming settlers and did a good 
business, also did much farming and raising stock. He put out the first 
orchard in the valley and has in many ways lead on in the good work of 
development. He ran the first and only steamer on the Columbia river from 
Kettle Falls to Fort Spokane and for eight years he did merchandising. In 
1887, Mr. Rickey was appointed county treasurer and the next year he was 
nominated by his party and elected and then at the end of the term re-
elected, gaining the day the second time by two hundred majority over B.P.
Moor, Democrat. In 1892, Mr. Rickey built a large brick block in Colville,
three stories and seventy by eighty feet, the largest structure in the town. 
He took up dairying and also bought forty acres of land near town and put up 
a brick dwelling, two stories high. Mr. Rickey is a strong and leading 
Republican and is always laboring for the upbuilding and welfare of the 
county.
   On October 9, 1881 Mr. Rickey married Miss Delphine, daughter of Frank and
Silva (Murgerux) Jenette, natives of Canada and Washington, respectively.
Eight children have been born to this union: Foster, Ida, Meta, Iona, Walter,
Nora, Bertha, and an infant unnamed. The children are all at home. 
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