Emmett Melville Wickham
Hon. Emmett Melville Wickham, Common Pleas judge for the First Sub-division of the Sixth Judicial District, embracing Delaware. Knox and Licking Counties, was born in Genoa Township, Delaware County. Ohio, October 29, 1859, son of Kitridge Havens and Marinda Rose (Sebring) Wickham.
He is a descendant, in the eighth generation, of Thomas Wickham. born in England in 1624, who settled in Weathersfield. Connecticut, in 1648. becoming a freeman 10 years later. He followed the occupation of merchant and was a man of some prominence. His death is believed to have occurred about the year 1690. His wife, whose given name was Sarah, died in January, 1700.
Joseph Wickham. son of Thomas, through whom the present line descends, was born in Weathersfield. Connecticut, in 1662. He was a tanner and land owner and quite wealthy for his day. He married Sarah Satterlee, of Southampton, Long Island, in which locality he settled about the time of the marriage. He was at Southampton as early as 1698, and at that time had one child—Joseph. Later he removed to Southold, where he received land in return for setting up a tannery, which he agreed to run for seven years. He was one of a company organized to repel a threatened invasion of Dutch settlers from New York, which, however, did not take place. At the time of his death he owned Robin's Island, comprising 400 acres. He died in 1734. His wife died previous to 1725. They had five sons and one daughter, of whom the youngest son, Jonathan, comes next in the present line of descent. Joseph bequeathed his lands to his eldest son. Joseph. Jr.. and also stated in his will. "I bequeath to my daughter. Elizabeth, my mulatto girl until she shall arrive at the age of 30 years, when it is my will that she shall have her freedom." Elizabeth married the son of the Lord of the manor of Gardiner's Island, which lies east of Long Island. He gave to his four youngest sons the rents and profits of certain lands for a certain number of years, which had been bequeathed to Joseph. In 1740 the four younger sons left Long Island and went up the Hudson River. Two of them—William and Samuel—settled in Orange County, New York, near the site of the present city of Middletown. Benjamin and Jonathan settled in the eastern part of Dutchess County. At the time of the Revolutionary War this Jonathan, though living, was too oId to serve.
Jonathan Wickham, son of the Jonathan above mentioned, and great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was horn in Dutchess County, and was a member of the "Associated Exempt" during the Revolutionary War. He was twice married. His second wife, through whom the present line of descent was continued, was Susan, daughter of Robert Wilkinson. After the Revolutionary War Jonathan and his family left Dutchess County and settled at Plattsburg, New York, where he followed his trade of miller, conducting the first mill established at that place. Here a gloom was cast over the family by the murder of his wife's father, Robert Wilkinson, who had accompanied them to Plattsburg. While returning from Dutchess County, where he had gone to collect money or dispose of property, Mr. Wilkinson was knocked from his horse by desperadoes, robbed and murdered. His body was found in a small stream of water by the roadside. A son of Jonathan Wickham by his first wife, and also named Jonathan, organized a posse and traced the murderers to Canada, where they were captured. Being brought hack to Plattsburg, they were there tried, convicted, and hanged. Jonathan and Susan (Wilkinson) Wickham had nine children—six sons and three daughters—of whom the second son, Ahaz, comes next in the genealogical line now under consideration.
Ahaz Wickham learned the trade of miller under his father. When he was about 20 years old he moved to old Saratoga, now Schuylerville, New York. This was about 1802. At Saratoga he married Eunice Welch, and they became the parents of 12 children. six sons and six daughters. In January, 1849, his wife died at Middle Grove, Saratoga County, and he went to Schroon Lake, where he had a son living. Here he remained, residing with his son, until his own death, which took place in January, 1859.
His wife, Eunice, was a daughter of Joseph and Eunice Welch, the former of whom was living at Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. He was captured by Indians and remained a prisoner in their hands for a year before making his escape. He took part in the fight at Bunker Hill, being first lieutenant of his company. Subsequently serving in the expedition against Canada, he was there captured by the English and Indians and was taken to Halifax, where he was kept on board a British prison ship for nine months. He was then parolled and sent to Boston, where he resided until 1781. He died at old Saratoga in 1825, his wife passing away two years later.
Asa Wickham, son of Ahaz and grandfather of Hon. Emmett M. Wickham, was born March 29, 1803. in old Saratoga. When a boy he worked under his father in the mill, but on reaching the age of 12 he was apprenticed to learn the shoemaker's trade, which he subsequently followed more or less all his life. He also acquired the trade of basket-making, and was engaged to some extent in tanning, conducting a small tan-yard in connection with his shoe-making. During his apprenticeship, when he was about 16 or 17, having received a whipping with a strap, he ran away from his master and returned home, where his mother, a woman of stout frame and strong character, kept and protected him. At Schroon Lake, in 1823, he met and married Sarah Wiswell. their union being solemnized in December of that year. They had nine children—four sons and five daughters. In May, 1834, the family migrated to Ashtabula County, Ohio, making the journey from Schenectady to Buffalo by the Erie Canal, and thence to Ashtabula County. Here they resided for two years, Mr. Wickham being engaged in shoemaking. In the spring of 1836 they moved again, this time to Black Lick, Franklin County, in which place they were located for 15 years. Then, in the spring of 1851, they made their last migration, coming to Delaware County and settling in Genoa Township. where Asa Wickham died, alter a long, industrious and well spent life, on April 23, 1888. The last 37 years of his life had been spent in Genoa Township, where he was generally esteemed as a good and useful citizen, well endowed with intelligence, industry and perseverance. During his residence in New York State he was connected with the militia, in Essex County, serving in the capacity of drummer.
His wife, Sarah, was a daughter of Moses and Keziah (Woods) Wiswell. Her father. a native of Shoreham, Vermont, removed to Schroon Lake, Essex County. New York. His wife Keziah was a daughter of Joseph and Keziah (Goddard) Woods, who were natives of Massachusetts and later lived in Vermont. Joseph Woods was a minute man in the Revolutionary War and was a resident of Boston at the time of the battle of Lexington. Bunker Hill and Saratoga, in which he participated. He died October 12. 1807, and was buried at Sudbury. Vermont.
Among the children of Asa was Kitridge Havens, who has been mentioned at the beginning of this sketch as the father of its direct subject. He was born at Crown Point, Essex County, New York, September 16, 1833. Like his father, he became a master of several trades, being a shoemaker, basketmaker, and stone cutter. He took up the last mentioned trade about 1875, the two othet trades he had acquired having by that time become unprofitable. He came to Delaware County in the fall of 1850. and removed to Delaware City in 1892. Like his progenitors in the paternal line for several generations back, he was a Democrat in politics. In 1890 he was elected justice of the peace, having previously served as constable. His death took place December 18, 1899.
On January 9, 1859. he was married to Marinda R. Sebring, who bore him three children, namely: Emmett Melville, whose name begins this article; Myrtie V., wife of George H. Rickner, of Mansfield; and Asa L., who now resides in Genoa Township. The mother of these children, who was a member of the Baptist Church, was born June 9, 1834, and died February 11, 1907. She was a daughter of Josiah and Sarah (Adams) Sebring. and a granddaughter of Fulkard Sebring. of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Josiah Sebring was born in Pennsylvania about 1705. and died in Kosciusko County. Indiana, in the spring of 1870. He was a farmer and settled in Indiana in 1853. He had accompanied his father from Pennsylvania to Franklin County, Ohio, in 1810. Three years later they settled in Genoa Township, where the father bought a large tract of uncleared land.
Sarah Adams Sebring, above mentioned, was born in 1796 and died in 1874. She was a daughter of David Adams, a Revolutionary soldier, who enlisted in 1778. when he was but 16½ years old. After his return from the army he married, at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth, daughter of Rulif and Mary Fischer, of Amsterdam. Holland. In 1814 he brought his family to Harlem Township, Delaware County, and he resided here until his death. His wife Elizabeth died in 1854, when in her 89th year.
Emmett Melville Wickham acquired his elementary education in the township schools, which he attended until he was twenty years of age. In the spring of 1880 he secured a teacher's certificate and began to teach in his home district, where he continued for three months. He continued in the occupation of teaching in Delaware County for 12 years. In the fall of 1889 he began the study of law. and he was admitted to the Bar December 3, 1891, by the Supreme Court of Ohio. In the following June he gave up teaching and in September. 1902, entered the office of Hon. F. M. Marriott, with whom three years later he formed a partnership under the firm name of Marriott & Wickham. This was continued until December, 1896, when it was dissolved owing to Mr. Wickham having been elected for the term of five years to the Common Pleas bench. In 1901 he was a candidate for re-election, but was defeated by the narrow margin of eight votes. His term on the bench expiring February 8, 1902, in the following July he formed a partnership with Messrs. Marriott and Freshwater under the firm name of Marriott, Freshwater & Wickham. In 1906 he was re-elected Common Pleas Judge, and accordingly, on December 31st the partnership was dissolved. Judge Wickham has demonstrated that he possesses in a high degree the judicial temperament, united with a firm grasp of the principles of his profession, and his demeanor on the bench has been marked by an unfailing courtesy that has made him popular among all the brethren of the Bar. He is a member and officer of Lenape Lodge, No. 29, K. P., and of Delaware Lodge, No. 76, B. P. O. E., of which he is exalted ruler.
Judge Wickham was first married August 14, 1888, to Joanna, daughter of Jacob and Maria Ekelberry. of Delaware. Of this union there was one son, Joy Carroll, born March 28, 1890. He was married for the second time, July 23, 1903, to Anna A., a daughter of Tobias Frederick and Susannah (Wells) Reichert. The children by this marriage are: Frederick Reichert, born September 5, 1904; and Susanna, born November 11, 1906. Mrs. Wickham is a member of Asbury Church. Both she and her husband are highly esteemed and have a wide social acquaintance among the refined and cultivated people, of Delaware County.
20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908
Judge Emmett M. Wickham was born in Genoa Township, Delaware County, Ohio, October 29, 1859. His father and mother were of English and Dutch origin, respectively. He is able to trace his genealogy on his father's side back to a period of more than two hundred years. But it is not intended in this sketch to refer to the family history, but rather to the Judge's early life and education and his progress from teacher, lawyer and judge. He received his early education in the public schools of Genoa Township, in which schools he prepared himself for a teacher. He taught his first school in the same district where he had attended school, viz., Sub-District No. 5, in said township. His compensation was $18.33 Per month. He continued to teach for a period of twelve years, having taught in eight of the eighteen townships composing Delaware County.
He began the study of law in the year 1889, under the tutorship of Hon. F. M. Marriott, of Delaware, Ohio, during the time he was teaching, and on the third day of December, 1891, he was admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio, having taught school seventeen months during the time he was preparing himself for admission to the Bar. His contract to teach did not expire until May, 1892. after his admission. In the autumn of the same year he came to Delaware and began the practice of his profession, having his office with his former preceptor. Hon. F. M. Marriott, and in January. 1895, entered into a partnership with Mr. Marriott, the style of the firm being Marriott and Wickham.
At the Democratic Convention which was held at Centerburg, Knox County, Ohio, in July, 1896, he was nominated as one of the candidates for Common Pleas Judge in the First Subdivision of the Sixth Judicial District, composed of Delaware, Knox and Licking Counties, and at the November election following was elected by a good majority. In the year 1900 he was re-nominated to succeed himself as judge. The slump in the Democratic vote in the district was so great that he was defeated, his opponent having a majority in the district of but eight votes. In this campaign Mr. Wickham ran ahead of his ticket very largely.
In the year 1906 he was again nominated by his party for Common Pleas judge, and was elected in November of that year by a majority of over four hundred votes, carrying Delaware County by a majority of two hundred and sixty-five, while the county gave to President Roosevelt the same year, a majority of fifteen hundred and sixty-five, and at the same time he carried Knox County by one hundred and thirty-three, while that county is largely Republican.
After the campaign of 1900. Judge Wickham returned to the practice of his profession, and in July of the year 1901, he became a member of the firm of Marriott. Freshwater and Wickham. During his practice in this firm Judge Wickham became identified with two cases which involved the constitutionality of the "Valentine Anti-trust Law" and "The County Road Improvement Act," both of which cases went to the Supreme Court of Ohio. The former grew out of the indictment of several coal dealers for a violation of the Valentine Anti-trust Law. The Common Pleas courts throughout the State had been declaring this act unconstitutional. Judge Wickham was appointed by the county commissioners to assist the prosecuting attorney to carry one of these cases to the Supreme Court to make a test case out of it. Judge Wickham's contention was that this anti-trust law was constitutional and the Supreme Court of Ohio upheld his views and the act was declared by the court of last resort to be not within the inhibitions of the constitution of Ohio. The other case involved the constitutionality of the act known as "The County Road Improvement Act." Judge Wickham was again employed to assist the prosecuting attorney to lake this ease up and after having been heard in the Common Pleas and Circuit Courts, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of this act and settled the law on that subject.
Judge Wickham, on the thirty-first day of December, A. D. 1906, retired from the firm of Marriott, Freshwater and Wickham. and on the seventh day of February, 1907, he again took up the judicial ermine which he had always worn with dignity to the office and credit to himself. Judge Wickham is a strong man mentally and physically and of pronounced and positive views. He has always been a close and hard student of the law. In his analysis of a case he is clear and conclusive. Though one of the younger judges of this district, his decisions have been sustained by the higher courts in as great proportion as any of the judges who have held the position in this district.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908