US GenWeb Archives http://files.usgwarchives.net/. http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/bios/sell/cre-fin.txt.

BIOS: Surnames CRE to FIN - Twentieth Century History of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania,

and Representative Citizens, Jesse C. Sell, Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold, 1911, File 4

John Fickes was born in what was then Union Township, Bedford County,

Pa., in 1806. It was one of the larger townships and was later divided into

three, the part in which he was born and lived now bearing the name of Queen

Township. His father was of German extraction, but was born in America, but

his mother was of Spanish blood. They lived and died in Bedford County. John

Fickes located on a farm following his marriage and continued there until his

death, which occurred in his eighty-sixth year. He was a supporter of the

Republican party from its organization. He married Rebecca Weisel, who was

born in 1812, in Bedford County, a daughter of John Weisel, a native of

Germany. She lived to be eighty-eight years of age and was the mother of

fifteen children, all of whom survive except three. The eldest, John, is

deceased. Richard is a retired carpenter, living at Sandusky, O. Daniel, who

died in Montana in 1907, was a carpenter by trade. Rachel is the wife of Henry

Beegle and they live on a farm in Bedford County. William is a retired farmer

and lives on the old homestead. Henry follows the carpenter trade at Altoona.

Jacob was drowned when a child of three years. Emma is the wife of John Dibert

of Claysburg, Blair County. Anna is the wife of Joseph Sill, a farmer of

Bedford County. Sarah is the wife of Levi Hettzel, a carpenter, and they

reside at Nelson, Nebr. Thomas is also in business in Nebraska. Maria is the

wife of Michael Stuft, a resident of Kalispen, Mont. Abram is a carpenter,

following his trade in the city of Chicago. Franklin K. was the fourteenth

born in the above family. Lucinda, the youngest, is the wife of Franklin

Mock, and they live at Kalispen, Mont. The parents of the above family were

members of the German Reformed church.

Jesse C. Sell, Twentieth Century History of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold, 1911, File 4) pp. 785-786. http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/blair/bios/sell/cre-fin.txt (April 2005).

Bios: Surnames CRE to FIN - Twentieth Century History of Altoona and Blair

County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, Jesse C. Sell, Chicago,

IL: Richmond-Arnold, 1911, File 4 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb

Archives by the Blair County Genealogical Society, 431 Scotch Valley Road,

Hollidaysburg, PA 16648.

_____

FRANKLIN K. FICKES, M.D., a leading physician and surgeon at Tyrone, Pa.,

whose medical experience covers twenty-nine years, nineteen of these having

been passed in this city, was born November 4, 1854, in Bedford County,

Pa., a son of John and Rebecca (Weisel) Fickes. John Fickes was born in

what was then Union Township, Bedford County, Pa., in 1806. It was one of

the larger townships and was later divided into three, the part in which he

was born and lived now bearing the name of Queen Township. His father was

of German extraction, but was born in America, but his mother was of

Spanish blood. They lived and died in Bedford County. John Fickes located

on a farm following his marriage and continued there until his death, which

occurred in his eighty-sixth year. He was a supporter of the Republican

party from its organization. He married Rebecca Weisel, who was born in

1812, in Bedford County, a daughter of John Weisel, a native of Germany.

She lived to be eighty-eight years of age and was the mother of fifteen

children, all of whom survive except three. The eldest, John, is deceased.

Richard is a retired carpenter, living at Sandusky, O. Daniel, who died in

Montana in 1907, was a carpenter by trade. Rachel is the wife of Henry

Beegle and they live on a farm in Bedford County. William is a retired

farmer and lives on the old homestead. Henry follows the carpenter trade at

Altoona. Jacob was drowned when a child of three years. Emma is the wife of

John Dibert of Claysburg, Blair County. Anna is the wife of Joseph Sill, a

farmer of Bedford County. Sarah is the wife of Levi Hettzel, a carpenter,

and they reside at Nelson, Nebr. Thomas is also in business in Nebraska.

Maria is the wife of Michael Stuft, a resident of Kalispen, Mont. Abram is

a carpenter, following his trade in the city of Chicago. Franklin K. was

the fourteenth born in the above family. Lucinda, the youngest, is the wife

of Franklin Mock, and they live at Kalispen, Mont. The parents of the above

family were members of the German Reformed church. Franklin K. Fickes was

educated in the public schools and at Martinsburg Academy, after which he

taught school for five years, in the meanwhile having directed his studies

along the lines of medicine and was thus well prepared for entrance at the

College of Physicians and Surgeons, in Baltimore, Md. He was creditably

graduated in the class of 1881, and in the following years located at

Warrior's Mark, in Bedford County, where he remained until 1891, coming

then to Tyrone. He is a member of the Tyrone Medical Club, and enjoys a

large and substantial practice which has been built up on professional

ability. Dr. Fickes was married in 1884 to Miss Ella May Kieffer, a

daughter of Joseph Kieffer, of Warrior's Mark, and they have had five

children, namely: Ralph and Forest, both of whom are deceased; Virginia

Ray, who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Philadelphia, and is a

graduate of the Women's Medical College of that city, after which she

practiced one year at Tyrone: Victor, who resides at home; and Charles, who

is in the employ of the Motor Transportation Company of Clearfield. Dr.

Fickes is an Independent Republican in his views on public questions.

Bedford County, Pennsylvania Will Book Volume 4, Page 445, 1864.

The last will and Testament of John Wisel Sr. of the township of St. Clair in the County of Bedford.

I John Wisel Sr. considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory

do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following what is to say)

First I give and bequeath unto my youngest son Josiah Wisel ten dollars. And second, I give and

bequeath unto my sons Jacob, Daniel, and John Weisel share and share alike. And unto my

daughters Susan, Sally, Rachel, Rebecca and Betty I bequeath the same as to my sons Jacob,

Daniel and John. It is my will that my real estate shall all be sold at public sale and the proceeds

equally divided among my sons and daughters with the exception of Josiah who shall have nothing

but ten dollars. And lastly I appoint my son John Wisel, and John Fickes sole Executors of this

my last will and testament. And hereby revoking all other former wills by me made. Witness my

hand and seal this first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty five.

John Wisel (seal)

Signed, Sealed and Declared by us to be the last will and Testament of John Wisel

to which we hereunto subscribe our names. Andrew I. Kegg, Josiah Ritchey, Tobias Wetzel.

My daughter Susan having died since the delivery of this will herein mentioned I therefore Bequeath

her portion to the balance of my children with the exception of Josiah. [He goes on to say if there

is "any difference, dispute, question, or controversy" it should be resolved by his friends Harry? Moes

of Bedford Township and William Sill of St. Clair Township. ] Witness my hand and seal the twenty

second day of June A.D. 1858. John Weisel (Seal)

attest Andrew I. Kegg

Be it remembered that on the 31 day of Dec. A. D. 1864 Letters Testamentary were issued to

John Wisel and John Fickes the Exer. named in the forgoing will they having been both

serially sworn. O. E. Shannon Register