"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western Historical Pub. Co., 1902. Page 615. Malheur County. FRANK M. RICKER About seven miles west and a little south from Vale we come to the pleasant home of F. M. Ricker, who has an estate of two hundred and forty acres of well irrigated and improved land, which is capable, through his skillful husbandry, of producing abundant returns. He is one of the leading stockmen and agriculturists of this section, and although he has not been domiciled her longer than since 1897 he has made a commendable showing, having fine improvements, a comfortable home, and evidently everything is managed with a wise plan and true executive force and enterprise. Mr. Ricker is a native of far away Maine, being born in Somerset county on August 3, 1835, and his parents were Moses and Mary C. (Dame) Ricker. He found his place under the parental roof, assisting on the farm and attending school, until 1857, when he was lured to the west, going first to Minnesota, and thence two years later, to the famous Pike's Peak to participate in the mining excitement that was then running high. He followed mining and lumbering until the spring of 1861, then returned to Maine, and in the fall came via New York and Panama to California, landing at San Francisco and going direct to Placer county. He mined, logged and freighted in various sections of California until 1867, then deemed it high time to return to his native state and take unto himself the lady who was waiting there to become his wife; and the pleasant ceremony that made Mr. F. M. Ricker and Miss Sarah J., daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth (Martin) Godfrey, husband and wife was performed on January 25, 1868. He settled in the native state until 1875, then determined to again try the west, and accordingly came to Andrew county, Missouri. But being eaten out there by the grasshoppers which infested that country then, he came west in the fall of the same year and settled in Sutter county, California, where he farmed until the fall of 1880, when another move was made to Ellensburg, Washington. Two years later we find him in Union county, Oregon, near the Medical springs of that county, and thence in 1885, he came to upper Willow creek, near Ironsides. He farmed and raised stock there until 1897, when a final move was made which brought him to his present valuable and pleasant home place. Fraternally Mr. Ricker is affiliated with the Masons, Acacia Lodge, No. 118, of Ontario, and has been a member of that order since 1873. Mr. Ricker always takes the part of the intelligent citizen in political matters, while in the realm of education he is active and enthusiastic in the advancement of good schools and proper facilities for study and instruction. To Mr. and Mrs. Ricker have been born the following children: George Herbert, whose wife, Daisy Long, died April 1, 1902; Alice May, wife of M. Carlile, of Ironsides; Mertie E., wife of J. D. Miles, of Union county, and she is now deceased; one boy who died in infancy; Lizzie Bell; Nettie M.; Frank Emery. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.