Early Settlers – William Rickman – Concord Cemetery, Ford, Kansas

Twenty miles south of Dodge City is Concord Township. Like many townships when the first person died, the residents laid out a cemetery. The original name of Concord Cemetery was Rickman Cemetery as the land was donated by the Rickman family. William and his second wife, Permella Bailey brought their family to Ford County in the 1880s.

William was born in Kentucky in 1834 where he grew up and married Elise Weaver in 1853. They were the parents of three sons. After moving to Missouri in 1856, William enlisted in the Co. H 4th MO Cavalry. He provided his own horse and gun.

The Kansas, U.S. Enrollment of Civil War Veterans states that William “suffered a gunshot wound to the head” and received a monthly pension of $4.00 which was increased to $10.00 in 1889. Upon returning to his family, he found that Elsie had died leaving him with 3 young sons.

On November 19, 1868, he married Mrs. Permelia Bailey Youngblood, a widow whose husband, Pleasant Youngblood, had also fought in the Civil War and died. All seven of their children were born in Missouri.

In 1886, William brought his wife, and 10 children to Kansas and settled in Concord Twp. Ford County. Their son, John, died in 1891 at the age of 18. No cause of death was found. William was a successful farmer as an advertisement in the June 21st, 1900 issue of the Dodge City Daily Globe notes that William is selling his farm which consists of 2,000 acres, good pasture and water, two windmills, and a barn.

Permelia passed away in 1902 and William in 1904. They are both buried in Concord Cemetery with three of their children.