The Fairbury Journal-July 3, 1919
After an illness of several weeks Senator Wes Pickens died at his home northwest of Fairbury, on Saturday, June 28, 1919, at the age of 71 years, 7 months and 10 days. Senator Pickens died from a general breakdown, the result of his advanced years and his death had been expected for some time.
He was one of the pioneers of Jefferson county, living and dying on the farm which he took as a homestead in 1870, 49 years ago.
Wesley Pickens was born in Henry county, Ind., Nov. 18, 1847. When he arrived at school age he attended the "subscription" schools as they were called in those days, until he was 14 years old. After that for six years he worked on his father's farm and then felt the call of the west.
When 20 years of age he went to Grandview, Iowa, where he farmed for two years. In 1869, he joined an emigrant train and headed into the unknown west. After days of travel he stopt (sic) at what was then known as "Helvey's Ranch" on the Little Sandy Creek, near where the town of Powell is now located in this county. He arrived here on Oct. 12, 1869, almost 50 years ago. The following year he took as a homestead the farm where he made his home for many years and where he died last Saturday.
For the next five years he worked for the Hannibal and St. Joe railroad, part of the time, to help carry him along until he could get his farm into operation. This railroad was building thru Jefferson county at that time, the first railroad here, now known as the St. Joseph and Grand Island.
On November 25, 1875, he was married to Marian L. Bower, who survives him. They made their home on the farm until 1886, raising stock and growing crops and then moved to Powell where Mr. Pickens engaged in the grain business. After two years there, he sold out and built a grain elevator at Daykin and continued in the grain busines there for fourteen years, when he moved back to spend the remainder of his days on the farm.
In 1908, Mr. Pickens was elected representative from Jefferson county on the Democratic ticket, to the state legislature. He had previous to that time taken an active interest in politics and represented his party in state and county conventions from his precinct.
In 1910, Mr. Pickens was elected to the state senate representing Jefferson and Thayer county. He had quite a reputation as a vote getter, his method of campaigning being quiet but effective. He was a man of pronounced convictions, progressive and liberal in his ideas and very broad-minded. His record in the legislature was clean. While he rarely attempted to force his views onto others, his vote could always be depended upon to be for the people as he viewed the issue. He was the Democratic candidate for the state senate last fall, 1918, but went down in the Republican landslide:
Senator Pickens leaves six children, Lewis of Grand, Okla.; Plato, Huntley, Mont.; Mrs. Nora Furlow, Carter, So. Dak.; Miss Belle, Winner, So. Dakota; Ernest, Thermopolis, Wyoming; Mrs. Ina Helvey, Fairbury.
He also leaves one brother, William Pickens, Huntley Mont., and one sister, Mrs. Jemima Netz, Sulphur Springs, Ind.
Funeral services were held at the home on Tuesday, Dr. Harry Newell of Alexandria, a life-long friend, delivered the funeral address and the body was laid to rest in the Jasper Helvey cemetery, near where he had spent almost a half a century of a busy life.
(Burial location listed in obit either incorrect or Pickens was moved to Fairbury cemetery at a later time.)
After an illness of several weeks Senator Wes Pickens died at his home northwest of Fairbury, on Saturday, June 28, 1919, at the age of 71 years, 7 months and 10 days. Senator Pickens died from a general breakdown, the result of his advanced years and his death had been expected for some time.
He was one of the pioneers of Jefferson county, living and dying on the farm which he took as a homestead in 1870, 49 years ago.
Wesley Pickens was born in Henry county, Ind., Nov. 18, 1847. When he arrived at school age he attended the "subscription" schools as they were called in those days, until he was 14 years old. After that for six years he worked on his father's farm and then felt the call of the west.
When 20 years of age he went to Grandview, Iowa, where he farmed for two years. In 1869, he joined an emigrant train and headed into the unknown west. After days of travel he stopt (sic) at what was then known as "Helvey's Ranch" on the Little Sandy Creek, near where the town of Powell is now located in this county. He arrived here on Oct. 12, 1869, almost 50 years ago. The following year he took as a homestead the farm where he made his home for many years and where he died last Saturday.
For the next five years he worked for the Hannibal and St. Joe railroad, part of the time, to help carry him along until he could get his farm into operation. This railroad was building thru Jefferson county at that time, the first railroad here, now known as the St. Joseph and Grand Island.
On November 25, 1875, he was married to Marian L. Bower, who survives him. They made their home on the farm until 1886, raising stock and growing crops and then moved to Powell where Mr. Pickens engaged in the grain business. After two years there, he sold out and built a grain elevator at Daykin and continued in the grain busines there for fourteen years, when he moved back to spend the remainder of his days on the farm.
In 1908, Mr. Pickens was elected representative from Jefferson county on the Democratic ticket, to the state legislature. He had previous to that time taken an active interest in politics and represented his party in state and county conventions from his precinct.
In 1910, Mr. Pickens was elected to the state senate representing Jefferson and Thayer county. He had quite a reputation as a vote getter, his method of campaigning being quiet but effective. He was a man of pronounced convictions, progressive and liberal in his ideas and very broad-minded. His record in the legislature was clean. While he rarely attempted to force his views onto others, his vote could always be depended upon to be for the people as he viewed the issue. He was the Democratic candidate for the state senate last fall, 1918, but went down in the Republican landslide:
Senator Pickens leaves six children, Lewis of Grand, Okla.; Plato, Huntley, Mont.; Mrs. Nora Furlow, Carter, So. Dak.; Miss Belle, Winner, So. Dakota; Ernest, Thermopolis, Wyoming; Mrs. Ina Helvey, Fairbury.
He also leaves one brother, William Pickens, Huntley Mont., and one sister, Mrs. Jemima Netz, Sulphur Springs, Ind.
Funeral services were held at the home on Tuesday, Dr. Harry Newell of Alexandria, a life-long friend, delivered the funeral address and the body was laid to rest in the Jasper Helvey cemetery, near where he had spent almost a half a century of a busy life.
(Burial location listed in obit either incorrect or Pickens was moved to Fairbury cemetery at a later time.)
The Fairbury Journal-July 3, 1919
After an illness of several weeks Senator Wes Pickens died at his home northwest of Fairbury, on Saturday, June 28, 1919, at the age of 71 years, 7 months and 10 days. Senator Pickens died from a general breakdown, the result of his advanced years and his death had been expected for some time.
He was one of the pioneers of Jefferson county, living and dying on the farm which he took as a homestead in 1870, 49 years ago.
Wesley Pickens was born in Henry county, Ind., Nov. 18, 1847. When he arrived at school age he attended the "subscription" schools as they were called in those days, until he was 14 years old. After that for six years he worked on his father's farm and then felt the call of the west.
When 20 years of age he went to Grandview, Iowa, where he farmed for two years. In 1869, he joined an emigrant train and headed into the unknown west. After days of travel he stopt (sic) at what was then known as "Helvey's Ranch" on the Little Sandy Creek, near where the town of Powell is now located in this county. He arrived here on Oct. 12, 1869, almost 50 years ago. The following year he took as a homestead the farm where he made his home for many years and where he died last Saturday.
For the next five years he worked for the Hannibal and St. Joe railroad, part of the time, to help carry him along until he could get his farm into operation. This railroad was building thru Jefferson county at that time, the first railroad here, now known as the St. Joseph and Grand Island.
On November 25, 1875, he was married to Marian L. Bower, who survives him. They made their home on the farm until 1886, raising stock and growing crops and then moved to Powell where Mr. Pickens engaged in the grain business. After two years there, he sold out and built a grain elevator at Daykin and continued in the grain busines there for fourteen years, when he moved back to spend the remainder of his days on the farm.
In 1908, Mr. Pickens was elected representative from Jefferson county on the Democratic ticket, to the state legislature. He had previous to that time taken an active interest in politics and represented his party in state and county conventions from his precinct.
In 1910, Mr. Pickens was elected to the state senate representing Jefferson and Thayer county. He had quite a reputation as a vote getter, his method of campaigning being quiet but effective. He was a man of pronounced convictions, progressive and liberal in his ideas and very broad-minded. His record in the legislature was clean. While he rarely attempted to force his views onto others, his vote could always be depended upon to be for the people as he viewed the issue. He was the Democratic candidate for the state senate last fall, 1918, but went down in the Republican landslide:
Senator Pickens leaves six children, Lewis of Grand, Okla.; Plato, Huntley, Mont.; Mrs. Nora Furlow, Carter, So. Dak.; Miss Belle, Winner, So. Dakota; Ernest, Thermopolis, Wyoming; Mrs. Ina Helvey, Fairbury.
He also leaves one brother, William Pickens, Huntley Mont., and one sister, Mrs. Jemima Netz, Sulphur Springs, Ind.
Funeral services were held at the home on Tuesday, Dr. Harry Newell of Alexandria, a life-long friend, delivered the funeral address and the body was laid to rest in the Jasper Helvey cemetery, near where he had spent almost a half a century of a busy life.
(Burial location listed in obit either incorrect or Pickens was moved to Fairbury cemetery at a later time.)
After an illness of several weeks Senator Wes Pickens died at his home northwest of Fairbury, on Saturday, June 28, 1919, at the age of 71 years, 7 months and 10 days. Senator Pickens died from a general breakdown, the result of his advanced years and his death had been expected for some time.
He was one of the pioneers of Jefferson county, living and dying on the farm which he took as a homestead in 1870, 49 years ago.
Wesley Pickens was born in Henry county, Ind., Nov. 18, 1847. When he arrived at school age he attended the "subscription" schools as they were called in those days, until he was 14 years old. After that for six years he worked on his father's farm and then felt the call of the west.
When 20 years of age he went to Grandview, Iowa, where he farmed for two years. In 1869, he joined an emigrant train and headed into the unknown west. After days of travel he stopt (sic) at what was then known as "Helvey's Ranch" on the Little Sandy Creek, near where the town of Powell is now located in this county. He arrived here on Oct. 12, 1869, almost 50 years ago. The following year he took as a homestead the farm where he made his home for many years and where he died last Saturday.
For the next five years he worked for the Hannibal and St. Joe railroad, part of the time, to help carry him along until he could get his farm into operation. This railroad was building thru Jefferson county at that time, the first railroad here, now known as the St. Joseph and Grand Island.
On November 25, 1875, he was married to Marian L. Bower, who survives him. They made their home on the farm until 1886, raising stock and growing crops and then moved to Powell where Mr. Pickens engaged in the grain business. After two years there, he sold out and built a grain elevator at Daykin and continued in the grain busines there for fourteen years, when he moved back to spend the remainder of his days on the farm.
In 1908, Mr. Pickens was elected representative from Jefferson county on the Democratic ticket, to the state legislature. He had previous to that time taken an active interest in politics and represented his party in state and county conventions from his precinct.
In 1910, Mr. Pickens was elected to the state senate representing Jefferson and Thayer county. He had quite a reputation as a vote getter, his method of campaigning being quiet but effective. He was a man of pronounced convictions, progressive and liberal in his ideas and very broad-minded. His record in the legislature was clean. While he rarely attempted to force his views onto others, his vote could always be depended upon to be for the people as he viewed the issue. He was the Democratic candidate for the state senate last fall, 1918, but went down in the Republican landslide:
Senator Pickens leaves six children, Lewis of Grand, Okla.; Plato, Huntley, Mont.; Mrs. Nora Furlow, Carter, So. Dak.; Miss Belle, Winner, So. Dakota; Ernest, Thermopolis, Wyoming; Mrs. Ina Helvey, Fairbury.
He also leaves one brother, William Pickens, Huntley Mont., and one sister, Mrs. Jemima Netz, Sulphur Springs, Ind.
Funeral services were held at the home on Tuesday, Dr. Harry Newell of Alexandria, a life-long friend, delivered the funeral address and the body was laid to rest in the Jasper Helvey cemetery, near where he had spent almost a half a century of a busy life.
(Burial location listed in obit either incorrect or Pickens was moved to Fairbury cemetery at a later time.)
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