O. H. Ricksecker

1874-1957

Ovid H. Ricksecker was born in Elk Falls, Kansas on June 18, 1874. His father was John A. Ricksecker, a native of Ohio and a carpenter and builder by trade. His mother was Rachael Jane Smiley Ricksecker.

Ovid Ricksecker learned in Washington, Indiana, where he served as an apprentice for the baltimore and Ohio railroad, the Machinest trade. In 1901, he came to California and three years later (1904) to Rocklin. He worked as a machinest at Dunsmuir and then Rocklin and finally Roseville. With the exception of ten years when he worked as an expert carpenter and house painter, he was in the railroad service. In 1903, he married Ellenor Chapman, who was born at Lincoln to James Albert and Audie (Hotchkiss) chapman; the following year (June 1904) they removed to Rocklin which since became their home.

Mr. Ricksecker served as president of the Rocklin Board of Trustees (1920-1928) and when that title was changed to Mayor in 1928, he continued on into that position until his retirement in 1946. He has the distinction of having served longer than any other person on the City Council, both as councilman and mayor.

Following his retirement at age 68, Mr. Ricksecker obtained employment as a laborer at the McClellen Air Force Base in Sacramento. When it was discovered that he had much experience as a machinest , he was switched to the position of aircraft mechanic which he continued for more than a year when an injury suffered at home forced him to retire.

Ovid H. Ricksecker died in June of 1957. His widow, Ellenor (Nora) survived him by 23 years, passing from this earth on May 21, 1980, at the advanced age of ninety-nine. Their Survivors included one son, Gerald v. Ricksecker; two grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

From: Rocklin: Past, Present, Future by Leonard M. Davis. Published by the Rocklin Friends of the Library, Rocklin Ca., 1981.