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Thomas Bicknell

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Thomas Bicknell

Birth	:	1847 Melbourne, Melbourne City, Victoria, Australia
Death	:	26 Apr 1908 Chico, Butte County, California, USA
Burial	:	St. Michael's Burial Ground, Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate	:	51.3838810, -2.3594090
Plot	:	Sec 8,C Lot 108 sp 1
Description	:	Chico Record, Tuesday Morning, April 28, 1908, pg 5 col 2: Passing of Thomas Bicknell, Prominent Citizen of Chico. Death Came Sunday Morning After Much Suffering. Old Resident of Community and Had Amassed Much Property. Thos. Bicknell, one of the old residents of this community who during his many years residence here had prospered and become prominent in the financial circles of city and county, died at the family home on Fifth street, Sunday morning at 2 o'clock. He had been seriously ill for several weeks, his ailment being a general breakdown. Death was... Read More	Chico Record, Tuesday Morning, April 28, 1908, pg 5 col 2: Passing of Thomas Bicknell, Prominent Citizen of Chico. Death Came Sunday Morning After Much Suffering. Old Resident of Community and Had Amassed Much Property. Thos. Bicknell, one of the old residents of this community who during his many years residence here had prospered and become prominent in the financial circles of city and county, died at the family home on Fifth street, Sunday morning at 2 o'clock. He had been seriously ill for several weeks, his ailment being a general breakdown. Death was not unexpected by the family. He had gradually decline in health for several months, until during the last week his recovery was despaired of. Impoverishment of the blood and a general breakdown of the circulatory system are given as the immediate causes of death. Thomas Bicknell was shrewd and conservative, yet possessed of splendid business faculties. He had unbounded faith in the future prosperity of Chico, and to that end invested a large part of his wealth. His foresight into the future of this city was rewarded in the increase in value of his holdings. Thomas Bicknell was born in Melbourne, Australia, and was aged 61 years and 11 months. His grandfather was an English missionary on the South Sea Island of Tahiti, and when the French government secured possession of the island his grandfather and father were compelled to leave. They went to Melbourne, Australia. Mr. Bicknell received his early education in Melbourne and learned the ship carpenter's trade. When twenty one years of age he decided to try his fortune in America and sailed across the Pacific to San Francisco, where he arrived 41 years ago. From San Francisco as a young man he went to Colusa, where he remained until 1889. In that city he was connected first with a flour mill enterprise, grain buying, and later in the furniture and undertaking business. He also acquired two farms in Colusa county, which he was possessed at his death. In Colusa, Mr. Bicknell met and wed Mrs. Mary Abbe, a widow with two children, and two other children graced the union. In 1889 Mr. Bicknell removed to Chico and at once engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, which he conducted until a year ago last March, when he retired from active business life, leaving the business in the hands of his son, Harry. Connected with him in the furniture and undertaking business for many years was F.M. Edgar. Over a year ago Mr. Bicknell realized that age was coming on and his active business career was over and so decided to place his responsibilities in the hands of an estate. Accordingly the Bicknell Estate Company was formed, which now controls the property interests of the deceased. The ill-health of deceased dated from a meeting in the Majestic theater several months ago, when he was overcome and since that time had been in the care of physicians. Surviving are a widow, a son, Harry C., and a daughter, Miss Jessie Bicknell. There are also two step-daughters, Mrs. A.G. Eames of Chico and Mrs. C.A. Elliott of Sacramento. Three brothers and two sisters reside in Australia. Mr. Bicknell was a director and stockholder in the First National Bank of Chico from its establishment and through the Bicknell Estate Company owned a half interest in the Auditorium Hotel building, corner of Third and Main streets. Other property owned by the estate is the Bicknell furniture store building, Broadway between Second and Third, the property occupied by the Quality Inn, American Tea Importing Company, the Home Bakery, Kennedy candy store, the J.L. Crick store, and the Park Garage. There are also the splendid home, of which there is no handsomer in Chico, former of Fifth and Hazel streets, and several cottages, in addition to the two farms in Colusa county. Mr. Bicknell was a member of Chico Lodge, No. 111, F. and A.M., and a member of the Presbyterian Church of Chico. He was at times a trustee of both. The funeral will be held from the residence, corner of Fifth and Hazel streets, this afternoon at 3 o'clock. Rev. W.G. White of the Presbyterian Church will officiate at the services at the home, and the Masonic lodge will take charge of the burial services at the grave. ~~~ Chico Record, Wednesday Morning, April 29, 1908, pg 5 col 3: Funeral of Thomas Bicknell. The funeral of the late Thomas Bicknell was held from the residence, corner of Fifth and Hazel yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Rev. W.G. White of the Presbyterian church officiated and the members of Chico Lodge, No. 111, F. and A.M. attended in a body. Out of respect to the memory of the deceased all the commercial houses of Chico closed during the funeral hour. During the services at the home, Mrs. L. Mindermann rendered "He Giveth in Blessed Sleep," and a male quartet consisting of John Wannop, M.B. Ames, J.G. Neubnarth and J.R. Wood, sand "Now the Day is Over," and "One Sweetly Solemn Thought." "Farewell" was rendered at the grave. The burial service of Chico Lodge, F. & A.M. was given at the grave. Worshipful Master F.J. Nottelmann, officiating. The funeral was largely attended and the floral offerings were many. The acting pallbearers were: Harry Kelly, Walter Foss, Edward Moore, Calvin Crews, Daniel Musser and Frank Moore. The honorary pallbearers chosen from the Masonic order were: E. Meybem, Wm. Robbie, W.J. Costar, A.H. Smith, G.E. Vadney and A.L. Neubarth. ~~~~ Far-sighted and conservative, and possessed of splendid business ability and judgment, Thomas Bicknell was an untiring worker, and a successful man in whatever enterprise he undertook. He had unbounded faith in the future prosperity of Chico, and in consequence invested a large part of his wealth in business and residence property there; and his foresight has brought its reward in the increased value of his holdings. He was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1847. His grandfather was an English missionary on the South Sea Island of Tahiti; and when the French government secured possession of the island, his grandfather and father were compelled to leave, and thereupon went to Melbourne, Australia. It was here he received his early education, and learned the ship carpenter's trade. When he was twenty-one, Thomas Bicknell decided to try his fortunes in America, and sailed for San Francisco, arriving there in the year 1867. From there he went to Colusa, where he remained until 1889; and it was in this city that he had the distinction of putting into operation the first flour-milling enterprise, with which he coupled grain-buying. He later engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in Chico, which he conducted until 1907, when he retired and was succeeded in the business by his son, Harry. Just before his retirement, he formed the Bicknell Estate Company, with controlled his properties. He had acquired meanwhile two farms in Colusa County, which he owned until his death, together with a half interest in the Auditorium Hotel Building at Third and Main Streets, about half a dozen other well located business houses in Chico, and the fine residence at Fifth and Hazel Streets, where his widow now resides. Mr. Bicknell was married in Colusa, in 1878, to Mrs. Mary (Yakle) Abbe, who was born in Iowa. They had two children, Harry C. and Miss Jessie, both living in Chico. There are also two step-daughters in the family: Harriette M., wife of A.G. Eames, of Chico; and Cora A., Mrs. C.A. Elliott, of Sacramento. Mr. Bicknell was a member of Chico Lodge, No. 111, F. & A.M. He was a communicant of the Presbyterian Church, in which he had served as a trustee, and from which he was buried with Masonic honors, at the age of sixty-one years and eleven months, in the year 1908. Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1225-1226, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Thomas Bicknell's memorial?
Thomas Bicknell's memorial is located at: St. Michael's Burial Ground, Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England.
When did Thomas Bicknell death?
Thomas Bicknell death on 26 Apr 1908 in Chico, Butte County, California, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Thomas Bicknell's memorial?
Latitude: 51.3838810
Longitude: -2.3594090

Family Members:

Spouse

Mary Ann Yakle Bicknell

(1843 - 1935)

Children

Harry Claud Bicknell

(1879 - 1939)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. St. Michael's Burial Ground
Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3838810, -2.3594090

2. Ss Michael & Paul Churchyard
Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3834970, -2.3596980

3. Quaker Meeting House
Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3823280, -2.3604380

4. Bath General Hospital Burial Ground
Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3824715, -2.3614742

5. Bath Abbey
Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3815310, -2.3586640

6. St. Mary de Stall Churchyard (Defunct)
Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3813350, -2.3600353

7. St Mary's Chapel, Queens Square
Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3827790, -2.3649790

8. Old Orchard Street Catholic Burial Vault
Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3800370, -2.3579910

9. St James Old Burial Ground
Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3798600, -2.3610100

10. St. Swithin Churchyard
Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3885480, -2.3594500

11. St. Mary's Churchyard
Bathwick, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3876120, -2.3543540

12. St. John the Baptist Churchyard
Bathwick, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3886890, -2.3547030

13. Walcot Methodist Chapel Burial Ground
Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3897080, -2.3579610

14. Saint Mark's Churchyard
Widcombe, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3766660, -2.3588010

15. Baptist Burial Ground
Widcombe, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3764216, -2.3556947

16. St Mary Magdalen Chapel
Widcombe, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3760486, -2.3643405

17. St. James' Cemetery
Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3802000, -2.3722200

18. Old Baptist Burial Ground
Walcot, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3755070, -2.3544360

19. Abbey & St James' Graveyard for the Poor
Widcombe, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3753550, -2.3545640

20. Independent Burial Ground Argyle Chapel
Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3925420, -2.3536920

21. Quaker Burial Ground
Widcombe, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3744350, -2.3498460

22. Smallcombe Vale Cemetery
Bathwick, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3757400, -2.3429400

23. St Thomas à Becket's Church
Widcombe, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3734250, -2.3465560

24. St. Mary The Virgin Churchyard
Bathwick, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority, England
Coordinate: 51.3759930, -2.3411930