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Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",  published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.

     BENJAMIN F. BICKFORD.  Six miles east from Hatton lies the beautiful home of Benjamin F. Bickford, one of the leading farmers in that locality.  Born in Quincy, Adams county, Illinois, July 1, 1844, he was the son of Caleb and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Bickford, natives, respectively, of New Hampshire and Kentucky.  The parents settled in Illinois in 1836, and in 1856 they removed from Adams to Hancock county, of the same state, and there remained until their deaths.  They reared a family of six children, Mrs. Ellen Capron, Zachary, Mrs. Emma Berry, Sue, Mrs. Rosa Ellis and B. F., the subject of this sketch.
     Mr. Bickford received a good grammar school education in his native county, remaining with his parents until twenty-four years of age.  He then spent six years in Kansas, but returned at the expiration of that time to Illinois, where he remained thirteen years.  After this he was a short time in Kansas City, Kansas, then came to Washington and in 1888 located a pre-emption.  He went to Whitman county in 1892, but two years later returned to his Adams county farm and has continued to live here since.  He has a first class orchard, and other modern farm improvements, and raises some stock both for his own use and for market.
     In 1872 Mr. Bickford was married to Jane Fairchild, daughter of Roswell and Marie (Winfield) Fairchild, natives of New York and early settlers in Ohio.  Later in life they removed to Illinois, remained there until 1866, when they went to Kansas and there spent the remainder of their lives on a farm.  They were parents of six children, Edwin, Mrs. Lucina Manlove, deceased, Silas, Fannie and Amy, twins, and Jane.
     Mr. and Mrs. Bickford have two children, Edgar F. and Birdie E., married to Charles Rice, San Juan county, Washington.      Mr. Bickford has repeatedly been a member of his local school board, and has always been a stanch Republican.  He is also a prominent member of the G. A. R.
 
 

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