Private ALBERT JOHN TICKNOR, Co. I, 86th Illinois

Albert John Ticknor was one of identical twin boys born on February 16, 1843 in Timber Township in Peoria County to Thomas William Ticknor and his 2nd wife, Anna Margaret (Houghtaling) Ticknor. The other twin boy was named Allen James Ticknor. Thomas William Ticknor was born on March 1, 1801 in Lebanon, New Hampshire while Anna Margaret Houghtaling was born on May 18, 1819 in Ulster, New York. Thomas William Ticknor was first married to Laura Lavina Standish on __________ __, 18__ at __________, __________. Laura was born on Mar. 25, 1799 at __________, __________.
They came to Illinois sometime before 1825, had five children, all born in Peoria County, before his first wife passed away. Their children included;
1. Mary Ann Ticknor Lightbody (1822 - 1904)*
2. Caroline A Ticknor Lightbody (1824 - 1885)*
3.
4.
5.

Laura died on Aug. 17, 1838 in Peoria County and her earthly remains were laid in the Kingston Mines Cemetery near Glasford, Peoria County, Illinois.
Thomas was then married to Anna Margaret Houghtaling on November 25, 1838 in Peoria County. Seven children are known to have been born to them including the twins, Albert and Allen. The children born to Thomas Ticknor and Anna Margaret (Houghtaling) Ticknor include:
6. Martha Ticknor, b. November 07, 1839, d. February 28, 1840, Peoria, Illinois, USA.

7. Almira Ticknor, b. March 06, 1841, Kingston, Peoria, Illinois. d. September 10, 1901, Gilman, Iroquois, Illinois.

8. Albert John Ticknor, b. February 16, 1843, Peoria, Illinois, d. 1928.

9. Allen James Ticknor, b. February 16, 1843, Peoria, Illinois.

10. George Washington Ticknor, b. June 28, 1845, Illinois, d. June 21, 1869, Utah.

11. Tryphena Ticknor, b. August 24, 1847, Illinois.

12. Andrew Jackson Ticknor, b. October 18, 1850, Peoria, Illinois. Andrew Jackson Ticknor was married to Eliza Maple c. 1867. Eliza died c. 1868 and her mortal remains were laid in the ______________ Cemetery.
Andrew was then married to Joanna Wright on January 27, 1870 in Stark County, Illinois.
Andrew died on April __, 1933.

At the time of the 1850 census, the Ticknor family is found residing in Peoria County as follows;
2859 Tickner Thomas 49 M Farming 1,800 NH
2859 Tickner Anna M. 31 F NY
2859 Tickner Almira 9 F Ill
2859 Tickner Albert J. 7 M Ill
2859 Tickner Allen J. 7 M Ill
2859 Tickner George W. 5 M Ill
2859 Tickner Triphena 3/12 F Ill
2859 Dufield Mahalia 21 F Ill
2859 Tickner Andrew 3 M Ill

Albert and Allen spent their early years learning to farm the land beside their father there in Timber Township. Thomas William Ticknor died at the age of 54 in Kingston Mines on December 16, 1855. Anna and the boys continued farming there in Timber and are found farming there in Timber Township at the time of the 1860 census;
2493 Tickner Anna M. 41 F farming 4,000 1,800 NY
2493 Tickner Albert 17 M IL
2493 Tickner Allen 17 M IL
2493 Tickner George 15 M IL
2493 Tickner Triphima 13 F IL
2493 Tickner Andrew 10 M IL
2494 Chambers Jackson 26 M farming 50 OH
2494 Chambers Elmira 19 F IL

On August 9, 1862, at the age of 19, Albert and Allen voluntered to serve in a company which was being raised in Lancaster, Illinois in Timber Township by a local businessman and merchantile owner, Allen L. Fahnestock.

ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name TICKNOR, ALBERT J
Rank PVT Company I Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence LANCASTER, PEORIA CO, IL Age 19 Height 5' 8 1/2 Hair BLACK
Eyes HAZEL Complexion DARK Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity TIMBER, PEORIA CO, IL

Service Record
Joined When AUG 9, 1862 Joined Where LANCASTER, IL
Joined By Whom A L FAHNESTOCK Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
Remarks N/A

When Fahnestock had about 100 recruits, he led the Timber Township company into Peoria, Illinois, where they went into camp at what was then called Camp Lyons, near what is today Glen Oak Park. Fahnestock was elected Captain of the men of the Timber Township company and on August 27, 1862, Fahnestock, the Ticknor Twins and 94 of the other Timber Township volunteers were mustered in as Company I of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
The men of the 86th Illinois marched out of Camp Lyon on September 7, 1862, with much fanfare, through the streets of Peoria down to the railroad depot, where they boarded a train bound for Camp Joe Holt in Jeffersonville, Indiana, across the river from Louisville. Three weeks later the men of the 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Colonel Daniel McCook's Brigade chasing Confederate troops. On October 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those Confederate troops during the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the next few years.
After the Union victory at Perryville, the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee where they went into winter camp. During the next three years, Albert and Allen Ticknor would serve faithfully in Co. I as the men of McCook's Brigade were witness to and participants in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Averysboro, North Carolina; and Bentonville, North Carolina, just to name a few. They also participated on General Sherman's famous "March to the Sea", but it was at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia on June 27, 1864 where the 86th suffered the most. On that fateful day, over 110 men of the 86th Illinois of the approximate 400 men who made the charge on Cheatham Hill, were killed, wounded or captured in less that 30 minutes. As time went on, Albert and Allen were there to see the ranks dwindled. On September 7, 1862, when the 86th marched out of Peoria, the 86th numbered about 932 men. During the course of the war, the 86th received about 70 recruits to fill the ranks. By June of 1865, Albert and Allen were two of approximately 350 men who remained in the ranks. On June 6, 1865, the surviving members of the 86th were mustered out of the service at Washington, D.C. and they soon returned to their homes in Central Illinois.
Albert returned to his life as a civilian farmer there in Peoria County. On December 20, 1871, Albert was married to Hellen Mabel Houghtaling in Wyoming, Illinois. Shortly after they were married, in either 1872 or very early 1873, Albert and Hellen loaded their belongings in a covered wago and moved west to the prairies of Adair County, Iowa, where they settled south of Stuart, Iowa. They would reside there for some 21 years. Eight children are known to have been born to them while they were resided there, four of whom died very young. The children were;
1. Willis Grant Ticknor, born July 28, 1873
2. Anna Margaret Ticknor, born March 26, 1877; married Ern Wilson; they were residing in Reasnor, Iowa in 1928
3. Thomas Henry Ticknor, born September 5, 1883
4. Albert George Ticknor, born January 31, 1885; died July 30, 1887
5. Mabel Ticknor, born December 31, 1886; married to John Riser; residing in Earlham, Iowa in 1928
6. Elsie Evaline Ticknor; born January 30, 1889; died July 12, 1890
7. Alen Ticknor; born January 10, 1891; died February 14, 1891
8. Infant Ticnor; born unknown

In 1887 some of the surviving members of the 86th Illinois began making plans to hold a reunion in Peoria on the 25th Anniversary of the mustering in of the regiment, August 27th, 1887. Over 100 surviving members of the regiment attended that reunion. The Ticknors, however, were not able to attend that first reunion. The surviving members decided that every year a reunion would be held on that anniversary and these continued to be held every year through the year 1923. Though the Ticknors were unable to attend any of the early reunions, they stayed in contact with their pards at the reunions back in Peoria. Albert was very active in the G.A.R. and was a member of the G.A.R. Post in Dexter, Iowa for many years. About 1894, the Albert and Hellen moved to a farm in Dallas County, Iowa and then when Albert Ticknor retired from farming they moved to Earlham, Iowa in Madison County. They remained there the rest of their lives.
In August of 1902, Allen Ticknor was able to attend his first reunion. The following year, 1903, Albert attended his first reunion, but Allen was unable to attend. Then in August of 1907, the twins caused quite a stir when they appeared together for the first time at an 86th the reunion.
In 1908, Allen retired from farming and he and Marie moved into Stuart, Iowa where they remained the rest of their lives. By 1923, most of the 86th was gone. Only 23 of the surviving members were able to attend. Company I, the Lancaster/Timber Township company, had four men present, including the Ticknor twins. It was said in the reunion booklet that was sent out after the reunion that, "The Ticknors are twin brothers, and it is with some difficulty to tell 'which from tother.' Their stature, facial lineaments and movements are almost the same. The veterans, however, managed to determine the difference, while the younger ones present, were some what confounded by the sameness of appearance in the two brothers." At the reunion of 1923, it was with a heavy heart that these 23 representatives of the 86th decided that this would at last be the final earthly reunion of the 86th as they were getting too old and too few to continue them any longer. It was said in the reunion booklet that, "The closing of the last session seemed the saddest of all, when the veterans and friends said the last 'Good-bye', and 'God Bless You', never to meet again in reunion, as in the past. But we look forward to an Eternal Reunion in the mansions above, where death never enters, and parting is no more."
During the next few years, the surviving members stayed in contact through the mail with each other. Each year more and more members passed. In the spring of 1928, Albert John Ticknor suffered a stroke and died shortly afterward about 8 P.M., Sunday Night, June 10, 1928 in his home in Earlham, Iowa. Albert's earthly remains were laid to rest in the Earlham Cemetery.
Following are two notices that appeared in the Winterset Madisonian published in Winterset, Iowa.
From the June 14, 1928 edition:
"Death of A. J. Tichnor
Earlham, June 13. Special - A. J. Ticknor, 85 years old, a Civil war veteran, died at eight o'clock Sunday night at his home after a short illness.
At the age of nineteen, he, with his twin brother, Allen, enlisted with the 86th Infantry Co. I, of Illinois where they marched together until the closing of the war. He was in several engagements and was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea. At the close of the war he returned to his home and on December 20, 1871, was united in marriage to Helen Houghtaling, at Wyoming, Illinois. He came west traveling in a covered wagon, to the prairies of Adair county, south of Stuart, where they lived for twenty-one years, later moving to a farm in Dallas county, and then to their present home in Earlham. Besides his wife he leaves to mourn Willis G. of Omaha, Nebraska; Anna M. Nelson of Reasnor; Thomas H. of Mound City, South Dakota, and Mabel Riser, of Earlham, his children; also two brothers, Allen of Guthrie Center, and Andrew of Kansas.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at ten o'clock at the Methodist church, with the Rev. W. H. Beers officiating, assisted by Rev. Peter Bock. Interment in the Earlham cemetery."

From the June 21, 1928 edition:
"Albert John Ticknor was born near Peoria, Ill., Feb. 16, 1843, and departed this life just at the close of the Sabbath day June 10, 1928, being 85 years, 3 months and 26 years. Earlham Cem.
At the age of 19 he with his twin brother enlisted in 86th Infantry, Co. 1 of Illinois, where they marched together until the close of the war. He was in several engagements and was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea. At the close of the war he returned to his home and was married to Helen Haughtaling at Wyoming, Ill.
They came to the west traveling in a covered wagon to the prairies of Adair County south of Stuart, where they lived 20 years, later moving to a farm in Dallas County and to their present home in Earlham. On Dec. 20, 1921, they celebrated their Golden Wedding and for nearly seven years more were privileged to walk life's pathway together, sharing each other's sorrows and joys. (To this union were born eight children, four dying in infancy. Those surviving are Willis G. of Omaha, Iowa, Thomas H. of Mound City, S.D., and Mabel Riser of Earlham, who with the loving mother, eleven grandchildren, and one great grandchild, two brothers, Allen his twin, of Guthrie Center, Andrew of Kansas City, and other relatives and friends are left to mourn his going.
In early life he accepted Christ as his Savior, united with the Baptist Church of which he remained a member until his death. He was a member of the I.O.O.F. of Stuart and of the Grand Army of the Republic of Dexter, Iowa."

Less than a month later, Allen James Ticknor suffered a stroke and three weeks and two days later he died on Sunday July 29, 1928, seven weeks to the day that his twin brother, Albert John had died. The two boys were born together, served nearly three years in the service together, spent much of their lives together and passed into eternity within seven weeks of each other. Allen James Ticknor's earthly remains were laid to rest in the Oakwood Cemetery in Casey, Iowa and two more members of the 86th and Company I were gone.
Join us today as we remember the Ticknor twins and the men and boys of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

by Baxter B. Fite III

(Baxter would love to hear from anyone, especially descendants of the Ticknors, who might be able to add additional information to their biographies. Baxter would also love to get copies of any photographs that may still exist of the Ticknors, especially any which may survive of them in uniform from their days in the service, for their Find A Grave site and for the local historical society.)