Jesse W. Rickman was born around 1831 in Henderson County, North Carolina. He married a woman named Mary, and they had at least eight children: Sarah, born around 1850; Martin, born around 1853; Merrit, born around 1855; Mary, born around 1859; Harriet, born around 1861; Jesse, born around 1863; John, born around 1866; and Talitha, born around 1868. They lived in Gilmer County, Georgia, and he earned a living as a farmer. He returned to Henderson County in the 1850s, and by 1860, he owned $100 of personal property.

 

He enlisted in the Confederate army on July 10, 1862, and he mustered in as a private in Company D of the 60^th North Carolina Infantry. The regiment took part in the Battle of Stones River, the Battle of Chickamauga, the Battle of Missionary Ridge, and the Atlanta campaign. He was promoted to corporal in October 1863, and he remained in the army until at least August 1864.

 

He settled in Cowee, North Carolina, after leaving the army, and he resumed his work as a farmer. His wife probably died in the late 1860s, and he married Mary L. Coggins on February 4, 1869. By 1870, he owned $200 of real estate and $100 of personal property. He died in Cowee on November 2, 1903.

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