FRED
W. FICKETT
A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
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Fred Wildon Fickett was born in Dixmont, Maine, on August 29, 1857. His parents were Perez and Rebecca Fickett. As a young man he learned to enjoy rural life, hunting, and shooting. He was educated in local schools in Maine and, in 1877, he enrolled in Maine State College. Prior to his entry into that institution, he received a release from his father enabling him to conduct his own affairs and to retain his own earnings; this presumably was necessitated by his minority. While in school, he concentrated on studying the sciences and supported himself both by working on a farm and by teaching. Fickett graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1880. He participated in the graduation ceremonies by delivering a talk on Science and Literature.
While teaching school he met a young woman, Nellie Tibbetts Lord. They became friends and ultimately they were engaged; this was Fred Fickett's second engagement. Most of their courtship was from a distance while he was in the Army. After several years of correspondence, they were married in Carmel, Maine, on September 12, 1886. During their long union they had four children: Harold, Webster, Fred, and Mary.
Fickett was a restless man who sought to improve himself and his situation in life. Tiring of teaching, he joined the U. S. Army Signal Corps in 1881, in the hope of obtaining fresh opportunities. That service appears to have recruited well-educated men. After an extensive period of training and successfully passing his examinations, he received an appointment to Sitka, Alaska. In this remote posting, his salary was considerably higher than if he had been sent another place in the continental United States.
Fickett arrived in Sitka in September, 1882. His orders directed him to take over the operation of the signal station from Sergeant John J. McLean, who was not happy with the change. Within a year, McLean was back and Fickett was made his assistant. The relationship between the two became friendly after a short time. Indeed, it should be noted that Fickett, though a Private, had a very wide circle of friends and acquaintances in Alaska. These included Navy and Marine officers, doctors, missionaries and other religious personages, and various prominent individuals and families. His associations include the Kashevarov, Mitropolski, and Cohen families; Commander J. B. Coghlan; Lieutenant and Mrs. Thomas; and Major and Mrs. Morris.
Fickett's duties in Sitka involved handling correspondence, writing reports, and making weather observations. When not on duty, he visited various parts of the town and region. In his diaries, he comments on a Russian Orthodox Wedding and New Year's celebration; Christmas; various parties; and a cremation. Fickett enjoyed shooting and outdoor excursions; he went on several hunting trips. He also went on one inspection trip and two prospecting trips, and a number of picnics. Always looking for opportunities, he considered going into business or law practice in Alaska. In 1884, Fickett suggested an exploratory expedition into the interior of Alaska; however, General Hazen of the Signal Corps did not approve.
Fickett was ordered to Portland in October, 1884. Lieutenant Henry Allen, who had visited Alaska earlier, asked Fickett to accompany him on his expedition rather than go on a separate one. Within two weeks Fickett agreed. At the end of January, 1885, Allen, Sergeant Cady Robertson, and Private Fred Wildon Fickett were ordered to Alaska. Their orders were both specific and general. They were to ascend the Copper River and descend the Tanana if possible; along the way they were to assess the character, number, relationships, and disposition of the inhabitants of the region. Their movements after leaving the Copper River were left to their discretion.
Allen's party left Portland on January 28, 1885, and arrived in Sitka on February 10. After some difficulties in gaining transportation, they sailed on the U.S.S. Pinta on March 16 and arrived three days later at Nuchek where the supplies were unloaded. On the next day, accompanied by Peder Johnson, a prospector, and three natives, they left for the river. The ascent of the Copper River began on March 29. The party faced many problems and immense hardships. Melting snow, the difficulty of the terrain, and the weather forced the abandonment of most of their supplies and equipment. On April 10, they reached Taral where they were joined by the prospector, John Bremner. Then the Chittyna River was explored and, after a stay with a local chief, Nicholai, they returned to Taral. Accompanied by Nicholai and others, they continued their ascent. On June 6, they reached the high point between the Copper and Tanana Rivers. The descent of the Tanana began a week later and, on June 25, they reached the Yukon. After a stay at Nuklukyet, the party divided. Bremner and Johnson stayed on the Yukon; Robertson was sent to St. Michael by steamboat; and Allen and Fickett left for the Koyukuk River. That river was reached on August 3, after a portage of several days.
During the exploration of the Koyukuk, Allen named a tributary after Fickett. The party also crossed the Arctic Circle. The descent of the Koyukuk began on August 9. The Yukon was reached on August 21. The party arrived at Ft. St. Michael in the evening of August 30, and on the following day, their pictures were taken. The U.S.S. Corwin arrived on September 4. On September 5, they left for San Francisco, via Unalaska where they stayed from September 15 to September 30. They arrived in San Francisco on October 11.
Throughout the expedition, but especially on that part along the Copper and Tanana Rivers, the men suffered from strain, exhaustion and poor diet. They were often forced to consume food which they would not touch under normal conditions. The result was a series of illnesses, including scurvy, which were later ameliorated by an improvement of diet.
Upon their arrival in San Francisco, they were interviewed by reporters and their photographs were taken. After visiting friends, Fickett traveled to Vancouver Barracks where he learned that he was posted to Portland. While there, he began writing his report. He had hoped to be ordered to Washington to work with Allen on the expedition report, but General Hazen of the Signal Corps would not permit it; the General wanted a separate report for the Signal Corps. During his stay, he began to study law. Finally in March, Fickett was ordered to Washington where he arrived on April 7. Fickett finished his report later that month.
Allen completed his report and submitted his draft to the Army. It included the maps he had made on the trek as well as photographs they had taken or had obtained from Lieutenant Abercrombie. Its publication was ordered and it appeared in print in 1887. It was a very valuable record of the expedition and on Alaska.
Allen's trip proved to be one of the most extensive American exploratory expeditions on the continent. It was praised by many contemporaries as well as by later historians and other commentators. Besides being high adventure, the expedition provided a detailed picture of the interior of Alaska and its inhabitants. Allen also brought back good maps of the Copper, Tanana, Koyukuk, and other rivers. The expedition's success was indeed a major human accomplishment and an important contribution at that time to the knowledge of a vast, unknown region.
Fickett was ordered to Eastport, Maine, in June, 1886. The location was important to him because of its proximity to his fiancé and family. There Fickett encountered an unexpected problem in that the person in charge had failed to adequately maintain the signal station's records. After an inspection, he was also criticized in the inspector's report. He believed that this led to his application for leave being denied and his promotion being delayed.
While in Eastport, Maine, in late June, he was finally able to visit his family and fiancé. Among others whom he visited, was President Fernald of Maine State College who informed him that they were going to present him with a Master of Science degree at their next commencement. Fickett and his fiancé were to have been married in a month; however, he was refused leave and was soon ordered to go to a new station in Galveston. Because of these developments, the couple modified their plans and, on Sunday, September 12, 1886, they were married at his sister's home in Carmel, Maine, in what he referred to as "a very impressive ceremony." Within a week he was in Galveston. In February, 1887, he reported that he was criticized in General Orders for trying to delay the execution of orders regarding his change of station.
Nellie Fickett was not able to join her husband until April 24, 1887. A month later Fickett mailed his thesis, entitled "Alaska," to his college in Orono, Maine; a Master of Science degree was awarded to him in June, 1887. He continued his legal studies and passed his examinations. Fickett received his first attorney's fee in mid July.
Fickett stayed in the Army until 1890. Several months later, in 1891, he was appointed Assistant Observer in the U.S. Weather Bureau Office in Galveston. After six months he resigned and accepted an appointment as Judge in the City Court in Galveston. In 1898, he received a pension for "disease of mouth result of scurvy" the result of his service on the Alaska exploratory expedition.
Fickett practiced law in Galveston to 1902 when he moved to Arizona. In 1906, he was Vice President and General Manager of the Lincoln Consolidated Mining Company and managed the Lincoln and Old Pueblo Mines. In 1910, he purchased the Goodin Transfer Company, which he operated until his death. He died in Tucson, Arizona, on February 7, 1928, after an illness of six months. Two years later Fickett's wife applied for a widow's pension. Aided by Senator Hayden of Arizona, Nellie Fickett was awarded a pension of thirty dollars per month.
Throughout his life, Fred Wildon Fickett was an active man. His early interests in the outdoors and shooting were matched by a continuing interest in education and an appreciation for knowledge. Fickett's writings contain many references to hunting and shooting, an interest which is illustrated by his being a leading member of the Tucson Rifle Club in his later years. Fickett's interest in learning did not stop after he graduated from college, but continued in many other ways including the study of law. He encouraged his wife and his children in this endeavor. In addition, Fickett was a member of the Baptist Church and a very active Mason,.
Fickett's contributions to history are a result of his love for the outdoors and his interest in knowledge. The former provided the stamina to endure the hardships of the Allen Expedition, while the latter provided a major impetus to his participation in it. The recording of his interests and reactions has provided future generations with insights into the life of a young man who sought his future success in the American West.