This is the Story of our Micklem Family
from
Burchett's Green, Berkshire, Eng.
written for the Memory of Dr. Austen Micklem
~Discovery~
The beginning of my family story begins with the Micklems from Burchett's Green-Berkshire England.
While taking medical classes at Columbia University in New York, my great grandfather Austen Micklem
was invited to the home of a gentleman named Dr. Willis Eubank. It was while visiting Dr Eubank's family
in Nelson County that my great grandfather learned of the cheap land, due to the recent end of the Civil War.
After learning this information, he passed it along to his brothers in England. In 1873, Austen purchased a
550 acre tract of land near Shipman known as the "Smiley Tract". He purchased this land for his father,
my great-great grandfather, John Henry Micklem Sr.
John Henry Micklem Sr. married three times and between
those marriages, had fifteen children. His first wife Caroline passed away at an early age. Austen was the fifth
son of John Henry and his third wife--Ann Butler(b:1850-1891). To the families knowledge, no children were
born in his second marriage to Caroline Mead.
~Brother's Voyage~
In 1874, John Henry Micklem Jr. purchased land between Variety Mills and Norwood along the Tye River and
named his place "Riverdale". By 1907, John Henry Jr. acquired much land in Nelson County VA. including
Variety Mills. All that he acquired was left to his youngest son Martyn (b:1856). Walter Mason Micklem, brother
to Austen, married March 24, 1873 to Mary Etta Burch in Nebraska. From there, they migrated to Oregon
where they raised their family of several children. Another brother, Ernest Micklem, eventually came to Nelson Co.
and started his home on a piece of the "Smiley Tract" land. He called his home "Roseland". Eventually it was Ernest
that acquired the "Smiley Tract" property.
~DR. AUSTEN MICKLEM~
Although it was my great grandfather Austen who started the movement from England, he returned there leaving
the family to settle here in America. In 1897, he came back and enrolled in the College of Medicine in Richmond.
It was where Austen graduated and acquired his medical degree and license in 1891. After a trip to Central America
with other family members. Austen decided to take a ship to California. It was around 1893 that he purchased some
land in Fresno, CA. and the family consensus is that Austen had no intentions of settling in VA. However, while
attending to some family business in Nelson Co. in 1894, he was approached by a local businessman named Ancill
Powell. Mr. Powell explained to my great grandfather that the town was seeking a permanent replacement for the
aging Dr. Blaine. After persuading Dr. Austen to "temporarily" take over, the move became permanent. As
Mary Micklem Fortune, daughter of Austen wrote in her memoirs--"lucky for me"... Austen then met a
schoolteacher by the name of Bettie Farrar. She was the daughter of Lucas Samuel Farrar and Mary Jane
Stickleman, whom were longtime residents of Rockfish Depot. On September 27, 1899--the union of Austen&
Bettie took place at her parents childhood home along the Rockfish River. My great grandfather later purchased this
property, known as "Riverside Cottage", in 1900. This is where my grandfather Roland Micklem and his siblings
were born and raised. In 1913, Dr. Austen Micklem had a medical office added onto the home where he practiced
out of until his death. Austen also served as one of the company doctors for the Alberene Soapstone Corp. in
Schuyler. My great grandfather died on November 23, 1939 and was buried at the family homestead along the
Rockfish River. My great grandmother, Bettie Farrar Micklem died December 22, 1958 and was laid to rest
beside him.
~The Flood~
In 1969, Hurricane Camille which devasted parts of Virginia, destroyed the family "Riverside Cottage"
homestead. Not only did the home get swept away but so did the family cemetery that was on the property as well.
All which remained were some barn structures, one that my grandfather Roland built and a few of the stones. The
Micklem and Fortune brothers redid the family cemetery and erected a Memorial for all of the deceased loved ones
buried there. This would include my grandfather Roland Micklem who passed away in 1960. In October 2001 there
was a dedication for the family plots destroyed by Hurricane Camille. For now, may they all rest in peace
on the land along the Rockfish River where they raised their families. For what many others before me have
written and one of the reasons that I want to preserve our Micklem family on these pages...
Is so our Micklem Heritage will forever live.
Dina Swanson
It is with many thanks that I offer to
James (Jim) Micklem and Dewey (Billy) Fortune Jr.
for sharing our Micklem History with me.
My hopes are to create a place for any Micklem
family member to call home (on the web)-lol.
~Thank you and please email me~
Hearing from you would be greatly appreciative:-)
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