THE TERRELL AND RICKS FAMILIES
Alfred Ricks, a native of Southampton county, Va., m. Mary
Ann Terrell, of Caroline county on April 14, 1822. They lived
in Southampton county for a number of years and then removed
to the old Terrell home in Caroline. This place is located on
the north banks of North Anna River (the house is actually about
three-quarters of a miles from the river on a high hill, but the
farm borders the river), and was owned by the family for over 100
years until R. A. Ricks sold it in 1905. The house was built
about 1780.
Mary Ann Terrell was the daughter of Samuel Terrell and
Elizabeth Harris, both of Caroline county, who were married,
May 7, 1800. Her brothers and sisters were: Samuel, Walter,
James P., Henry O., and George Fox Terrell. George F. was a
physician. He lived at the old Terrell home and practiced
medicine in Caroline and adjoining counties. He died at the
early age of 37, but it is said that he had already endeared himself
to the people by his devotion and skill as a physician.
Dr. Terrell, his mother and father and other members of the
family are buried at Golansville, Caroline county, in the little
burying ground which adjoined the Quaker Meeting House that
formerly stood there.
Richard Arnold Ricks was the fifth of ten children. The
others were: Joseph, Julia W., Samuel T., Elizabeth H., Robert
B., Mary W., Deborah, Walter A., and Samuella, who m. John
C. Winston, of the John C. Winston Publishing Company, of
Philadelphia, and who is the sole survivor of her generation.
Richard A. Ricks was 1st m. in 1873, to Mary Susan Whitlock.
There was one child born of this marriage, who died at birth.
The mother also died at the same time.
On June 23, 1881, R. A. Ricks, m. Eliza Catherine Crenshaw,
of Richmond, Va. To them were born four children: Julian W.,
who died in infancy; Katherine C., who is now librarian at
Guilford College, N. C.; Richard A., Jr., who is now engaged in
real estate business in Richmond and James Hoge Ricks, of
Richmond.
James Hoge Ricks was born at the old home "Prospect Hill,"
in Caroline county, July 14, 1886. His mother was the dau.
of John Bacon Crenshaw, of Henrico county, and Richmond,
and Rachel Hoge, of Loudon county. John Bacon Crenshaw
was a Friends, or Quaker minister. All his ancestors on both
sides for several generations were Friends (Quakers), and the
Judge is still of that religious faith.
R. A. Ricks was interested and active in the affairs of Caroline
and held various offices, among others that of delegate to the
General Assembly for one session. He died in Richmond,
January 4, 1911.
Judge Rick's mother was very active in temperance work in
Caroline and at one time was president of the county W. C.
T. U. She died in Richmond, May 30, 1909.
For several years R. A. Ricks had a teacher in the home for
his children. The younger children, however, attended the
little one-room country school, which was located about half way
between their home and the station—Ruther Glen. Miss Janie
Wortham was teacher of the school at that time.
For half a session Judge Ricks, with his brother, attended
Corinth Academy, a Quaker school, in Southampton county.
In the fall of 1902, they entered Guilford College, N. C. Their
sister graduated at Guilford in 1904, Judge Ricks graduated in
1905, and his brother in 1906. In the summer of 1905, Judge
Ricks took a stenographic course at Massey Business College
and in the fall of that year took a position as a stenographer
in the office of Cutchins & Cutchins, lawyers. This position he
held for three years, taking the law course at Richmond College
in the meantime. He graduated in law in 1908. During college
days he was a member of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta
at Richmond College. He spent the year 1908-1909 at the
University of Virginia, taking a special course in law and English.
In the summer of 1909 he took the Bar examination and was
admitted to the practice of law. During the years 1909-1910
he was associated with ex-Attorney General William A. Anderson,
who at that time, had a law office in Richmond, but later removed
to his old home at Lexington, Va.
Judge Ricks practiced law from 1909 to 1912. In April,
1912, Police Justice John J. Crutchfield appointed him as the
Clerk and Probation Officer of the Juvenile Division of the Police
Court which was at that time established for the hearing of
children's cases. He served in this capacity for three years and
a half. In the fall of 1915, the City Council provided for the
establishment of a new court to be known as the Juvenile and
Domestic Relations Court. He was elected Justice of that
Court and has held the office since January 1, 1915.
On September 22, 1914 he m. Anne Elizabeth Ryland, dau.
of Rev. Charles Hill Ryland and Alice M. Garnett, of King
and Queen county. Dr. Ryland was for many years treasurer
and librarian of Richmond College. They have one child—
James Hoge, Jr., b. January 1, 1916.
In 1921, Governor Westmoreland Davis named him as a
member of the Children's Code Commission, which he appointed
at the instance of the League of Women Voters, to codify and
revise the existing laws relating to children and to suggest such
legislation as the Commission might deem necessary. He was
elected chairman of that Commission. In the report of this
Commission 26 bills were recommended, 18 of which, with amendments,
were enacted into law by the General Assembly of 1922.
From 1920, to 1922, inclusive, Judge Ricks served as a member
of the Executive Committee of the National Conference of
Social Work. In 1923, he was elected Third Vice-President of
that Conference, which was held in Washington, D. C. At the
same time he was elected President of the National Probation
Association, an organization composed of judges and probation
officers from practically every State in the Union.
