Was born in Greene county, Ohio, March 4, 1847. His parents were also’ natives of Ohio. He was educated in the common schools of Bureau county, Illinois, where his parents moved in 1856, and was reared upon a farm, and has since made farming his business. He enlisted in February, of 1863, in Company I, Sixty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry for three years, was with Sherman in the Atlanta campaign and on the march to the sea, and was engaged in the battles of Rocky Face, Buzzard Roost, Dalton, Big Shanty, Decatur, Atlanta, Lovejoy’s Station, Jonesborough, Savannah, and many others. After his discharge he returned home, and in 1870 came to this county.
Mr. Vickrey was married, December 19, 1865, to Mrs. Sarah A. Hockens, the date of whose birth is June 23, 1841. She is the widow of John E. Hockens, by whom she had one child, John E., Jr., born September 22, 1862. Mr. Hockens died November 27, 1863. By her marriage to Mr. Vickrey, they have had six children: Alonzo W., born October 5, 1866-is dead; Mary E., born September 26, 1868; Francis M., born September. 14, 1870; Charles A., born October 30, 1872; James B., born February 7, 1874; Cora B., born April 8, 1878.