John Adam Shickel and the birthplace of the Shickel Corporation

World War I veteran John Adam Shickel established his company here, which was originally called the Miller-Shickel Machine shop. As the company grew and expanded more land was acquired and more buildings were built to accommodate the increased demand for metalwork.

John Adam Shickel was born on the 5th of September 1895 in Montezuma, Rockingham, Virginia to Henry Theodore Oscar Chester Shickel and Susan Elizabeth (Garber) Shickel. He was a member of the Church of the Brethren, a Mennonite church in the Shenandoah Valley. The church originated in Germany and spread to the United States where many members settled in Pennsylvania and then migrated down to the Shenandoah Valley in the 1800s. The Mennonites oppose war and fighting, but like many of his fellow believers, John Adam Shickel still wanted to serve his country. He stated, “I had no desire to enter military service, but when called I was willing to go.” Many of the members of the church were put on a religious exemption list meaning that they would not be sent to the front lines but rather serve in other capacities. Although his name was not on the religious exemption list in the newspaper, which noted that “those with religious scruples against war will not be put on the firing line, but will be given noncombatant duties,” instead of serving on the front lines he served in the QuarterMasters Corps at Camp Lee, Virginia. 

The Quarter Masters Corps units were responsible for providing petroleum and repair parts for the planes, trucks and tanks, with which John Adam Shickel must have been familiar with as a Junior mechanic before he entered the war. Being a mechanic was a valuable skill in wartime since many new technologies were being implemented in the military including planes, trucks, and tanks as well as new weaponry. After serving Shickel returned to his work as a Junior Mechanic and in 1938 he established his own machine shop.

He reported to action on August 06, 1917 and was discharged in March 1919. He was a Sergeant in the Infantry of the National Army in the 155th Depot Brigade in the 30th division. He served in the QuarterMasters Corps at Camp Lee Virginia. He was serving in Camp Lee when there was an outbreak of the influenza there. As part of the QuarterMasters Corps he might have helped with the shower and laundry services as well.

John Adam Shickel’s military service was part of his life long service to his nation and community. After the war he served his community of Bridgewater not only through his company but taking an active part in clubs and organizations. In regard to his business John Adam Shickel said, “We will give you the best service we can as promptly as we can at a price fair to both of us.”  Shickel was a member of the Eureka Lodge of Masons, Ruritan Club, Rockingham American Legion and former member of the Bridgewater town council. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Mutual Fire Insurance Co. John Adam Shickel passed away on the 26th of December, 1956 in Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia. He is buried in the Beaver Creek Church of the Brethren Cemetery in Bridgewater, Rockingham, Virginia.

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East, Sherrod, and Erna Risch. “Quartermaster Support of the Army: A History of the Corps 1775-1939.” Military Affairs 26, no. 3 (1962): 139. https://doi.org/10.2307/1984066.

Eberle, Donald. “The Plain Mennonite Face of the World War One Conscientious Objector.” Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies 3, no. 2 (2016): 175–201. https://doi.org/10.18061/1811/75351. 

Homan, Gerlof D. American Mennonites and the Great War, 1914-1918. Waterloo (Ont.): Herald Press, 1994. 

“John A. Shickel Dies At Hospital.” Harrisonburg Daily News Record, December 27, 1956. 

“John A Shickel Report to action.” Harrisonburg Daily News Record, Aug 6, 1917. 

“Local Board Has Surplus of Men.” Harrisonburg Daily News Record, September 04, 1917.

“Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General [OQMG].” National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration. Accessed April 20, 2021. https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/092.html. 

Report on the Influenza & Pneumonia Epidemic, Camp Lee, VA. Michigan Publishing, University Library, University of Michigan, November 7, 1918. http://hdl.handle.net/2027/spo.0260flu.0014.620. 

“Shickel Corp. Wins Industry Award.” Harrisonburg Daily News Record, December, 2008.

“Shickel Machine Shop advertisement.” Harrisonburg Daily News Record, February 24, 1953. 

U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum. Accessed April 20, 2021. https://qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/main.html?n=1. 

Virginia War History Commission Series I, 1919-1924. Box 10 Folder 7, State Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

"Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C95D-CS5Y?cc=2377565 : 20 August 2018), > image 1 of 1; from "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.