George L. Ritchie, Ouachita County, AR -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOURCE: Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889. Contributed by Carol Smith. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ouachita County, Arkansas - from Goodspeed's History of Arkansas George L. Ritchie is a wholesale and retail grocer and dry goods merchant of Camden, Arkansas and was born in Dallas County, Alabama, in 1838, being a son of John C. and Jane E. (Campbell) Ritchie, who were born in South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. After their marriage they emigrated first to Mississippi, then to Arkansas, in 1858, and after being residents of Bradley County until 1861, they made a settlement in Ouachita County, but the father did not live long enough to make a home for his family, as his death occurred the same year , his widow still surviving him. George L. Ritchie is the second of their four children, and the greater part of his early education was received in Mississippi. He was reared to farm life up to the age of eighteen years then followed various occupations until 1862, at which time he enlisted in Company B, Thirty-third Arkansas Regiment, and was on active duty until the close of the war. He then came back home and engaged in the hotel business, and until 1873 was the popular and accommodating proprietor of the Southerland Hotel, but at the above mentioned date gave up that work to engage in his present business. He has been a resident of this county for the past twenty nine years and the policy on which he has ever conducted his business has been such as to meet public commendation, and those forming relations with the house may be assured of receiving that liberal treatment which has always characterized its dealings. His stock of goods is valued at $10,000.