Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Ritchey, Benjamin D 1815 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 8, 2007, 11:56 pm Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890 BENJAMIN D. RITCHEY. This gentleman has done much for the growth and development of the section in which he resides and for many a year has been known and honored as a worthy citizen of Wesley Township. After years of activity he has retired from business pursuits, disposed of the farms which he owned, retaining only an interest in buildings in the village of Ritchey, and is now taking his ease, as far as labor for sustenance is concerned. The father of our subject was Matthew Ritchey, a native of Scotland, whose parents came to Pennsylvania at a very early day, whence he subsequently removed to Ohio. In the latter State he married Rachel Davis, a native of Virginia and a daughter of a Welshman. This was the third marriage of Matthew Ritchey and resulted in the birth of four children, two of whom are now living. The father departed this life in 1824, the mother surviving until 1862. The subject of this brief biographical sketch is the first-born of his mother's children, his natal day being October 24, 1815. His birth took place in Ross County, Ohio, where he spent his early years, beginning a personal career at an early age. When twelve years old he hired out by the month on a farm and continued to support himself in this way till he had reached the age of twenty years. He had conceived the idea of buying a farm and working out its payment, and he and his brother John carried out the idea successfully, thus becoming the owners of one hundred and fifty acres in the Buckeye State. In the fall of 1855 they sold, and removing to Illinois settled in this county and the township wherein our subject still resides. He purchased a partly improved farm and engaged in mixed farming, having cattle and horses which he had brought from Ohio. In 1862 Mr. Ritchey and his brother embarked in the mercantile business, but after a time sold out, our subject subsequently buying the business himself and carrying it on for several years in addition to operating his farms. Never having married he has had families keep house for him, and during the past twenty-eight years has made but one change. He has proved his ability as a manager and money-maker and insured himself against want unless an overwhelming catastrophe befalls him. Not only so but he has been useful in local offices and in various movements which would tend to improve the country. Ritchey Station takes its name from himself and brother. Mr. Ritchey for several years belonged to the Grange, of which he was Master. He was Township Assessor and Collector, and has been offered the position of Township Supervisor but declined it. In 1880 he was appointed United States Census Enumerator for Wesley Township, and he has been Postmaster at Ritchey for seven years. He has frequently been administrator of estates both in Illinois and Ohio, and has also been guardian in the latter State. This fact alone will suffice to show that he is looked upon as a man of the strictest integrity and great prudence. Mr. Ritchey has always taken an active interest in political issues, has frequently been a delegate to county conventions and otherwise borne a fair share in the local campaign work. He became of age a few days before the Presidential election of 1836, and cast his first vote for Gen. William Henry Harrison. Four years later, during the ever memorable "hard cider" campaign in the Buckeye State, he cast his second vote for "Tippecanoe" who proved the successful candidate. Some years later, when the Republican party came into existence he voted for John C. Fremont, and 1888 he had the pleasure of voting for Gen. Benjamin Harrison, a lineal descendant of the old hero who had been his first love when becoming a voter. In 1844 Mr. Ritchey rode ten miles on horseback on two consecutive nights to hear the eloquent and renowned temperance orator, John B. Gough, and enlisting under his banner has been a consistent temperance man from that day. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/ritchey1469nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.8 Kb