Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Ritchey, John 
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Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

John Ritchey, deceased, was distinguished as being one of the pioneer settlers 
of Will county, and through a long period was an active participant in the 
agricultural development and progress that has here been made. Wherever known 
he was loved and honored, so that his death, which occurred August 12, 1892, 
was the occasion of deep sorrow not only to his immediate family, but also to 
a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Ritchey was born in Ross 
county, Ohio, December 1, 1819, a son of Matthew and Rachel (Davis) Ritchey. 
The former was born in Scotland and died in the Buckeye state in 1822, at the 
age of sixty-five years, while the latter died in Wesley township, Will 
county, in June, 1862, at the very advanced age of eighty-eight years. The 
father emigrated from his native land to America when a young man, and on his 
arrival in the United States at once made his way to Ohio, where he was 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. He served as a soldier in both the Indian 
war and the war of 1812. Of their family of five children, all are now 
deceased. John Ritchey was educated in the public schools of his native state, 
and was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the duties and 
labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He came with his family to 
Illinois in 1852 and established his home on one hundred and sixty acres of 
land which he entered from the government. This tract was located where the 
town of Ritchey now stands, the town having been named in his honor. He 
erected a small frame house, in which the family took up their abode, and 
which was later replaced by a larger and more commodious country residence. He 
developed and cultivated his farm, and in due course of time brought his 
fields under a high state of cultivation, annually harvesting good crops, 
which added materially to his financial income, so that he was at length 
enabled, to extend the boundaries of his place, until at one time he was the 
owner of three hundred and twenty acres in Wesley township, all of which was 
developed by him. He broke the land with ox teams and his wheat and other farm 
products were marketed in Chicago. The lumber used in the construction of his 
house was also hauled from that city. He endured many hardships and privations 
during those early days, for the development of new land required much hard 
and arduous toil, the work having to be done by the use of crude farm 
machinery. He, however, worked diligently and earnestly year by year and 
prospered in his undertakings, so that at his death he was able to leave his 
family in very comfortable financial circumstances. Mr. Ritchey was married 
prior to his removal to this state, the lady of his choice being Miss Martha 
K. Jones, whom he wedded in Ohio, May 3, 1849. She was born in Ross county, 
that state, February 17, 1831, a daughter of John T. and Sarah (Rudesill) 
Jones, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They located in Illinois in 
1850, where the fathered entered government land in Wesley township. His first 
home was a log house, which was later replaced by a cement residence, wherein 
he spent the greater portion of his remaining days. He was numbered among the 
pioneer settlers of Will county, carrying on agricultural pursuits during his 
active business career. Disposing of his farm to his son Thomas, he purchased 
a home in Kankakee, and, removing to that city, lived retired. His wife died 
there in 1878, at the age of sixty-eight years, after which he made his home 
in Ritchey, dying at the home of his daughter in 1889, when he had reached the 
venerable age of eighty-six. Their union was blessed with sixteen children, of 
whom six are now living, namely: Elizabeth, the widow of David Gay and a 
resident of Sheldon, Illinois; Martha K., now Mrs. Ritchey; Thomas W., a 
resident farmer of Wesley township; Mary, the wife of Jeremiah Gay, residing 
in Fremont, Nebraska; Clara, the widow of George Umsted, a resident of 
Wilmington; and Charles, who is married and lives in Chicago. Mr. Jones gave 
his early political support to the whig party and after the organization of 
the new republican party joined its ranks. He was a devoted member of the 
Methodist church and a highly respected citizen of Will county. Mr. Ritchey, 
although leading an active and busy life, yet found time for public office, 
serving as school director for many years, while he likewise filled the office 
of township supervisor and collector for a long period, and also justice of 
the peace for many years. He gave his early political support to the whig 
party and after the organization of the new republican party was a stanch 
advocate of its principles. He was a devoted member of the New Jerusalem 
church and lived a life in harmony with his professions. He possessed many 
sterling traits of character which endeared him to all with whom he came in 
contact. He was ever ready to lend his aid to the unfortunate ones of the 
earth and was likewise interested in every movement or measure that tended to 
advance the interests of his locality or the county. He was a companionable, 
entertaining and genial gentleman, winning friends wherever he went, and his 
death came as a personal bereavement to many citizens of Ritchey and Will 
county. Mrs. Ritchey, an estimable lady, is now living in a comfortable home 
in Ritchey, surrounded by many friends to whom she has endeared herself by a 
charitable spirit and kindly disposition. Although she is now seventy-six 
years of age she is still an active lady and takes great pleasure in 
entertaining her many friends.

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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