Bio of RITCHIE, William Henry (b.1856 d.1921), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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Vol II, pg 426-429
WILLIAM HENRY RITCHIE
William Henry Ritchie was liberally endowed with those qualities which made him
rank as a man among men, honored by his associates, respected for what he
accomplished and esteemed by all who knew aught of his career. In the practice
of law and in the field of business he so conducted himself as to make his
example one well worthy of emulation. He rendered many services to his
fellowmen, made many a sacrifice for the benefit of others and guided his entire
career by the teachings of the church.
William Henry Ritchie was born in Mansfield, Ohio, on the 15th of November,
1856, his parents being Robert and Mary Ritchie, both of whom were natives of
Scotland, but leaving the land of hills and heather in early life they came to
America and established their home in the Buckeye state.
Their son, William Henry Ritchie, obtained his education in the schools of
Mansfield until graduated from the high school, after which he took up the study
of law in the office and under the direction of Judge Dirlam. While pursuing his
course of study there the firm entrusted to his care various of its smaller
cases and its collections and thus he was able to earn about a thousand dollars
per year. He was nineteen years of age when he entered upon his student work
with the firm and after three years connec-tion therewith he was admitted to the
bar. In 1881 he accepted a position with the Altman & Taylor Threshing Machine
Company and came to Minneapolis, remaining a resident of this city from that
time forward. In 1884 he entered into partnership with Henry Culler for the
practice of law but continued to represent the Threshing Machine Company as its
secretary until 1890, when he withdrew from his connection with the Altman &
Taylor Threshing Machine Company to become the secretary of the Minne apolis
Threshing Machine Company, with which he remained in active connection until
about eight years prior to his death. At that date he became president of the
American Bank Protection Company, with which he was identified throughout his
remaining days and owing to his business ability, his undaunted enterprise and
his strong purpose he brought the business up from a small beginning to one of
the strong and prosperous institutions of the kind in the city.
In 1884 Mr. Ritchie was united in marriage to Miss Helen Miller, a daughter of
Charles Foster and Hannah (Bunker) Miller. The parents were residents of Ohio,
living at Benton. To Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie were born two children: Zipra, the
wife of Ernest A. Woodward, of Winnipeg, Canada, and Lillian, at home.
Mr. Ritchie was a stalwart republican in his political views, giving his support
tc that party from the time when age conferred upon him the right of franchise.
He was also a prominent Elk and he belonged to the Gethsemane Episcopal church,
in the faith of which he passed away on October 17, 1921. He gave most earnest
heed to the teach ings and purposes of the church and lived a zealous Christian
life, doing everything in his power to further the cause of the church and
extend its influence. When he passed away Bishop Johnson wrote of him: "I do not
know that I have ever felt a greater sense of loneliness than when I received
the telegram announcing the death of W. H Ritchie. He possessed the elements of
personal friendship to such a degree that no one whom he chose as a friend could
learn of his death without the greatest sadness. It was his religion to be loyal
to anyone who was dependent upon him or to whom he was bound by the ties of
friendship and there was no sacrifice too great for that loyalty. I do not know
that anyone has ever gone out of life that I shall miss more than I shall miss
him. And this, I believe, every friend of Gethsemane must feel also. Whatever
was needed In that parish was his concern and he gave himself generously to the
accomplishment of the need until it was done. Perhaps that is why he has been
taken from us. God has given him rest. His faults God can and will forgive, for
they were the faults of a man and he was so faithful in whatever he undertook
that no friend will ever forget his work nor cease to cherish his memory." There
are few men who deserve and receive such a tribute as this paid to Mr. Ritchie,
whose entire life purpose was on a higher plane than that of the majority of his
fellows and who lived to command the respect and confidence of all who knew him.