Ray County, Missouri Biographies - William R. Blythe (b. 1803)

Source: History of Ray County, MO, published St. Louis: Missouri Historical Company, 1881.
pages 646-647

W. R. BLYTHE

William R. Blythe was born on the 18th day of January, 1803. At the age of twenty years he came
to Ray county, Missouri, and after staying here for a time, went back to Tennessee, where he had
been reared. In the year 1826 he came again to Ray county, and entering a part of the homestead
upon which he no resides, settled here permanently. He has since entered and bought other lands,
and now possesses in all, about thirteen hundred acres of excellent land. He homestead is well
improved with a handsome and convenient residence, good substantial barns, sheds and other
buildings, well watered and enclosed by good fences and stocked with fine breeds of horses,
cattle, hogs and sheep. Mr. Blythe was first married in 1830, to Miss Didama Fletcher, daughter
of David and Rebecca Fletcher, of Indiana. She was born June 9, 1811. They became the parents
of five children, only two of whom are now living: Thomas, born November 30, 1836; married
and living upon the farm his father first entered; Rebecca J., born in March, 1832, married C. W.
Stokes, and is living hear her father. Mrs. Blythe died November 3, 1845, and January 5, 1848,
Mr. Blythe was married to Miss Leanah Riffe, daughter of John and Polly A. Riffe, natives of the
state of Kentucky. Mrs. Blythe was born in Casey county, Kentucky, in February, 1823. The issue
of this marriage was nine children: John L., born July 29, 1849; married and living on a farm,
section fifteen, township fifty-one, range twenty-nine; James W., born September 1, 1850; killed
by a runaway team, April 14, 1880; infant born in September and died in October, 1853; Elizabeth
A., born October 10, 1854; married C. R. Kirkham, and is living on a farm, section fourteen,
township fifty-one, range twenty-nine; Robert D., born June 2, 1857; Franklin R., born September
1, 1859, and died August 8, 1860; Sarah E., born, May 16, 1863; Martha H., born December 8,
1865; Laura, born April 25, 1869. Our subject was first lieutenant of Captain Clark’s company in
the Black Hawk war. Mr. Blythe represented Ray county in the general assembly from 1840 to
1842, and was state senator from 1842 to 1846. He discharged the duties of these high offices
with credit and honor of himself, and to the full and entire satisfaction of his constituency. Mr.
Blythe is a leading, very prosperous and highly respected farmer. He has worked himself up by his
own efforts, from a poor, friendless boy, to a position of distinction among his fellowmen, and
acquired sufficient wealth to end his days in comfort and ease, and to leave a handsome patrimony
to his children.


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