Ray County, Missouri Obituaries - Riffe, Ruth d. February 25 b. d. February 25 cem. nee: Martin sp: Jacob Riffe fthr: Isaac Martin pd. p. Ray County Conservator com. obit: The Passing Away of an Old Pioneer. Among the earliest settlers of Ray county was Isaac Martin who moved to Missouri in 1815 and settled in Ray county with his family, and was elected one of its first represensatives to the legislature of the then territory. Shortly after Capt. Jacob Riffe emigrated here from Kentucky and located in Richmond township, where he married Miss Ruth, daughter of Mr. Martin, on the 15th of February, 1821, the first marriage in Ray county. Mrs. Riffe was born in Tennessee in 1802, and was a noble specimen of the pioneer women of that early day, when Missouri was a vernal wild, tall, lithe of limb and versed in all the skill of forest life. She was the mother of thirteen children, eight of whom are now living, her oldest, William, being the first child born in Richmond township; her oldest daughter, Mary, married Moses E. Lard, the eminent Christian evangelist, whose daughter married ex-Gov. Silas Woodson. Mrs. Riffe was among the first to connect herself with the Christian church in the county, and with her husband were consistent members of that denomination, ever faithful to her trust, till the fiat came that called her to realms beyond the stars. She died on Saturday last, February 25th, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Chas. Hultz, Kansas City, where services were held by Elder Thos. P. Haley and then the remains of all that was mortal of one that had passed four score years and a half in our busy world were brought here to be interred in the family burying ground, and her many friends allowed the sad privilege of paying her the honor due to one who had aided no little in making this section blossom like a rose. Her funeral took place from the Christian church Tuesday morning and the services were conducted by Elders Dunn and Howell and were mot impressive, a large crowd being in attendance. Thus the early pioneers are being slowly borne over the invisible river, and their descendants can look with pride on the heritage that they have left behind. The sympathy of all go out to the stricken relatives in their great bereavement as they bow to the will of the Omnipotent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Jenna Zunker USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and 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 presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or their legal representative, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------