John D. Ritchie Obituary, St. Joseph Gazette

Obituary from St. Joseph Gazette, Friday Morning, 19 Dec 1879.  Page and column unknown

Gone Home.
Death of An Old and Respected Citizen.
One by One the Old Settlers of Platte Purchase are Taken Away.

At his residence in Center township, on the 15th inst., John D. Ritchie departed this life, after a lingering illness of about four weeks.  Mr. Ritchie was one of our oldest and most respected citizens.  He came to the Platte-Purchase in 1820, settling in Liberty, Clay county, where he remained seven years, when he moved to Buchanan county and entered a fine tract of land in Center township.  One year later he led to the altar one of Clay county's fairest daughters, Miss Catherine Yates, and brought her here to share with him his newly acquired possessions.  Beginning life in a new country, where the bark of the coyote or the war-whoop of the Indian were the melodies of the night, they naturally grew and thrived with the country until at the time of his death, he had, by industry and economy, gathered about him a goodly supply of this worlds goods.  Mr. R. was in his 84th [Error! Should be "78th"] year, a large portion of which time he spent on his farm in Centre township, and by honesty and fair dealings with his fellow man he died honored and respected by all, and of him it can be truly said that the loudest songs of his praise are by those who knew him best.  Being a widower at the time of his death he leaves to mourn his loss, three sons and one daughter.
Originally abstracted by Pat Shaw.  Ref. Source 1397

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