My Genealogy Hound

Capt. James M. Ritchey, who is engaged in milling and stock raising, is a native of Newton County, Mo., born in the year 1836, on his father’s farm, in the old log cabin which was built by his father in what is now Ritchey. He was the first white male child born in that county, which was then a wilderness, inhabited by wild animals and Indians. The Captain, as an infant, was rocked in a cradle hewn out of a solid log, and made by his father. In this wild and unsettled region he grew to manhood. He was the son of Judge Mathew H. Ritchey, whose sketch will be found above. The Captain received a rather limited education, but by reading and observation he is accounted a well-informed man on all subjects. During his youth he assisted on the farm, and at the youthful age of nineteen married Miss Calodonia D. Logan, of Lincoln County, Tenn., daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Logan. To the Captain and wife were born three children: Henry M., Milton H. and Mathew A., who died in 1886, at the age of twenty-four years. After marriage Capt. Ritchey began farming, and then engaged in the stock business with his father. At the breaking out of the late war he was in New Orleans with stock for that market but lost, through the failure of the purchasers to pay their notes, which he had taken in payment. He returned home and entered the secret service of the United States, in July, 1862, and there remained until October, 1862, when he was appointed enrolling officer for McDonald, Newton, Barry and Jasper Counties, Mo. He then organized Company I, Seventy-sixth Regiment Missouri Volunteers, October 10, 1862, and December 17, same year, he was appointed captain, having previously filled the office of lieutenant. In March, 1863, the regiment was disbanded, and Capt. Ritchey’s company was consolidated with Company C, of the Seventh Provisional Regiment Missouri Volunteers, and at same date he was appointed quartermaster. Capt. Ritchey then organized Company K, Fifteenth Regiment Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, September 19, 1863, at Mount Vernon, Mo., and was ordered to move to Newtonia and take charge of the post there. Here he was on active duty, being in almost one continuous, skirmish. January 16, 1864, Capt. Ritchey received orders to proceed with his company to the vicinity of Keetsville, Mo., and protect the telegraph communication from Springfield, Mo., to Fayetteville, Ark. This was an arduous undertaking, and the company was in many skirmishes. The company was engaged in this campaign until February 19, when they returned to Newtonia. They had accomplished the object of their enterprise, and driven the band of rebels from that part of the country. The country was infested with bands of guerrillas and partisan bands, and Capt. Ritchey was in many engagements with them. His experiences at that time would fill a volume. In 1863 he captured some rebel mail, and among the letters was one from his present wife to a young gentleman in the rebel army. She was at that time a young lady of decided rebel proclivities. The last year of the Captain’s service he was on detached duty, and was mustered out July 4, 1865. He then engaged in the saw-mill business near Granby, Mo., where he remained until May, 1866, when he went to Newtonia, and, in company with his father, Judge Mathew H. Ritchey, engaged in the flouring-mill business. In 1869 they were burned out at Newtonia, but built a new mill. In 1871 he came to Ritchey, and took charge of the building up of the town of that name. At this time he was actively engaged with his father in large business enterprises. They were engaged in merchandising at Pineville, Rocky Comfort, Newtonia and Ritchey; also at different times owned flouring-mills at Newtonia and Ritchey, and have been active in building up Newtonia as well as Ritchey. Capt. Ritchey has made most of his money in stock raising and dealing. He, in company with Mr. B. A. Duvall, at Newtonia, have control of about 1,000 acres of land for stock raising purposes, and have a fine herd of Durham cattle. The captain joined the Masonic fraternity at Newtonia in 1869, and has held all the offices of the Blue Lodge. He was elected master in 1871, and continued in that office, with the exception of one term, until 1884, when he organized Ritchey Lodge, No. 530, he being honored with the name by the Grand Lodge as master, and at present fills that office. In 1875 he was appointed deputy grand master of the district, and held this high office until 1886; also held the office of Masonic district lecturer for the same term of years. He was grand sword bearer of the Grand Lodge of the State of Missouri for two years, and is also a member of the Royal Arch Chapter. He was a charter member of Newtonia Lodge, No. 230, I. O. O. F., which was organized May 19, 1870, and is still a member, having filled all the offices of the lodge, including noble grand. In political opinions the captain is independent. His first wife died May 15, 1865, and November 15, 1866, he married Miss Martha L. Wills, daughter of Dr. Lewis Wills, a prominent physician of Neosho. Captain and Mrs. Ritchey have two children: Mary L. and Jesse M. The Captain is still in active business, and stands deservedly high in the opinion of the people.