My Genealogy Hound

JOHN P. RIDENOUR, one of the progressive agriculturists of township 44, range 23, Pettis County, is the owner of a rich and arable tract of land. The residence of the proprietor is located on section 13 and is a substantial and well built house. During his entire lifetime our subject has followed agricultural pursuits and has met with good success in his various undertakings. His homestead comprises two hundred and eighty acres, almost all of which is under cultivation.

Our subject was born in Indiana in September, 1848, and is the third in order of birth of the family of William and Elizabeth (Murphy) Ridenour, both of whom were Pennsylvanians. They accompanied their respective parents to Ohio when children, and were there reared to mature years, educated and married. Very soon after this event they moved to their Indiana home, occupying a good farm in Wabash County. There the father lived for a period of thirty-one years, and in 1869 sold the old home and came to Missouri, choosing Pettis County for his future abiding-place. Both he and his estimable wife are in the enjoyment of fairly good health, although they have passed the seventy-fourth milestone in life.

Our subject made the best of the advantages given him for obtaining an education in the Hoosier State, and, being thoroughly trained in farm pursuits, was in every way qualified to begin the battle of life for himself when reaching his majority. From the first his ventures have met with the success which he so well deserves, on account of his industrious and persevering efforts to acquire a handsome competence. He deals quite extensively in livestock, and is perhaps the leading stockman in Pettis County. In addition to the two hundred and eighty acres mentioned in our opening paragraph, Mr. Ridenour is the owner of considerable timber-land in the county. He is self made in the broadest sense of that term, and is regarded as one of the leading and influential farmers of central Missouri.

Mr. Ridenour and Miss Cordelia, daughter of Thomas and Maria (Parks) Dunfield, were united in marriage in August, 1869. Mrs. Ridenour was born in Indiana, while her parents were Virginians by birth. Her union with our subject has been blessed by the birth of seven children, four of whom are deceased. Those living are Edith, Thomas and Alma, while the deceased are William S., Sarah E., Blanche G. and Mabel C. The eldest daughter is now the wife of Presley Burett, a well-to-do farmer of this county, and the remaining members of the family are at home. Mrs. Ridenour is a most estimable and lovable lady and a valued member of the Christian Church, in the work of which body she takes an active interest. He is a true-blue Republican in politics, but has never aspired to political honors, being content to spend his time and energies in improving his farm and looking after the interests of his family.