Biography - John Ritchie
John W. RITCHIE, Litchfield, was born in Cabarrus County, n. C., August 14, 1834, son of John and Sela (BLACKWELDER) RITCHIE, natives of Cabarrus County, N. C., he born in 1798, died September 25, 1854; she born in 1808, died October 23, 1854. Subject came to Hillsboro, Ill., in December, 1855, where he and his brother, Martin A., bought a quarter-section of land, which they farmed together till after the war; on this place Martin A. still resides. John W. married, May 20, 1856, Rachel S. CRESS, a native of Cabarrus County, N. C., born January 23, 1833, daughter of G. Henry and Elizabeth(FOGLEMAN) CRESS, both natives of Cabarrus County, N. C., he born April 11, 1811, died in March, 1844; she born July 26, 1813. Mr. and Mrs. RITCHIE are the parents of eleven children, viz.: George A., James M., Laura J., Mary E., Sarah E., Joel E., Charles A., Flora R., Alice A., Prestin and Albert L. In 1861, he returned to North Carolina, and remained there till 1864, then returned to Montgomery County and bought 150 acres of land, on which he has since resided, engaged in farming and stock-raising; he at present owns 260 acres of land, of which 230 is prairie, and thirty timber land. Mr. RITCHIE is a Democrat, and is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 166-167.
