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Submitted: 1/11/18 • Approved: 1/11/18 • Last Updated: 4/13/18 • R810177-G0-S3
Mar. 24, 1813
Aug. 18, 1889
Judge Mathew H. Ritchey is one of the very earliest settlers of Newton County, and the founder of the town which bears his name. He was born in Overton County, Tenn., February 7, 1818, and is of Scotch descent. His father, Abel Ritchey, was a farmer of Overton County, Tenn., and died when Mathew H. was but four years of age. His mother's name was Mary Wasson.
Judge Ritchey was reared among the scenes of frontier life, and lived in Tennessee until 1829, when he went with his mother to Morgan County, Ill. After remaining there for two years, and at the age of nineteen, he started for Missouri (then a Territory), carrying his effects in a two horse wagon drawn by a yoke of steers, and taking his mother with him. He crossed the Mississippi River at St. Louis, pushed on through the State, and finally, in 1832, located where Ritchie now stands, being attracted by the fine bottom lands on Shoal Creek. His nearest post-office was 100 miles away, and the nearest mill was eighty miles from Ritchey.
He had an excellent rifle, which he valued very highly, and being a good marksman, had no trouble in procuring meat for the table, as the country abounded in wild game, and the streams were full of fine fish. He built his first log cabin on the site where the residence of R. E. Armstrong is now standing. In 1835 he married Miss Mary King, daughter of Sanford King, who was born in Kentucky, of Irish parentage, his father being a Tory from Ireland. Sanford was in the War of 1812, and his father was so angry at him on this account that he forbade him to return to his home, but was afterward glad to accept the hospitality of his son, who, on account of difficulties in Kentucky, had sought refuge in Missouri.
Judge and Mrs. Ritchey were the parents of ten children: Capt. James M., Nancy J., Mary M., Martha E., Christopher C., Amanda M., Amillia A., M. Sue, Margaret E., and Sanford H. These children were all born on the old homestead except Sanford H., who was born in Newtonia. The children all lived to maturity except Nancy J., who died in infancy.
Judge Ritchey was elected constable in 1886, his jurisdiction extending over an area thirty miles square. He was elected county judge, which office he filled for several terms. He was also elected representative to the State Legislature, and has been State Senator several terms. He was also captain in the State Militia. He was a delegate to the State convention, called to decide whether the State of Missouri should secede from the Union or not. Judge Ritchey voted for the Union amidst much opposition and excitement, He was a stanch Union man, and was always true to his principles. During the war he was paymaster, with the rank of major.
The family lived at Newtonia during the war. Mrs. Ritchey died here in 1855, and Judge Ritchey married Mrs. Mary B. Clark, a widow lady, who is yet living, by whom he had three children: John C., Julia, and Charles G., who died in infancy. Judge Ritchey ran his mill (being engaged in the milling business at that time) all through the war, and afterward still continued this business. He was also engaged in merchandising both at Neosho and Newtonia.
In 1871 he laid out the town which bears his name and in company with his son, Capt. J. M. Ritchey, constructed the mill and dam, the hotel and store, and other buildings, thus founding the town. Judge Ritchey was a member of the Masonic fraternity, joining that body in 1846, and was a charter member of Newton Lodge No. 175, at Newtonia. He continued a member of that lodge until 1884, when he changed his membership to assist as a charter member in organizing Ritchey Lodge No. 530, of which he is now a member. Judge Ritchey joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1840, and has taken a great interest in the same, having held the position of ruling elder over twenty years. He has been clerk of the session, also a delegate of the General Assemly of the United States several times. He was originally a Democrat in his political opinions, and was one throughout the war. He became a Greenbacker when that party was organized, and was a candidate for Congress on the "Greenback" ticket in 1876.
Judge Ritchey laid out and built Newtonia in 1854, and took an active part in the establishment of Newton College. He is a man of iron constitution, and one of the best known citizens of Southwest Missouri. He is now the owner of 1,000 acres of land and a large amount of town property in Ritchey and Newtonia.
Biography from Goodspeed's History of Newton County published in 1888.
Contributed on 1/11/18 by tslundberg
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Record #: 810177