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Second Generation
3. Joseph Ritchey2 was born on April 7, 1811 in Washington
County, Pennsylvania.11,12 He immigrated about 1845 to Newport Twp., Washington
Co., Ohio.13,14 Joseph is listed in the 1847 Enumeration of Newport
Township. According to U.S. census records, he was a cooper living in Newport
Twp., Washington Co., Ohio in 1850. Joseph is listed in th 1855 Newport
Township enumeration; he moved his family from Newport Township to Dunham Township
by the time their daughter Eliza Jane was married in 1857.
He appeared in the census on July 20, 1860 in Scipio Twp., Meigs Co., Ohio.
He is again listed as a cooper. He enlisted in Company H, 77th Ohio Volunteer
Infantry on November 6, 1862 in Marietta, Ohio.11 He enter the service as a Private. Company H 77th
Ohio Volunteer Infantry was consolidated into Company F 77th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
on Jan 17, 1865. An interesting affidavit written evidently for Joseph's pension
claim is included in his Civil War pension records which reads (the following
is as best as I could read and transcribe): "State of Ohio Monroe County
SS -- Before me Jacob T. Morrill a Notary Public in and for Aforesaid County
and State personally came Oliphant E. Buskirk whom I certify to be a regular
practicing physician and audited to credit who being duly sworn according to
law deposes as follows: "Joseph Richy a private of Co. H - 77th Regt O.V.I.
when passing from guard to quarters it being dark fell in a coal hole in front
of Flouring Mills at Alton, Illinois, and produced rupture of the right side
disabling him very much at the time and still disables him about one half. He
was treated by Drs J. W. Warfield and P. Brook who gave him a truss and it proved
to be to small and he came back for another. He said Doctors being unfit for
duty. I changed the truss for him. I was acting as Hospital Steward. The above
occurred about the 1st of February A.D. 1863 at Alton Mills, Illinois. I have
no interest in this claim or it's prosecution." -- Oliphant Buskirk M.D.
-- Sworn to before me by said Oliphant Buskirk M.D. and by him subscribed in
my presence this 10th day January A.D. 1880 and I certify that I have no interest
in this claim or its prosecution. Jacob T. Morrill Notary Public Monroe Co. O."
Here is an excerpt from from a history book concerning the 77th Ohio Volunteer
infantry, "On the 22nd of April, 1864, the Seventy-Seventh, with the Forty-Third
Indiana and the Thirty-Sixth Iowa, started from Camden to escort a large train
to Pine Bluff after supplies, the whole commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Drake,
of the Thirty-Sixth Iowa. General Fagan's Rebel division attacked these regiments
in detail while were encumbered with the train, on the 25th, at Marks's Mills.
Colonel Drake fought desperately with the Forty-Third and Thirty-Sixth, but
being overpowered, was unable to hold out till the Seventy-Seventh could make
a junction from the rear of the train, some four mile away. The Seventy-Seventh,
under Captain McCormick, came onto the field at the moment Colonel Drake was
overwhelmed. They went into the fight at once, but no effort of their's could
rescue the train or their captured comrades, and after an unequal contest of
two hours, being surrounded, they were compelled to accept the enemy's terms.
The portion of the regiment captured, after marching until May 15th, reached
the Rebel prison-pens known as Camp Ford, near Tyler, Texas, where they were
kept ten months." Joseph was listed missing in action at Marks Mills, Arkansas
on Apr 25 1864. Later it was learned that he had been taken as a prisoner of
war. He was released on Feb 26 1865 at Red River Landing. He was discharged
on November 5, 1865 in Brownsville, Texas.11,15
After his discharge he moved his family to Warren Township sometime before 1866.
According to U.S. census records, he was a laborer living in Warren Twp., Washington
Co., Ohio in 1870. He moved back to Dunham Township near the town
of Briggs sometime before 1875. According to Dunham Township Clerk's records
Joseph served as Township Constable for the term beginning 1877, and Supervisor
Of Road Districts for the 1875, 1877 and 1879 terms. According to U.S. census
records, he was a farmer living in Dunham Twp., Washington Co., Ohio in 1880.
He died on December 26, 1882 in Dunham Twp., Washington Co., Ohio.9 His obituary appeared in the Marietta Register and the
Marietta Times on January 4, 1883 in Marietta, Ohio. The Marietta
Register reported the following: "Mr. Joseph Ritchie, of Dunham, died quite
suddenly. He was with his sons when he complained of not feeling well and said
he believed that he would light his pipe. He sat down on a log and died almost
instantly. He died of heart disease." The Marietta Times gave a slightly
different story, "A little over two weeks ago as Mr. Joseph Ritchie, of
Dunham Township, was riding to his home from Constitution, he fell from his horse
in an insensible condition. He managed to get on again and ride home, but he
never thoroughly recovered, and on Tuesday of last week while at work in the
field husking corn, he fell dead. He was about 75 years old and had always been
a hearty man." He was buried in Gravel Bank (Riverview) Cemetery near Constitution,
Ohio.16 His original grave
marker which is barely legible reads: JOSEPH RITCHEY -- BORN APR 7, 1811 -- DIED
DEC 26, 1882 - AGED 71 Y, 8 M, 17 D. In 1995, through the Veterans Administration,
I applied for and did receive a bronze government marker for his grave. Dad
helped me placed it over his grave. It reads JOSEPH RITCHEY -- PVT CO H 77
OHIO VOL INF -- CIVIL WAR -- APR 7 1811 DEC 26 1882. Joseph Ritchey and Catherine
Stewart were married on August 11, 1836 in Alleghany Co., Pennsylvania.11 According to his pension records
they were married by a Justice Of The Peace. According to the 1900 Census Catherine
mothered ten children, so apparently all their children are accounted for. Catherine Stewart2
was born on August 5, 1818 in Washington County, Pennsylvania.12,17 Some records
spell her maiden surname Steward. After Joseph's death, Catherine continued
to receive his military pension. She had to file several affidavits to prove
she was his widow. Here is an example: "AFFIDAVIT FOR GENERAL PURPOSE
State of Ohio Washington County, as: In the matter of the Pension Claim No 481065
of widow of Jos. Ritchey Co. F 77 Regt. Ohio Inf. Vols.: On the 13th day of January
1891, before the undersigned authority within and for said County and State,
personally appeared F Sanfords, J. Wesley Swords who, being duly sworn on oath
that they are. As well acquainted with Catherine Richey age 72 years. A resident
of Briggs, Washington Co., State Ohio. And that the said Catherine Richey is
the Lawful Widow of Joseph Richey. Who enlisted under the name of Joseph Richey
on the 6th day November AD 1862 in Co F 77th Ohio and that the said Catherine
Richey has not remarried since the death of Joseph Richey (which occurred the
26th day December 1862) And further states that she is without other means of
support than her daily labor and is afflicted so she cannot take care of herself."
Another affidavit records John R. Sayers and S. J. Hollister entering a similar
statement. She died on November 11, 1900 in Dunham Twp., Washington Co., Ohio.18 I found her will in Washington
County Probate Court which reads; "The Last Will and Testament of Catherine
Ritchey of Dunham Township, Washington County, State of Ohio.
In the Name of the Benevolent Father of All: - I the said Catherine Ritchey,
being of sound and disposing mind and memory, considering the uncertainty of
continuance in life, and desiring to make such disposition of my worldly estate
as I deem best, do make, publish and declare, this to be my last will and testament;
hereby revoking and annulling any and all former will or wills whatsoever by
me made. -- First: I desire all my just debts and funeral expenses to be paid
as soon as possible after my decease. -- Second: I give and bequeath Eliza Jane
Martin, one dollar, and to Elexander Ritchey, one dollar, Theodor Ritchey, one
dollar, Nancy Swords, one dollar, Joseph Ritchey one dollar, and I give to my
daughter Viola Sayres the residue and remainder of my personal effects and money
that I die possessed of. -- I nominate and appoint my daughter Viola Sayres and
my son Elexander Ritchey to be executors of this will and testament. -- In Witness
Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 10 day of March, in the year
Nineteen Hundred. - Catherine Ritchey" The 1900 Census taken in the June
of that year records her living with daughter and son-in-law, Viola and Asher
Sayers. Her obituary appeared in the Marietta Times on November 14, 1900 in
Marietta, Ohio. It appeared on a Wednesday and read, "From Monday's
Daily Times. Mrs. Catherine Ritchie died at her home near Gravel Bank this morning,
death being due to disease of the heart. She was born on August 5th, 1818, and
was eighty-two years of age. Funeral services will be held at the residence
tomorrow at 10 a.m." She was buried on November 15, 1900 in Gravel Bank
(Riverview) Cemetery near Constitution, Ohio. There is a small marble
marker near Joseph Ritchey's marker that is inscribed with what looks like the
letters C R. I assume this is Catherine Ritchey's marker.
Joseph Ritchey and Catherine Stewart had the following children:
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