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Third Generation
15. Alexander J. "Alex"
Ritchey2 was born
on February 14, 1841 in Washington County, Pennsylvania.72 He enlisted in Company F, 63rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry
on October 10, 1861 in Marietta, Ohio.11
He was twenty years old when he enlisted as a private. His father enlisted
a year later. He was shot in the left shoulder and was listed as badly crippled.
He was discharged on December 21, 1864 in Savannah, Georgia.11 The following are excerpts from his military pension
records:
Louis Schmidt, 1st Lieutenant, Co. F 63rd OVI on March 11, 1879 "states
on oath, that Alexander Ritchey of Co. F 63rd Ohio Inf. Vols. at Decatur Georgia
about July 22nd 1864 was wounded in battle by a gunshot in the left shoulder
- totally disabling him for duty at the time."
"State of Ohio - County of Washington - On this 5th day of November A. D.
one thousand eight hundred and eighty four personally appeared before me, Deputy
Clerk of the Common Pleas Court, a court of record within and for the County
and State aforesaid, Alexander Ritchey age 40 years a resident of the vicinity
of Constitution, county of Washington, State of Ohio, who being duly sworn according
to law, declares that he is the identical Alexander Ritchey who was enrolled
on the 10th day of October, 1861, in Company F of the 63rd Regiment of Ohio Infantry
commanded by -- and was honorably discharged at Savannah, Ga. on the 26th day
of December 1864; that his personal description is as follows: Age 40 years;
height, 5 feet 8 inches; complexion, dark; hair, dark; eyes, dark. That while
a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of his
duty at Marietta, in the State of Ohio on or about the -- day of January 1862
he contracted Measles and while suffering from said disease he caught cold giving
him Lung Fever with Typhoid Symptoms totaling disabling him at the time, affecting
his lungs and since causing Rheumatism & Kidney Disease. He was treated
in hospitals as follows; Treated by Surgeon Monahan, now dead, from about June
1862 to (?) 1862 and by Dr. Gilbert, now dead, while home on sick leave in 1862.
That he has not been employed in the military or naval service otherwise than
stated above except on detachment duty in the 3rd Michigan Battery from about
Aug 1862 to 1864. That since leaving the service this applicant has resided
from discharge to 1884 at Constitution in the State of Ohio and his occupation
has been that of a Cooper." Attested to by Thomas Vanwey and Fred Miller
Charles Cone on July 14, 1886 stated "Alexander Ritchey made (barrels?)
for me in 1865. He is a cooper by trade and has made (barrels?) for me to put
apples in, has made (barrels?) for me most every year since. Some times can
work & some times can't, has the rheumatism most of the time and all (crippled?)
in other ways, in the winter mostly crippled."
Frank S. Marvin on July 30, 1887 "says that he first became acquainted with
the physical condition of Alexander Ritchey on or about the 20 day of February
1864 at Elk River Tennessee. He was at that time complaining of his lungs and
rheumatism up to the time he was discharged at Savannah Georgia about Dec 1864.
He always complained and at times was not fit for duty. He oft times went to
sick call and Dr. Moneyhan excused him from duty. His condition seemed to grow
worse up to the time he was discharged. After we waded the Ogelia Canal near
Savannah, he took cold and his condition worsened up to his discharge at Savannah.
My means of knowing is that I was a Private of Co F 63 Ohio Vol and was with
him at the time. I have no relation and have no interest in his pension claims.
My Post Office address is Bellaire, Belmont Co. Ohio."
In 1890 he was living in Dunham Twp., Washington Co., Ohio. According
to Washington County records he paid 50 cents tax for one dog that year. In
1898 he was living in Tunnel, Warren Twp., Washington Co., Ohio farmer..73 He died on June 30, 1916 in Mile
Run near Marietta, Ohio.17,74 His obituary appeared in the Marietta Times on July
1, 1916.75 It read as follows,
"DEATH CALLS AGED VETERAN Friday evening at 6 o'clock at the late home at
Mile Run occurred the death of Mr. Alexander Richards (surname is misgiven in
newspaper), a well known Civil War Veteran. Death was due to advanced age.
The deceased was born in Washington County, PA., February, 1841, and was 75 years
of age. When a small boy he moved to Wells county (mistake in paper, this should
read Washington County, there is no Wells County in Ohio), O., from which place
he enlisted in Company F, 63 OVI, October 10, 1861, serving until honorably discharged
in 1864. While in the service he was in several large battles and was with Sherman
in his march to the sea. Mr. Richards was a member of the C. B. Gates Post and
the United Brethren church. His wife died in 1908 and the deceased is survived
by two sons; Albert of Oklahoma and Arthur of Marietta; two sisters; Mrs. Viola
Sayers of Briggs and Mrs. Nancy Swords of Marietta and one brother, Theodore,
of Belpre. Funeral arrangements have not been completed." He was buried
on July 4, 1916 in Gravel Bank (Riverview) Cemetery near Constitution, Ohio.76,77
His grave marker reads: Alexander Ritchey - Born Feb, 14 1844 - Died (no death
date cut). Alexander J. "Alex" Ritchey and Diantha Flowers were married on
July 25, 1866 in Washington Co., Ohio.78
They were married by F. A. Wheeler, a Justice of the Peace. Diantha
Flowers2 (daughter of
Silas Flowers and Polly Goodwin) was born on February 1, 1847 in Marietta, Ohio.51 According to 1850 Census, Silas
her father was a 24 year old laborer, Polly her mother was 17, Diantha was 2,
and Alfred her brother was 5 months old. They lived in Warren Township. Silas
Flowers was a Civil War veteran (Company K 2nd Ohio Heavy Artillery) and is listed
in the 1890 Census of Veterans and Widows of the Civil War. In the 1860 Census,
Silas age 35, Diantha age 13 and Alfred age 11 are listed with the household
of William and Margeret Fullerton in Barlow Township. Evidently Diantha's mother
died between 1850 and 1860. She died on July 15, 1910 in Warren Twp., Washington
Co., Ohio.17 Her obituary
appeared in the Saturday Evening Marietta Times on July 16, 1910: "Mrs.
Alexander Ritchie died Friday evening about 11:30 o'clock at her home on Telegraph
Hill, near Moore's Junction, after an illness of Bright's disease. She was 63
years of age and is survived by a husband and two children. Funeral services
will be held Sunday morning at 9 o'clock from the residence and internment will
be made at Gravel Bank." She was buried in Gravel Bank (Riverview) Cemetery
near Constitution, Ohio.79
She is buried with her husband and daughter, Catherine. Her side of the grave
marker reads reads: Diantha Flowers - Born Feb (illegible day) 1847 - Died Jul
15 1910. According to the 1900 Federal Census, Diantha had mothered 5 children.
I have only been able to account for four of them. The missing child probably
died in infancy. Alexander J. "Alex" Ritchey and Diantha Flowers had
the following children:
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