SECOND GENERATION

7. Alexander "Leander" Cory Ritchie⁽¹⁾ was born on Feb 15 1850 in Newport Twp., Washington Co., Ohio.⁽⁸⁾ He died on Oct 25 1881 in Dunham Twp., Washington Co., Ohio. ⁽⁸⁾ The following notice of his death was published in The Marietta Times on November 3, 1881; "A man named Corey Ritchie was killed last Thursday at the Constitution grindstone works, by a falling derrick." He was buried in Gravel Bank (Riverview) Cemetery near Constitution, Ohio. He shares a marker with his father and his sister, Barbary, his side reads LEANDER RITCHEY. His actual full name is somewhat a mystery. His marriage application to Emeline lists his name as Alex Corey Ritchey. Other records list his name as Cory, Alexander Cory or Alexander C. Ritchey. In Barbary's obituary his name is given as Leander.

He was married to Emeline Pitts (daughter of Morrison "Morris" Pitts and Lear Smith) on Apr 14 1870 in Washington County, Ohio.⁽³⁰⁾ He was sued for divorce on Jun 25 1873 in Washington County, Ohio.⁽³¹⁾ Emeline cited adultery in her divorce suit. After they divorced, Emeline Pitts remarried Henry Ring on December 15, 1881. Emeline Pitts⁽³²⁾ was born about 1854 in Virginia.

He was married to Sarah Bridget Kerns on Jan 12 1874. Bridget mothered five children according to the 1900 Census. Sarah Bridget Kerns ⁽³³⁾ was born in May 1837. ⁽³⁴⁾ Sarah is last known living at 1697 East Main Street, Columbus, Ohio at age 65 in 1913. Alexander "Leander" Cory Ritchie and Sarah Bridget Kerns had the following children:

34 i. Peter "Pete" J. Ritchie was born on Jul 24 1874 in Union Twp., Washington Co., Ohio.⁽³⁵⁾ He was enlisted in Company D 7th Regiment Of Infantry, Ohio Volunteers, as a private on Apr 25 1898.^(2)(36) Peter served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the Spanish American War. He was discharged on Oct 4 1898 in Camp Bushnell, Columbus, Ohio. He , according to federal census records, was a teamster in 1900 in Marietta, Ohio. Peter must have been a pretty rough character. The following newspaper article was found in the Wednesday, Jan 24 1906 edition of the Marietta Times: "ENGAGED IN FIGHT -- Men Started Something and Officer Locked Them Up. -- Officer George Chamberlain saved a fellow by the name of J. G. McCutcheon from what might have proven a very distressing jolt to him just before noon today. -- P. Ritchie and McCutcheon were engaged in a fight on Ohio street, when Ritchie annexed to his fist a pair of brass knuckles and started at his opponent. The officer was then on the scene and just as Ritchie drew back to land on McCutcheon, Officer Chamberlain nailed him. -- Both men were taken to the city prison to await the convenience of Mayor Leeper." He died on Mar 10 1911 in St. Marys, West Virginia. The Marietta Times reported on Monday Evening, Mar 11 1912 the circumstances surrounding his death, "PETE RITCHIE KILLED BY FALL FROM TRAIN; CARRYING DYNAMITE -- Riding Blind Baggage and In Some Way Gets Fatal Fall at St. Marys. -- Mystery in Cause of Accident and in Finding of Quantity of Explosive. -- Pete Ritchie a former resident of Marietta who has of late been making his home at Williamstown, died at St. Marys as a result of injuries supposed to have been sustained in a fall from train No. 723 on the Ohio river division of the H & O. He was seen to board the train as it left St. Marys Saturday night and half an hour afterwards he was found prostrate at the corner of Main and Lafayette streets by William and Howard Locke, who were passing the place. -- Ritchie was removed to the town hall where he was treated by Dr. Grimm. He was not injured externally and it was thought that he had a chance for recovery. A more extensive examination showed that he was suffering from internal injuries. He died about 4 o'clock Sunday Morning. -- Dynamite Found -- When the man's clothing was searched a dynamite cap was found and becoming suspicious the authorities went to the place where the body was found. A stick of dynamite, with a cap and fuse attached, was discovered. The purpose for which the dynamite was intended is a mystery. -- A coroner's inquest was held yesterday morning and being unable to agree upon a verdict another session was held last night. It was decided at this meeting that further investigations be made and the engineer and fireman on the train will be summoned. The man's clothing was saturated with water when he was found and the jury thinks that it is probable that he may have been forced from the train. -- Blood Vessels Ruptured -- Another unusual feature developed when attempt was made to embalm the body at the Ogden undertaking parlors. The embalming fluid could not be forced through the veins or arteries, it appearing that they were ruptured at many places. The fluid ran out at the mouth and ears and physicians say that the blood vessels must have burst in many places. -- From papers found on the man's body it was learned that he was employed by Contractor Baker, at New Martinsville, on the government lock which is being built at that place. He came to St. Marys Saturday morning. -- Ritchie had been involved in a number of criminal cases in this vicinity. A few months ago he was shot in the cheek by a brother, in a quarrel on a houseboat at Williamstown. His brother was acquitted of the charge at a trial before the last session of criminal court at Parkersburg on the ground that he acted in self defense. Pete Ritchie was held in the county jail for several weeks as a witness, it being feared by the authorities that he would leave the county before the date of the trial." He was seven years old when his father died. His military record describes him as 5' 11" tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair.
35 ii. Joseph S. Ritchie⁽³⁴⁾ was born in Nov 1876.⁽³⁴⁾
+36 iii. Cory "Cora" Leander Ritchie.
37 iv. Frank Ritchie⁽³⁷⁾. I know little about Frank. The oldest record I found on him is in this January 30, 1909 Marietta Daily Times headline; "RITCHEY IN CUSTODY - Marietta Man Suspected Of Theft Is Caught In Huntington - Word has been received from Huntington officers to the effect that Frank Ritchey is detained there and will be returned to this city if he is wanted. He is charged with stealing a skiff valued at $16 from Frank Seyler, who lives above Williamstown. The matter is out of the jurisdiction of the local courts but will probably be taken up by the Parkersburg police department." This November 25, 1911 Marietta Times newspaper account explains how he fits into the family tree; "SHOOTS HIS BROTHER -- In an altercation over a sack of flour, Frank Ritchie shot and seriously wounded his brother, Pete Ritchie, at Williamstown, this morning. The bullet from a revolver struck Ritchie over his right eye and he has been taken to a Parkersburg hospital. The men have been living on a shanty-boat at Williamstown. After he was shot, Pete was taken to the office of Dr. Cline. The physician thought he should go to a hospital before probing for the bullet was done. Frank Ritchie is said to have been released from the penitentiary only recently." On November 27, 1911 a follow-up article reads; "SAYS HE SHOT TO DEFEND SELF -- Frank Ritchie Arrested For Shooting Brother Who Will Recover - Pete Ritchie, who was shot by his brother, Frank, in a shanty boat at Williamstown Saturday, is getting along well and is believed that no serious consequences will follow. The bullet struck him under the eye and made only a deep flesh wound. It has not been removed. After swearing out a warrant for his brother on a charge of shooting with the intent to kill, Ritchie was taken to the City Hospital in Parkersburg, where he now is. Frank Ritchie was arrested Saturday afternoon by officers Ray and Chamberlain in front of police headquarters, and was taken to Parkersburg by Chief Roney Saturday evening. When told by Officer Ray that there was a warrant out for him, Ritchie consented to go to West Virginia without requisition papers. He claimed that Pete attacked him with a butcher knife and that he shot in self defense." The Jan 31, 1912 the Marietta Daily Times reported the outcome of the trial; "RITCHIE ESCAPES SENTENCE TO PEN -- Found Not Guilty Of Shooting Brother With Intent To Kill. -- Parkersburg, W. Va., Jan. 31. After deliberating for about thirty minutes yesterday afternoon the jury which heard the evidence in the trial of Frank Ritchie, who was charged with shooting his brother, Pete Ritchie, with intent to kill, returned a verdict of not guilty. Ritchie was shot by his brother last November in an affray on a house boat at Williamstown. -- The jury was easily convinced that the accused man was acting in self-defense. A brother, Ora Ritchie, testified that he had heard his brother make threats against the man who is charged with inflicting the injury." The Ora Ritchie mentioned here, I assume is this is a mistake and should read Cora Ritchie. What later became of Frank Ritchie is not known.

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