6. William W. Ritchey Jr. (3) was born on Sep 24 1845 in Newport Twp., Washington Co., Ohio.(7) He changed the spelling of his surname to Ritchie later in his life. He was enlisted in Company C 1st West Virginia Light Artillery on Jan 21 1864. (28) His military records describe him as 5' 8-1/2" tall, light complexion, black eyes, and black hair. He was discharged on Jun 28 1864 in Wheeling, West Virginia.(29) He died on Apr 15 1927 in Ashland, Ohio. He was buried in Valley Cemetery, Reno, Ohio. (30) He was a Cooper.
He was married to Amanda M. Wiley on Jun 14 1863.(31) Marriage application was Xed by his guardian, John Baldwin. They were married by Joseph Palmer, Justice of the Peace. What became of Amanda is unknown by this researcher.
He was married to Exa Margaret Piles or Staats on Sep 27 1870 in Washington
County, Ohio.(32) He was divorced from
Exa Margaret Piles or Staats on Jul 1 1896 in Washington County, Ohio.
(33) Exa made suit charging William with drunkenness. She sued him
and his step father, John D. Dick, a month prior to her death for equitable relief.
Exa Margaret Piles or Staats(16)
was born in May 1851 in Ohio.(34)
Her death record says she was born in Pleasants Co., West Virginia, Census
records say she was born in Ohio. She appeared on the census in 1900 in Newport
Twp., Washington Co., Ohio. According to this census, she had mothered 9 children
with 7 still living. She died on Jul 30 1905 in Long Run, Newport Twp., Washington
Co., Ohio.(35) Her obituary appeared
in the Monday, July 31, 1905 edition of the Marietta Daily times and reads; "Mrs.
William Ritchie died at her home on Long Run Sunday. The cause was paralysis.
- Her age was fifty four years. Her husband, five daughters and a son, survive
her. - Funeral services will be held at Yankeeburg Tuesday at 2 o'clock P.
M. and interment will occur in the cemetery there." Her obituary also
appeared in the August 5, 1905 edition of the Marietta Weekly Leader and read;
"Mrs. William Ritchie died Sunday afternoon at her home at Long Run of
paralysis. She was fifty four years of age and had spent a great portion of
her life at Long Run. A husband, five daughters and two sons survive."
She was buried in Valley Cemetery, Reno, Ohio.
(35) Her obituary says she was to be buried in the Yankeeburg Cemetery.
Her grave marker reads Exa L. Ritchey 1851-1905. Her name is given in various
sources as: Exa Staats, Exer Staats, Axa Piles, Dexy Piles, Exa Piles, Exa Pyles,
Excy Piles, Margaret Piles and Eva Staats. Her death record gives her name as
Eva. William stated that her maiden name was Exa Staats in his pension records.
William W. Ritchey Jr. and Exa Margaret Piles or Staats had the following children:
30 i.
Ebis Ritchey was born on Jun 12 1867. She died on Jul 31 1867 in Grandview
Twp., Washington Co., Ohio.
+31 ii.
Ellen Frances Ritchey.
+32 iii.
Samuel W. Ritchey.
+33 iv.
Pearl Blaine Ritchie.
+34 v.
Annabel "Annie" Ritchie.
+35 vi.
Laura M. Ritchie.
+36 vii.
Matilda "Tilley" Ritchie.
+37 viii.
Winifred "Winnie" Ritchie.
+38 ix.
Okey W. Ritchie.
He was married to Rebecca E. Morken (daughter of Hamilton Morken and Joanna Hill) on Mar 21 1906 in Washington County, Ohio. (36) William sued Rebecca for divorce about a year later, accusing her of adultery (Washington Co. Court Index Vol. 4 Case No. 11271-14-42, Feb 4 1907). He moved to Ashland, Ohio around 1912, probably to a veterans home.
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