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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Capt. J. F. Ritchie is a real estate dealer at Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Ark. He was born in Dallas County, Ala., in May, 1836, and was a son of John C. and Jane (Campbell) Ritchie, natives of South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The family is of Scotch descent on the father’s side, and of Irish descent on the mother’s side. His great-grandfather on the mother’s side emigrated to America with two brothers, he settling in Virginia, while his brothers located in the North. This ancestor was in the Revolutionary War, and died in Virginia. The father of John C. Ritchie (William Ritchie) was a farmer, served in the War of 1812, and died in South Carolina. John C. Ritchie and wife were married in Alabama, emigrated to Mississippi in 1840, and in 1856 came to Arkansas, when they located in Bradley County, where he opened up a store and also carried on a plantation. He died in Ouachita County, Ark., in the year 1861, being at that time probate judge of that county, which office he held for twelve or fifteen years. His wife is yet living and resides in Camden, Ark. There are six children of that family still alive: James F., George L., John C., Fannie (now Mrs. White), Mrs. W. K. Ramsey, and Mrs. Charles Gordon. Mr. J. F. Ritchie was raised in Mississippi, educated in the common schools of that State, and at the age of nineteen began the study of law, and in 1857 was admitted to the bar of Itawamba, Miss. The following year he removed to Calhoun County, where he practiced until 1860, when he was elected to the office of land attorney and State collector, which was paying him about $20,000 per annum, he being only a young man of twenty-four, but the war breaking out, he felt it his duty to enter the service, and the following year enlisted in the Capital Guards of Little Rock. In the same year he was elected to lieutenantcy of Deshar Battalion, and in 1862, after the battle of Shiloh, when his company was consolidated with the Eighth Arkansas, he was made captain, which position he filled until he was wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro, by his right arm being shot entirely away, being taken off about half way between elbow and shoulder. He was left on the battlefield and was then taken prisoner, but fortunately fell into good hands where he was kindly treated. He was finally paroled, after having been in four hard fought battles. After his exchange, he returned home and resumed his practice. He then removed to Camden, Ark., and in 1866 was elected district attorney, which office he held until after the reconstruction of the district. Capt. Ritchie remained there until 1874, when he went to Hot Springs, where he kept hotel for five years. In 1878 he came to Pine Bluff, and again engaged in the hotel business, in which occupation he continued until 1884, since which time he has been interested in the real estate business. He owns 1,000 acres of land, with over 200 acres under cultivation. Capt. Ritchie has a very extensive real estate business, and has made a host of friends, being always courteous, kind and genial to all, and never forgets a kind act. He was married, in 1864, to Maria E. Powell, a native of Alabama, and by whom he has three children: Wattie, Edgar and Sallie. Mr. Ritchie and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a member of the Masonic lodge, and belongs to several insurance orders.

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This family biography is one of 136 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jefferson County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Jefferson County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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