Dillard Ritchie Letter

Hindman, Kentucky

February 6, 1942

As I understand it my people came to this state from VA, having previously migrated from North Carolina. They (as legend has it, took part in the war of independence. Also they have borne their share of fighting in every war since.  Then the civil war broke out, some went into the Northern army, some followed Lee, even through the terrific fighting.  In the wilderness, I have heard then tell of being present when Lee surrendered. They told me that the soldiers carried off a large apple tree, for the mementos, that stood where General Lee gave up his sword.  Everyone who could get a little scrap of the tree carried it off in their pocket; our line of the Ritchies boasts some Scottish blood and some of them were as keen with their fists as a real Irishman.  My great grandfather was among the first settlers of Kentucky. There is a story (whether true or not) that he gave a ninety years lease on a large boundary of land for a jug of liquor. His name was Crocket Ritchie. Below is my lineage:

Crocket Ritchie - Great Grandfather, Gabriel Ritchie, Grandfather - Manford Ritchie - father.

Now my grandfather, Gabe Ritchie was born about 1818. He married Nancy Campbell and lived in the Kentucky Mountains until 1849. He then sold a large tract of land for 6000.00 dollars and joined the gold rush for California.

After crossing the Mississippi, they took a train of covered wagons. A company of them under took to walk a near way in order to lighten the wagons load for a few miles and got lost from the train. I have heard my father tell many stories about their wanderings in the West.  When the Mississippi and Kansas war broke out, grandpa owned 100 acre farm at the mouth of Sugar Creek on White river in Arkansas. He took no part in the John Brown raids, but left his farm unsold and came back to the Kentucky hills, I do not know the date of his death, but Grandma died January 11, 1918.

I could write a week telling one story after another of things that happened to my people, but that would not help you any in your history writing, I trust that what little I have been able to tell may be at least a little help to you.

DD Ritchie.