Person:Adam Ritchey (2)

[James Sherman Gibson.FTW]

RESIDENCE: 1790 Census Wheatfield Township, Westmoreland County, PA, p. 9 9. 1810 Census, Wheatfield Township, Indiana County, PA, p. 74. Lived in I ndiana before 1824. In 1829, came from Jefferson County, IN, with his wi fe and family, including five sons: James, Adam "Black," Thomas, Matthew D ., and John, to Warren County, IL. Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois a nd History of Warren County, Vol. II, Chicago, Munsell Publishing Co., 190 3. According to the Register of United Presbyterian Church (Sugar Tree Gro ve), he lived on Amil Rodgers' farm.

RELIGION: United Presbyterian Church of Henderson was organized in Novemb er 1830. Date of admission to church, 1831. The first ruling elders were J ohn Caldwell and Adam Ritchey, Sr.

OCCUPATION: Blacksmith

WILL: Box 66 at Warren County, IL, Court House.

DEATH: Died near Little York. Mary Moffitt, widow of James Moffitt asked f or letters of administration on September 20, 1832, to be issued to herse lf and Adam Ritchie. Adam Ritchie died soon afterward. All info from Janal ee Garn.

The territory now occupied by Hale Township was settled about as ear ly as any part of the county. Adam Ritchey, Sr., with his wife, Elizabet h, were the first settlers. They located near Sugar Tree Grove in 1828. He re he erected a cabin and began his improvements. This family was large en ough to have within themselves social amusement and companionship, a nd to relieve pioneer life from that dreary loneliness, usually one of i ts unavoidable and unpleasant features. There was Adam, Jr., John, Abigai l, Martha, Elizabeth, Matthew, Caroline and James Ritchey. Take them altog ether they formed quite a little colony, and soon made their impressi on in the township. Adam Ritchey died many years ago, and was buried in t he Ritchey burying-ground. His widow, Elizabeth, moved to Iowa,, where s he subsequently died. Chapman Bros., "Portrait and Biographical Album, War ren County, IL, 1886, p. 724.

The first religious society was formed in November, 1830. It was the Assoc iate Church, and was organized by Rev. James McCarroll, of the Western Mis sion. It was called the Henderson Church, and also known as the Sugar Tr ee Grove Church. John Caldwell and Adam Ritchey were the first Elders. The re were 27 members forming the first congregation, consisting of the Ritch eys, Kendalls, Gibsons, Jenkins, Findleys and Maley families, and John Cam pbell. The first building put up for worship by this society was 24 x 30 f eet, in 1830, and was constructed with logs. It was the first church build ing erected in the county. In 1832 an addition was made, making the buildi ng 36 x 40. In 1837, a fine brick edifice was erected, 54 x 60, costing ab out $4000. This became one of the noted buildings of the county, and peop le attended services here from nearly all the townships. It was known f or a generation as the "Old Brick Church," and is still spoken of with mou rnful affection. Having been used for nearly 40 years as a place of worshi p, it was considered by some of the members that it ought to be torn do wn and a new building erected. Consequently it was razed by rude hands, a nd a more modern frame building put up in its place, possibly better adapt ed and more in consonance with modern religious ideas. Rev. James Bruce was the first pastor of this Church, taking charge in Oct ober, 1830. Chapman Bros.: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Warren Coun ty, IL" 1886, p. 727.

According to Iantha Baker, Adam and Abigail Dill Ritchey lived in Saluda T wp., Jefferson County, IN, after coming down the Ohio River from PA, in t he spring of 1811. They had planned the trip for the fall of 1810, but flo ods prevented it. They migrated to Warren County, IL, in 1827.

After Adam's death, his family began thinking about moving. The family fa rm was sold on July 16, 1836, to I. Moulton, the deed being deliver ed on 2 Nov 1836 (Deed Book 1, p. 165, Monmouth Court House, Warren Count y, IL).

At first, the family were all Seceders, and their preacher came once a mon th to preach in Adam Ritchey's house. Iantha Baker. Iowa Scrapbook, Salt L ake City Genealogical Library, pp. 55, 80. 91.

There is some evidence that the family first settled in Fulton County, I L, before moving to Warren County. There is an Adam Ritchey listed at in t he 1825 Illinois census. According to

See "Matthew Dill Genealogy" by Roselie Jones Dill, 1935, Spokane, WA.