Son of John Godfrey Ritchie and Julia Ann Abell Ritchie, John was baptized at St Thomas Catholic Church near Bardstown, February 16, 1845, by Rev. Peter Chandy. He married Martha Luellen Newton at James Buckman's residence in Meade County, January 27, 1874, by Rev. James O'Connor, with a license dated at Brandenburg, January 22, 1874.

Courier Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, January 7, 1932: JOHN RITCHIE- Funeral services for John Ritchie, 88 years old, who died at 11:10 o'clock Tuesday night at his home, 104 East Adair Street, will be held at 7 o'clock Thursday morning at the residence and at 9:30 o'clock at the St. Martin's Catholic Church at Flaherty, Ky. Burial will be in St. Martin's Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Luellen Ritchie; four sons, Kirby Ritchie of Okmulgee, Okla., Claude Ritchie of Irvington, Ky., and Andrew Ritchie and Charles Ritchie of Ekron, Ky.; four daughters, Mrs. E.C. Hardesty, Mrs. E.W. Downs of Ekron, Ky., Mrs. W.J. Deitschmann and Miss Ella Ritchie; two brothers, Charles Ritchie and James Ritchie, both of Akron [rect, Ekron]; two sisters, Mrs. Lizzie Curran and Mrs. Rebecca Leslie of Knox City, Mo.; twenty grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Meade County Messenger, Brandenburg, Kentucky, January 13, 1932: JOHN RITCHIE BURIED AT ST. MARTIN'S - The remains of John Ritchie who died in Louisville, Tuesday night, were brought to St. Martin's Thursday for burial. He was 88 years of age and was born and raised in Meade County and was a successful farmer. [rect, born in Nelson County] Owing to old age he gave up farming and moved to Louisville about 6 years ago. He is survived by his wife, four sons and three daughters, several grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Lizzie Curran of Louisville who is 90 years old, Mrs. John Laslie of Missouri, 86 years of age, two brothers Jim and Charles of Meade Co., who are in their seventies. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Jennings Deitchman.

Notes compiled by John's 2nd-great-grandson, Todd Whitesides.