Rhoda Ethel Ritchie1

b. 24 February 1890, d. 2 May 1968
Rhoda (Ritchie) DeBoe and husband Joe with daughter Josephine in 1917
photo courtesy Susan Henderson
FatherJames Walker Ritchie2,3 b. 10 Jun 1866, d. 11 Aug 1897
MotherLaura A. Berry1 b. 7 Apr 1867, d. 19 Jun 1908
Birth24 Feb 1890 Rhoda Ethel Ritchie was born on 24 Feb 1890 in Washington County, Virginia, according to her birth record.1 
Name Other  Rhoda did not like her first name and used Ethel throughout her life. She was also not fond of her year of birth and routinely reported the year as 1894.1 
Childhood  Ethel was only about 7 years old when her father passed away. Ethel's mother remarried in May 1900. The 1900 census enumeration, taken the following month, did not list Ethel as a member of her step-father's household. Ethel's mother died in 1908. 
Cens-191021 Apr 1910  The 1910 Washington County census found Ethel and her two brothers, Edgar (21) and Claude (18) living together in the community of Damascus. Both young men worked as laborers at a lumber mill.4 
Marriage22 Apr 1916 She married Joseph Wolfe DeBoe on 22 Apr 1916.1 
  Ethel and Joseph had 3 children, one of whom died in infancy. The family moved to California in the late 1920s.1 
Death2 May 1968 Rhoda died on 2 May 1968 at age 78.1 
Last Edited24 Jun 2011

Citations

  1. [S2677] Susan Henderson, "Ethel Ritchie," e-mail to D. Powell, 5 Apr 2011. Ethel (Ritchie) DeBoe was Susan's maternal grandmother.
  2. [S1238] Mary Hope Kelly, Betsy's Descendants, p. 88.
  3. [S2593] Craig Ritchie, "Craig Ritchie," e-mail to Diana Powell, 1 Nov. 2011. Craig cites Washington Co. Chancery Proceeding: David G. Ritchie, executors vs M.M. Ritchie, et al; copy of case provided by the Library of Virginia. The complaint lists the heirs of Columbus Ritchie, which included: "Ethel Ritchie, Claude Ritchie and Edgar Ritchie, children of J. Walker Ritchie, deceased". [J. Walker Ritchie was the son of James L. Ritchie who was the deceased brother of Columbus Ritchie]
  4. [S237] Edgar L. Ritchie household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Damascus, ED 119, sheet 10A, dwelling 197, family 202, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2005, image 19 of 26. Enumeration includes: Edgar L. Ritchie, 21, sgl, laborer in lumber mill; Ethel R., sister, 20; Claude C., brother, 18, laborer in lumber mill; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.