Armenia Melissa Caroline Ritchie1,2

b. 21 August 1872, d. 3 January 1960
FatherJames Lafayette Ritchie3,4,2 b. 10 Jul 1841, d. 8 Jan 1907
MotherRosanna Melissa Duff5,2 b. 21 Feb 1843, d. 7 Oct 1899
Birth21 Aug 1872 Armenia Melissa Caroline Ritchie, who was generally known as Minnie, was probably born on 21 Aug 1872 in Washington County, Virginia.6,7,8 
 Minnie's date of birth was recorded on her headstone as Aug. 21, 1873.9 
  However, that is probably not correct. A family record compiled by Ritchie descendants reports her date of birth as August 21, 1872 and her younger brother David's date of birth as Dec. 5, 1873.8 
  David's headstone in Emory Cemetery confirms that he was born in 1873.10 
  In addition, research by Carmack descendants report Minnie's date of birth as August 21, 1872.7 
  When Old Baptist Cemetery was "read" in June 1960 for the book High On A Windy Hill Minnie's permanent headstone had not yet been set (she died in January). Instead a funeral home marker stated, "Mrs. Minnie R. Carmack, 1872-1969."6 
Marriage17 Aug 1899 She married Harry Humes Carmack, son of David Campbell Carmack and Sarah Frances Adelaid Ryburn, on 17 Aug 1899 in Washington County, Virginia.5 
Cens-19006 Jun 1900 A year after their marriage Harry and Minnie were recorded on the 1900 census for the Glade Spring District of Washington County. Harry was working as a brakeman for the railroad.11 
Cens-19101910  In 1910 they were enumerated with their four children, Guy, Rosa Irene, Virginia and Francis [dau]. Minnie reported that she had given birth to a fifth child who was no longer living. Harry's widowed aunt, Lavinia (Ryburn) Ryan was also living with them.12 
Cens-19207 Jan 1920 Ten years later Harry was still working as a brakeman, while Guy was working as a salesman in a feed store and Rosa Irene was employed as a teller in a bank. Aunt Lavinia Ryan had died, while a son, Harry, had been born since the 1910 census recorded the family. This census clarified that the family was living on the Gladespring-Saltville Rd. in the unincorporated part of the town of Glade Spring.13 
Cens-193026 Apr 1930  Later in life Harry sold real estate.14 
Widowed Minnie was widowed when Harry died in 1935. She then lived with her daughter Irene and Irene's husband, the Rev. Sam Bratton until her death.1 
Death3 Jan 1960 Minnie died on 3 Jan 1960 in Tazewell County, Virginia, at age 87.9 
Burial She was buried at Old Baptist Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.9,6 

Related Links and Images:

Minnie's headstone
Other interments in Old Baptist Cemetery

Family

Harry Humes Carmack b. 24 Oct 1871, d. 15 Sep 1935
Children
Last Edited21 Jun 2011

Citations

  1. [S870] Carolyn Ryburn, "Ritchies and Carmack," e-mail to D. Powell, 26 Jan. 2005. Information from Sam Bratton Jr., grandson of Minnie Ritchie Carmack (by phone 26 Jan. 2005).
  2. [S1238] Mary Hope Kelly, Betsy's Descendants, p. 87.
  3. [S830] James L. Ritchie will (recorded 1907), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 29 (D): 231. The will was dated 7 Jan. 1905; codicil added 1 June 1905; recorded 14 Jan. 1907.
  4. [S162] James L. Ritchie household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Abingdon District, ED 93, page 26D (stamped), dwelling 36, family 36, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, Jan. 2005, image 28 of 56. Enumeration includes: James L. Ritchie, 38, marr, tax collector; Rosanna, 36, wife, keeping house; James W., 14, son, farmer; Frank T. 13, son, farmer; Wm C. 11, son, farmer; Martha F.J., 10, dau; Margaret H., 9, dau; Armenia C., 8, dau; David G., 7, son; Mary __, 5, dau; Amelia C., 3, dau; Benj C., 2, son; Elizabeth, 59, mother, widowed; Madison M., 22, brother, farming; Lida L. Brooks, 22, hired/house work; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  5. [S8] Hockett and Hunt, 1891-1902 Marriages of Washington Co. VA, p. 17. Harry H. Carmack, 28, s/o D.C. & Addie R. Carmack, brakeman AND Minnie M. Ritchie, 26, d/o Jos. L. & R.M. Ritchie; 17 Aug 1899.
  6. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 167. "Mrs. Minnie R. Carmack, 1872-1960" (funeral marker).
  7. [S90] Betty Mealy, "Emailing: Descendants of David Campbell Carmack," e-mail to Diana Powell, 27 Dec. 2004. Betty cites the research of Josephine Carmack and Patsy Weber of Bristol, Virginia (uses 21 Aug. 1872 for date of birth).
  8. [S1238] Mary Hope Kelly, Betsy's Descendants, p. 87. This source uses Aug. 21, 1872 as Minnie's date of birth.
  9. [S1237] Minnie Ritchie Carmack tombstone, Old Baptist Cemetery, Washington County, Virginia, viewed and photographed Jan. 2005 by Carolyn Ryburn; image shows: "Minnie Ritchie Carmack, Aug. 21, 1873 - Jan. 3, 1960."
  10. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 159. Stone reported to read: David Greenway Ritchie, 1873-1944.
  11. [S574] Harry Carmack household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 108, sheet 6A, dwelling 91, family 95, viewed online at Genealogy.com, April 2003, image 11 of 70. Harry Carmack, 28, b. Oct. 1871, marr 0 yrs, brakeman; Minnie, 27, b. Aug. 1872; no children; all b. VA.
  12. [S237] Harry Carmack household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring Precinct, ED 116, sheet 14B, dwelling 268, family 279, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Harry [?] Carmack (H of H), 37 b. VA, marr 10 yrs, brakeman for railroad; Minnie 36 b. VA; mother 5 children, 4 living; Guy H. (son) 8; Rosa (dau) 7; Virginia (dau) 2; Francis (dau) ?/12; Lavinia M. Ryan (aunt) 62 wid, b. VA, mother of 4 children, all living.
  13. [S238] Harry Carmack household, 1920 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 149, sheet 3A (96 stamped), dwelling 34, family 35, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2003, image 5 of 25. Recorded data includes: Harry Carmack 48, owns home free of mortgage, brakeman on the railroad; Minnie, wife, 47; Guy, son, 18, salesman in feed store; Irene, dau, 17, teller in bank; Virginia, dau, 11, in school; Frances, dau, 9, in school; Harry, son 1 ?/12; residence on Gladespring and Saltville Rd.; all born VA; all parents b. VA.
  14. [S639] Harry H. Carmack household, 1930 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 96-6, sheet 9B, dwelling 179, family 185, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2003, image 18 of 26. Recorded data includes: Harry H. Carmack, 58, married at 29, owns home valued at $2,800 (?), real estate broker; Minnie, wife, 57, married at 29; Virginia, dau, 22; Frances, dau, 20; Harry H. Jr. 11; all b. VA, all parents b. VA.
  15. [S1238] Mary Hope Kelly, Betsy's Descendants, p. 98.