David Wellington Ritchie Sr. (1875 - 1946)

Born 29 Nov 1875 in Natural Bridge, Wilna, Jefferson County, New York, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 11 Aug 1946 at age 70 in Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Deborah Messenger [send private message]

Biography

D.W. Ritchie was born in Natural Bridge, NY on November 29, 1875 and died at his home in Warren, PA on April 11, 1946 after an illness of two weeks.

D.W. came to Sheffield, PA with his family when he was a small boy. He started as a boy with the Elk Tanning company. At the time of his retirement, he was superintendent of the firm's properties including the tanning company, the Sheffield Water company, Penn Extract Works, Sheffield Tannery, Sheffield Woodworking company and the Sheffield warehouse.

D.W. moved to Warren, PA in 1932.

Following is an article obtained from a company newsletter:

A Capable Executive D.W. Ritchie of Sheffield, Who Has Grown up in the Business

Mr. Ritchie started to work at the Oswegatchie Tannery, Natural Bridge, N.Y., under the supervision of his father W.H. Ritchie, when only 13 years old and worked through all departments of this plant thereby gaining a general knowledge of the business from the beginning to end. This plant was owned and operated by Thomas E. Proctor. When the United States Leather Co. was formed he continued to work for them and was transferred to Fine Tannery, N.Y. and between this plant and Harrisville Tannery he worked until 1900 when he was transferred to Galeton to act as Assistant Superintendent. This position he held or two years when he was promoted to Superintendent of the plant. In 1908 he was again transferred this time to Limestone Tannery, N.Y. where he served 4 years being in 1912 moved to Laporte to start up the tannery there which had been idle for four years. This was in March. A heavy coat of snow covered the ground and everything was frozen solid. He had orders to start up the plant as promptly as possible and with these conditions to overcome made it one of the hardest jobs he ever was asked to undertake but with persistent effort and hard work he got the plant in full operation on schedule time. After two years' service here he was again transferred to take charge of Sheffield Tannery where he has now served four years.

With the wide experience Mr. Ritchie has gained in the tanning business he has steadily improved the Sheffield Plant and today it ranks with the best plants of the Company.

Sources

• Marriage: "New York State, Marriage Index, 1881-1967"
  New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA; New York State Marriage Index; Certificate Number: 10795
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61632 #5393078 (accessed 23 May 2023)
  David W Ritchie marriage to Letta E. Weed on 21 Jun 1900 in Harrisville, New York, USA.
• Death: "Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1969"
  Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pa; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 070201-072750; Certificate Number: 71747
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5164 #7465975 (accessed 23 May 2023)
  David W Ritchie death 11 Aug 1946 (born 29 Nov 1875), son of Wm Ritchie & Rose Rice, in Warren, Warren, Pennsylvania, USA.
• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #133476094 (accessed 23 May 2023)
  Memorial page for David Wellington Ritchie (29 Nov 1875-11 Aug 1946), citing Oakland Cemetery, Pleasant Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by John K. Pierson (contributor 47421208).