Defiance County Pioneers - Alfred Ridenour

"DEATH OF ALFRED RIDENOUR

Highly Respected and Well Known Resident of Farmer Township

Last Friday evening, Alfred Ridenour, a highly esteemed and respected resident of the Lost Creek neighborhood, passed away after a protracted illness and suffering.  He was much afflicted with a severe form of asthma, which finally induced heart trouble and other difficulties that his vitality could no longer resist.  He was aged 59 years, 2 months and 29 days, and leaves a wife and one daughter to mourn his departure.  

Funeral services were held Sunday, conducted by Rev. Hogshead of this city, at the Lost Creek Lutheran church.  Interment at Lost Creek cemetery.  The funeral was the largest held in that neighborhood in many years, more than six hundred people being present." -

Hicksville News.

 "One of the most beautiful homes to be found in this section is that of Mr. and Mrs. Ridenour, of Farmer township, Defiance county.  A fine artistic taste having combined with a generous expenditure to produce a pleasing result within and without.  The estate, which comprises about 1,000 acres of choice land, is one of the finest in the county and it is operated in a thoroughly scientific manner.

The Ridenour family is well known in that locality, the late John Ridenour, our subject's father, having settled there in September, 1845. This worthy pioneer was born in 1807, in Jefferson county, Ohio, and was married in that county to Miss Susannah Hilbert, a native of Maryland, born in 1811.  About a year after their marriage, they removed to Wayne county, Ohio, where they remained until their final settlement in section 18, Farmer township, Defiance county.  The father died there in 1860; the mother died March 3, 1898.  Of their nine children, two died in infancy and the following survive: Alfred, our subject; Augustus L., a resident of Farmer township; Rebecca, wife of Jacob Lane of Williams Center; Martha, wife of A. A. Sellers of Farmer township; Loman of Farmer township; David of Milford township; and Daniel of Farmer township.

Alfred Ridenour was born Jan. 29, 1840, in Jefferson county, but his life has been mainly spent in Defiance county.  From boyhood, he has been familiar with the details of agricultural work and, finding it congenial, he has always pursued that occupation.  His present homestead is located in section 31, Farmer township, near Farmer Center.

He is actively interested in all progressive movements in his locality and as a citizen, is held in high esteem. 

On February 17, 1866, he was married in Hicksville to Miss Emily Arrowsmith, by whom he has had one daughter, Miss Minnie Ridenour.  The family are prominent socially, and Mr. Ridenour and his wife and daughter are prominment members of the Evangelical Lutheran church, to the work of which they contribute generously of both time and means. 

Minnie A. Ridenour is a graduate of the Hicksville public school, class of '90, after attending college in Adrian, Mich. one year, and the Indiana State University two years.  She also studied music in which art she became quite proficient." 

Defiance Democrat - May 11, 1898