Delilah Hanna Ridenour and Her Husband, Elias Ridenour

 

"RIDENOUR

DELILAH, daughter of Henry and Mary Hanna, was born March 13, 1849 and died April 26, 1909, aged 60 years, 1 month and 13 days.

She was the youngest of eight children, all of whom have preceded her to the life beyond, except two sisters, one in Kansas and one in Bryan, Ohio.

She grew to womanhood at the old homestead on Prairie Creek, Washington township, Defiance county, Ohio.

She was educated in the common schools and was married to Elias Ridenour, March 21, 1868. In the same year, she and her husband went to Illinois, where they remained five years and then returned to Ohio, locating on the farm in Mark township, where they lived until her death. She was baptized in 1873 and ever afterwards tried to live, as she believed she should.

She was the mother of six children, one of whom died in infancy, the others, with her husband ,were at her side when the end came. Besides her immediate family, she leaves five grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

The funeral services on Wednesday afternoon were very largely attended expressive of the high regard in which she was held in the community. The services at the house and the burial services at the Lost Creek Cemetery were conducted by Rev. F. C. Lake, of Hicksville."

from Pioneers of the Northwest, a book of obituaries from the Hicksville area, available in all DPL libraries. The Hicksville Tribune, May 5, 1909.

Elias Ridenour, Delilah's spouse, was well known in Defiance County as he served two terms as the Infirmary Director and was involved in countless other positions in the county. Elias was also a son of George and Catharine Ridenour, a pioneer couple in Defiance County. 

Both Elias and his younger brother, Isaac, enlisted in the Civil War. A former blog post discussed Isaac's troubles with the pension board. 

Elias also had his problems concerning his military service. The Defiance County Republican Express featured this in the edition of October 11, 1890:

"A LETTER.

THAT EXPLAINS ITSELF

The copy of the following letter can be seen by calling at this office. It fully explains the merit that the war department put on an able Democratic candidate's war record:

6838 B.A.G.O.(E.B.) 87.

WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, APRIL 3, 1888

Mr. Elias Ridenour, Mark Center, Defiance County, Ohio:

Sir: Referred to your application for an original discharge as of Co. F 48, Ohio Vols.

I have the honor to inform you that the plain facts appear to be that after a few month's service only, you, pleading sickness, were sent from the fields at Shiloh on or about April 29th, 1862, to a general hospital, but that instead of going there, you went to your home and never returned, though your command remained in service throughout the war.

Your assertion that the surgeon of St. Lions' hospital advised you to 'take a salt water trip to Cal.' is probably as foundationless as your claim that you were in service almost three years.

There is no merit whatever in your case and the application is denied. Very respectfully your ablest servant,

Tho. Schwan,

Asst. Adgt. General"

Delilah and Elias Ridenour had one child who died at seven months in 1892, and five children who survived. 

Charles E. Ridenour (died 1949)

Nellie May Ridenour CASE (died 1924)

Sadie Bell Ridenour STOTLER (died 1937)

Elsie E. Ridenour HUSTON (died 1964)

Mary C. Ridenour SHARP (died 1982)

Elias died in 1919 at the age of 80, and he is buried with Delilah in Lost Creek Cemetery.

Dianne Kline, Researcher