Ruan Elizabeth Ritchie

Mrs. Ruan E. Rice, eighty-five years old, died this morning at the home of her grandson, Walter D. Ladd, 2404 Felix street, following a long illness. She had lived most of her life in and near St. Joseph. She was a daughter of Robert H. and Amanda J. Frans, and was born March 6, 1851 near Agency, then known as Agency Ford. She was married there to John Ritchie, who at the time was serving as a guard and driver on the covered wagons making the long trip west over the Oregon trail. They later lived many years in St. Joseph and then in Oklahoma, where Mr. Ritchie died some years ago.

Mrs. Ritchie married Mr. Ritchie's brother, Jim Ritchie, and after his death married Elam Rice in Oklahoma. Since Mr. Rice's death, about fifteen years ago, she has made her home with her grandson here and with a niece in Kansas City.

She is also survived by her daughter, Mrs. Fred H. Ladd of Kansas City, widow of the later Dr. Fred H. Ladd of St. Joseph, and by the following three grandchildren, Mrs. Helen Koester Jr. of Travelers Rest, S. C., Mrs Fred Babbitt of Kansas City, and Louis J. Weber of Boone, IA; two sisters, Mrs. Sterling Vestal, St. Joseph, and Mrs. Carrie Walkup of Rock Port, Mo., and three stepbrothers, R. N. Frans, Auburn, Neb.; James H. Frans, and William T. Frans, former county judge, of St. Joseph. Seventeen great-grandchildren survive. The funeral will be tomorrow afternoon at Fleeman's chapel. Burial will be in Ashland Cemetery.

Source: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8911978