WILLIAM H RYHERD

William H. Ryherd, one of the prominent and well-known citizens of Atchison county, claims Missouri as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Buchanan county on the 1st of January, 1852. His father, Sanford Ryherd, was a native of Kentucky, and his parents were born in Pennsylvania and belonged to old and representative families of that state. Removing to Kentucky, the father of our subject was reared and educated in the Blue Grass state. He was one of ten children, but of this once numerous family Ellis is the only one now living, his home being on a farm near Leavenworth, Kansas. Having arrived at years of maturity Sanford Ryherd was married to Miss Anna Davison, whose birth occurred in Tennessee. Three children blessed their union: Mrs. Mary E. Gray, who is now living near St. Joseph, Mrs. Frank Smith and William. The parents died during the boyhood of our subject, he being left an orphan at the age of three years. He spent a part of his youth in the family of Rev. Joel Moore, a Christian minister, who made a good home for the orphan lad and sent him to school. He pursued his education in the district schools of Kennekuk, Atchison county, and his friend and benefactor, Rev. Moore, died when our subject was only eleven years of age. He then made his home with his uncle on a farm near Leavenworth. His time was then largely devoted to the work of field and meadow and his school privileges were necessarily limited. He was married, March l0, 1878, by the Rev. Mr. Todd, in the Presbyterian church at Kennekuk, to Miss Catherine A. Jones. The wedding attendance was one of the largest ever held in the town. Mrs. Ryherd was one of the popular young ladies of Kennekuk. was born in Madison county, Iowa, near Winterset, June 13, 1855, and her father, Owen Jones, became one of the prominent residents of Brown county, Kansas. During her girlhood she was a student in the schools of Atchison and at one time was a very capable and popular teacher of the county.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ryherd removed to Butler county, Kansas, where they lived for four years and on the expiration of that period returned to Atchison county, in 1882. They settled upon their present farm, which comprises four hundred acres of rich and valuable land, constituting one of the best farms in Grasshopper township. In 1897 Mr. Ryherd erected a modern residence, at a cost of one thousand dollars. There is a large and substantial barn upon the place and comfortable sheds for the stock. He raises and feeds a large amount of stock and that branch of his business adds materially to his income. His business affairs have been attended with success and he is now one of the substantial farmers of the neighborhood.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ryherd have been born seven children, six of whom are now living, namely: Mabel, the wife of Raleigh Bartlow, who belongs to one of the old families of Brown county; Roland, a student in the high school at Everest, Kansas; Bessie M., Birdie E. and Linwood, who are all attending school; and Dorothy, who is the "baby" of the household and completes the family. One child, Anna Maud, who was the sixth in order of birth, died at the age of six months.

In politics Mr. Ryherd is a Republican and takes an active interest in the growth and success of his party, yet has never sought or desired office. He attends the service of the Methodist church, of which his wife is a member. A typical self-made man, he was left an orphan at an early age and by honest industry has worked his way steadily upward to a plane of affluence, his labors being ably supplemented by the encouragement and assistance of his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Ryherd are very popular and their many friends delight to enjoy the hospitality of the pleasant home.