History of Detroit, a chronicle of its progress, its industries, its institutions, and the people of the fair City of the straits, / by Paul Leake ... [Vol. 3]

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HISTORY OF DETROIT

Dr. Binning married Miss Nellie Spencer Ross, daughter of A. B.
Ross, of Syracuse, New York, and they have one daughter, Lois Mae, born
May 23, 1903.
JAMES RITCHIE. Among the pioneer citizens of Detroit, who by
reason of their long and useful lives and by reason of their worth as
men and citizens and of their many sterling traits of character are
worthy of honorable mention in any history of Detroit and her people, was
the late James Ritchie, who was a well-known citizen for over half a
century.
Mr. Ritchie was born near Portadown, Ireland, in 1839, and died
in Detroit on December 22, 1911. When fourteen years of age he became apprenticed to the ship-building trade, and was employed by a
ship-building firm on the river Clyde for several years. However, before reaching his majority, he determined to seek his fortunes in America,
and accordingly crossed the seas, locating first in Canada. He came to
Detroit in 1858, and here spent the remainder of his life. He entered
the service of the old D. G. H. & M. Railway, now the Grand Trunk
Railway, soon after coming to Detroit, and later was made fireman on
a locomotive, spending several years in that capacity. His aptitude for
mechanics was early recognized by his superiors in office, and he was
given a position in the shops. In less than a year he was made foreman
of the boiler and blacksmith departments of the railroad, which position he held for twenty-five years, at the expiration of which period he
was promoted to boiler inspector for the lines of the Grand Trunk.
By his long and faithful service in the above positions he earned a position in the history of railroads in Michigan, but as an inventor of
valuable appliances he earned a place in the history of railroading
throughout the land. Among his important inventions, which in a Way
revolutionized the building and running of locomotive engines, are the
dump ash-pan, now in universal use; the cone smoke-stack and the flueplugger, both in general use by railroads.
After his retirement from an active railroad life, Mr. Ritchie became
identified with the Detroit City Fire Department, of which he was an
enthusiastic member for a number of years. He was interested in all
things pertaining to his adopted home city, and stood always ready and
willing to do his full share towards the upbuilding of the city's institutions and to promote the progress and well-being of the community.
He was a charter member of St. Andrew's Society in Detroit and was an
old and valued member of Zion Lodge, F. & A. M. He was one of the
first men to become interested in the organization of the "Brotherhood
of the footboard," and in the powerful organization known as the
"Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers." As a man and citizen, the
life of Mr. Ritchie was full to repletion of activity and well doing, and
his friends were legion. His interest in the welfare of his family, his
friends and his home city was intense. Possessed of the strong and
sterling characteristics of his Scotch-Irish ancestors, endowed by nature
with a strong personality and rugged character, he spent his long life
in useful endeavor, and the world is the better for his having lived in it.
In Detroit, Mr. Ritchie married Jennie Henderson, who was born in
Scotland, in 1847, and who came to America with her parents, the family settling at St. Johns, Michigan. She died in January, 1910, aged
sixty-three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie the following surviving children were born: James H., of Detroit; Robert W., of Detroit; Benjamin
H., Battle Creek, Michigan; Mrs. R. A. Allan, Detroit; and Mrs. William
Allan, of Detroit.