James Ridenour ^{1 2 3 4}

   FamilySearch ID: LKG8-WJ3.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1850 in Mifflin Twp., Franklin, OH. ³ George Ridenour, farmer, 58, was living with wife Mary, 50; Daniel, farmer, 27; Elizabeth, 25; David, farmer, 19; William, farmer, 16; Reuben, 13; James, 10; Mary, 6. Also with them is Mary Starret, 82. George's farm was worth $3,500. The next household is John Ridenour, farmer, 23, and his wife Anna, 21. His farm has no value so he is living on father George's land. George was born in Maryland, John in Ohio, and everyone else in Pennsylvania.

2. Newspaper: Arkansas City Weekly Traveler: "We have among us a jeweler who is more than an ordinary workman. Mr. James Ridenour is his name, and he can always be found at Schiffbauer's grocery. Those having fine watches can leave them with him to be repaired...", 2 Jan 1878, Arkansas City, Cowley, KS. ⁶

3. Newspaper: Arkansas City Weekly Traveler: Jeweler Robbed., 30 Jan 1878, Arkansas City, Cowley, KS. ⁷ On Monday night last a burgular entered the store of Schiffbauer Bros., by boring a four inch hole in the outside door with an extension bit, and drawing the bolt. He then bored three holes in the second door with a 3/4 inch augur and cut out enough to admit his hand, drew the bolt and went into the store. Evidently he knew just were to go for the watches, eighteen in all, were kept in a small box in one of the drawers. After taking the watches he helped himself to some silver plated knives and forks belonging to the store. Mr. Ridenour, the jeweler, has the sympathy of the citizens, as he was just making a good start in business. The safe for the house arrived this morning, and there will be no more danger hereafter.

4. Newspaper: Arkansas City Weekly Traveler: Ad for James Ridenour, Jeweler., 20 Feb 1878, Arkansas City, Cowley, KS. ⁸ James Ridenour, Jeweler.
Watches and Clocks repaired in first-class style, and in good working order. Also Engravings and Repairing of Jewelry. Watch repairing a specialty. All work warranted. I am to be found at the Green Front Grocery Store, Summit street, Arkansas City, Kansas.

5. Newspaper: Arkansas City Weekly Traveler: "James Ridenour's brother, who is a physician, is in the city. Also Jim's unlce and aunt, a nephew, neice, two cousins, and some others of the family. They propose to stay and see the town grow.", 29 Oct 1879, Arkansas City, Cowley, KS. ⁹

6. Census in 1880 in Arkansas City, Cowley, KS. ¹ Peter Beecher, carpenter, 49, was living with wife Elizabeth, 55; son George A., carpenter, 25; Frank J., laborer, 19; Emma A., 16. Also with them: niece Serena M. Bell, 5; and brothers-in-law William S. Ridenour, physician, 46, and James Ridenour, jeweler merchant, 39. Peter and his parents were born in Pennsylvania. Frank, Emma, and Serena were born in Indiana. Everyone else was born in Ohio. Elizabeth, William and James Ridenour's father was from Maryland, their mother from Pennsylvania.

7. Newspaper: Arkansas City Weekly Traveler: Article about opening of Ridenour & Beecher's jewelry store, 24 Nov 1886, Arkansas City, Cowley, KS. ¹⁰ New Jewelry Store.
The long talked of opening of Ridenour & Beecher's jewelry store took place last week. This enterprising firm have one of the nicest business rooms in the city and at the rate of improvement is going on around them, it will not be many months before they will be in the heart of traffic. They have certainly laid themselves out to do a leading jewelry business. Their counters are elegantly carved and finished, and the show cases and other appointments in modern and most approved style. The cases are replendent with the most intrinsic stock of watches and jewelry every brought to this city. Solid gold cases in every design, for gentlmen's and ladies' wear; three dozen watch chains, solid and massive, and ladies' chains in every style...

8. Newspaper: Arkansas Valley Democrat: Dr. D. Ridenour, of Peace, Indiana, is in the city visiting his brother, Jim, our popular Fifth avenue jewelry man., 14 Oct 1887, Arkansas City, Cowley, KS. ¹¹

9. Newspaper: Arkansas City Daily Traveler: Jim Ridenour Injured in Accident, 23 Sep 1893, Arkansas City, Cowley, KS. ¹² Jim Ridenour is still confined to his bed because of his accident last Saturday at Kirk. He is in pretty bad condition but is feeling some better lately. Jim was one of the men who wanted a lot at Kirk. The car was so crowded that he couldn't get out of the door so he made his exit through a window. Just as he dropped some one passed under him and Jim got a hard fall on the left hip. Besides the hip being injured it is feared that he may be hurt internally.

10. Obituary: Arkansas City Daily Traveler: Death of James Ridenour on 3 Oct 1893 in Arkansas City, Cowley, KS. ¹³ This afternoon, shortly after dinner, at his home in the First ward, James Ridenour, aged about 58 years, died from injuries which he received in a fall from the cars on the 16th inst. Theface of James Ridenour has been a familiar one upon our streets for years. He was one of our honored citizens, coming here in the seventies. His aquaintances was extensive and he possessed friends in large numbers.
The deceased served four years in the war, belonging to the Twelfth Indiana Cavalary, Company L. He was a Knight Templar, and will be buried under the auspices of the Masonic order. The funeral arrangements had not been completed at press hour so that we are unable to give them.
The deceased leaves a wife to mourn his death and to her the Traveler extends the sympathy of the community.

11. Obituary: Arkansas City Daily Traveler: Death of James Ridenour on 4 Oct 1893 in Arkansas City, Cowley, KS. ¹⁴ James Ridenour was 53 years of age instead of 58 years at the time of his death. He was born in Franklin county, Ohio. The funeral arrangements will not be completed until after the arrival of a brother of the deceased, from Indiana, this evening or in the morning.

12. Newspaper: Arkansas City Daily Traveler: Autopsy of James Ridenour, 12 Oct 1893, Arkansas City, Cowley, KS. ¹⁵ This afternoon Drs. Morris, McKay and Ridenour held a post mortem examination of the remains of James Ridenour. The deceased held a $3,000 accident policy and the post mortem is held because of this fact.

13. Newspaper: Weekly Republican-Traveler: Testimony in Jim Ridenour trail, 12 Sep 1895, Arkansas City, Cowley, KS. ¹⁶ Drs. Morris and Dunning went to Winfield this morning as witnesses in the Ridenour case. This case is a suit brought to get the accident insurance on Jim Ridenour. It will be remebered that Ridenour was in the strip run and in getting off the train at Newkirk, fell and was injured. It is claimed that his injuries was the cause of his death, but the insurance companies say not.

14. Newspaper: Weekly Republican-Traveler: Trial of James Ridenour Estate vs. Employers Insurance company, 19 Sep 1895, Arkansas City, Cowley, KS. ¹⁷ The jury in the case of Bonsall, as administrator for James Ridenour,deceased vs. the Employers Insurance company was decided yesterday and resulted in a verdict in facor of the plaintiff. The plaintiff was given judgement for the face of the insurance policy, $3,000, which was held by Ridenour at the time of the accident which resulted in Ridenour's death.