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MICHAEL NEY RITCHIE
Originally published in 1900 |
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MICHAEL NEY RITCHIE, of Kingsland and Harrison, was born in
County Derry, Ireland, September 18, 1852. He is the son of John Ritchie
and Sarah, daughter of John and Mary (Mackel) Ritchie, a grandson of
Samuel Ritchie and Nancy McErlane, and a great-grandson of Michael and
Catherine (Eccleson) Ritchie and of Peter Ritchie and Mary Diamond. His
ancestors came to Ireland from Scotland after the defeat of the Pretender
at Culloden in 1745, and settled on the banks of the River Bann, at a place
called Creagh, County Derry. They were Scotch Roman Catholics, and
since coming to Ireland have been mostly small farmers and fishermen. So
far as known none of them became wealthy or distinguished. They were
plain, honest people, highly respected, and endowed with sterling traits
of character. They participated in the Irish Rebellion of 1798, and one
of them was executed for treason at Belfast in 1799. They strongly opposed
the British government both in Scotland and Ireland, believing in
those principles of liberty which finally led them to America.
Mr. Ritchie was educated partly at the Anahomish National School in Ireland and partly in the public and high schools of Paterson, N. J., having come to this country alone when twelve years old. After leaving the Paterson High School he learned the machinist's trade with Todd & Rafferty, of that city, and as a machinist and millwright traveled over nearly all of North and South America. In this capacity he gained a wide and valuable experience. In 1890 he engaged in the real estate and insurance business. He studied law under the direction of Edward J. Luce, of Rutherford, and was admitted to the New Jersey bar November 4, 1894. Since then he has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in Newark, Jersey City, and Harrison, and also at his home in Kingsland, Bergen County, where he settled permanently in 1883. He makes real estate law a specialty. Mr. Ritchie has also been active in public affairs. He was a candidate for the office of Assessor in 1892, but was defeated by a small majority. He has been counsel for Union Township in Bergen County. Though a firm believer in Christianity he is not a member of any sect or creed, nor of any society of secret organization. He was married, May 1, 1875, to Julia A. Stalter, and has three sons and two daughters.
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