The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1924-08-29
MRS. RITCHFORD
TAKEN BY DEATH
End Comes Following Weeks
of Lingering Illness; Rev.
Willis Officiates at Funeral

Late Sunday afternoon as the set
ting sun cast it's last faint rays into
Carson valley on its western journey,
hidden by the high SiesTas, the silver
cord of life of Mrs. Anna Ritchford,
gently parted, and this esteemed lady
passed into eternal soep as peaceful
as a babe in its mothers arms. For
days Mrs. Ritchford fingered at the
portals of eternity and numerous
times, when the end was thought
near, she would rally for few
hours, then sink again to the point
of uncertainty. Her passing had
been momentarily expected for days
by those near and dear to her and
the days of anxiety was heart-render-
ing to those that watched at her bed
sdie hoping against hope that her
strong constitution would safely
bring her back to health.
Thus closes the long and active
life of a most noble lady; one who
in her thirty years of public activity
in Gardnerville, gained the undying
friendship of hundreds of people that
made the Ritchford hotel their stop
ping place. Mrs. Ritchford was
mother to everyone that came under
her self sacrificing influence, and her
loss is keenly felt, not only by her
relatives, but by hundreds of friends.
Deceased was born in Ontario,
Canada, August 4th, 1848 and was
aged 76 years and 20 days. March
25, 1873 she was married to William
Ritchford, and to them two sons and
one daughter were born. John, the
eldest son, died in infancy. In 1879
Mr.. and Mrs. Ritchford decided to
seek their fortune in the west and
settled in Alpine cuonty, at that time
thriving community. After brief
residence there they moved to Ante
Iope valley and continued to make
their home in that section for fifteen
years. About thirty years ago the
family moved to Gardnerville and
leased what is now known as the
Rahbeck hotel. After a short time
they concluded to build hotel of
their own and work on the new
structure was Immediately started
under the supervision of Capt. Foley.
The Ritchford hotel soon gained
the reputation of being the cleanest
MOTEL and of serving the best meals
of any place in Nevada. Travelling
men became self-appointed boosters
for the Ritchford, and the hostelry
enjoyed an era of prosperity that has
continued throughout these many
years. No detail in the.management
of the hotel was left undone by Mrs.
Ritchford Despite the pleadings of
her children to forego her strenuous
duties, she only laughed and said it
was merely play for her.
A year ago last February, her hus-
band left the hotel to go to nearby
farm for a load of hay. He left in
the best of spirits. On his return to
Gardnerville a bale of hay slipped
from the sleigh and in an attempt
to avoid runaway, he was caught
and killed beneath the runners of the
sleigh. This tragic occurrence brought
the first great sorrow into the life
of Mrs. Ritchford and from then on
she began to fail and at several
times expressed a desire for the day
to come that she too would be placed
in everlasting sleep by the side of
her devoted life-mate.
The funeral was held Tuesday af-
ternoon at the hotel and was largely
attended Rev. p. II. Willis of Love-
lock, personal friend of Mrs. Ritch-
ford for a period of forty-two years,
officiated at the services, and paid a
beautiful tribute to this beloved wom-
an he knew so well. AS a girl she
became a member of the Methodist
church in Canada and held that men,
bership until death.
The casket was almost hidden be-
meath the floral tributes from friends
scattered throughout the west who
at some time or another had stopped
at the Ritchford and come under the
motherly influence of the departed.
lnterment took place in the family
plot at Carson and as her oft-repeat-
ed wish, she now sleeps by the side
of her husband in eternal peace.
Mrs. Ritchford is survived by a
daughter, Mrs. William Nelson of
Minden, one son, William Ritchford,
of Gardnerville, and three brothers,
John, Henry and Albert Dixon, and
other relatives.