Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-06-06
Montanans Mourn Passing Of
John E. Ritch, ''Poet OF Judith

Range rider. early day prospector,
cowboy, author and public official.
John B. Ritch, who died in Helena
recently, was one Of Montana's most
versatile and colorful figures He had
lived in the state for So years, most
OF the time at Lewistown.
He died at Fort Harrison veterans
hospital where he had been a patient
at intervals for the last year Funeral
! services we're held at Lewistown
Native Of Carolina
AS a range rider, Ritch entered the
Judith Basin country in 1885, He was
+ one Of the earliest settlers In the old
camp of Gilt Edge and was engaged
in newspaper work at Lewistown At
one time he was part owner Of the
LewistoWn Democrat and for IA years
operated the Myrtle theater there.
Born Dec. 81, 1868, in North Carolina, !
Ritch left for the Lone Star state to
ride the range when he was 15 He
followed this occupation into Montana. |
At Lewistown he was elected clerk /
Of district court in 1904, a position he |
held for eight years. The state exam |
iner credited him with having the best |
conducted office as clerk in the state /
for a seven-year period.
Known to many as the poet Of the
Judith" Ritch was considered one Of !,
the best writer's Of western verse. Years
ago. when he first started writing, one
of his verses came to Charley Rus
sells attention. He told a friend he
had never met Ritch but he liked his
verses. The message was delivered and
Ritch said: TEL Russell when you see
him that I like his pictures but I've
seen his photograph and I think he's
the homeliest man ever saw"
To which Russell replied to the
bearer: IF I'm any homelier than
people ten me Ritch Is, I'd certainly
be interested in seeing him" He sent
back sketch Of Ritch from deScrip-
tons he had received. Finally the ar
fist met the poet in Great Falls and
the pair became close friends. 1.-The |
Picture Writer was dedicated to Rus
sell by him. The poem follows:
Oh, ye Muses., pause and worship
At the shrine of him whose hand
Has depicted deep in color
All the story Of a land
Told the history and the mystery !
OF its glorieS wild and grand.
His the story Of witness,
One who CHANGED the turns Of Fate
With the men who won the Westland; 7
His fortune to relate.
Stories of those bold adventures
Who were builders of the State. j
Let his canvas TEEN with cowboys, 2
Those wild lads who took the town; .
Keep his Indians on the war trail,
MAY their lodgepoles meier come
DOWN.;
,et his freighters pull forever
Gross the prairies, scar and brown.
stretch his landscapes from the Judith
On up to the Britons' line;
lot them DER with natures cattle,
Tint them with that touch devine-
With those sweet, aIluring colors
OF the WeStland's magic sign.
lave the pilgrims wander blindly
Ger those plains that God has
blessed;
rail his travois cross the benchlands
Where the harvest blooms the best.
lay the smoke from all his campfires
Signal This is stilI the West"
ct his roundups ride great circles,
CATERING in the time-tossed strays-
liners, trappers, breeds and hunters;
Gamblers from their sodden plays
II the types that fill his pictures
OF those golden early days.
AIRY, then, ye brave old legends
In the heart of Natures child;
flourish on his mighty genius,
Let his fancy be beguiled
y the glories in the stories
He has wrought us from the wild.
Ritch laid out the township Of Lam
lsky in June, 1894, and was present
the shooting of Pike Landusky.
hen the Indians coded the Little
ocky mountains to the government in
I95, he was with government officials
ho drew up the papers.
During the war with Spain, he served
It'll the First Montana regiment in
lie Philippines in company I. During
lie first World war, he went overseas
civilian newspaper man for sew
al months and made many addresses
pom his return. In a company Of SEN
ors and congressman making the trip
ere several newspaper men. Among
lese was Tom Stout, also of Lewis
WI.
INNS King for Cigaret
One of his favorite requests was
Gimme a cigaret." He made wager
It'll Stout that he could smoke a
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