(Lewis Critchfield3 Rightmire, James2, Jr., James1, Sr.)
(3) Lewis Critchfield Rightmire was born in December 2, 1836 in Knox County, Ohio, the third child of James Rightmire, Jr. and Lydia Critchfield. He married Martha E. Welker. Martha was born December 19, 1836 in Ohio and died on December 23, 1868 in Knox County, Ohio at the age of 32. She was killed. She was buried in the Old Jelloway-Drake Cemetery, Howard Twp, Knox Co., Ohio. This cemetery is a 1/2 mile west of Junction of Cornish Rd (Township Road 242) and Magers Rd. (County Road 35). Lewis and Martha had four young children when Martha died.
Lewis C. Rightmire then married Mary Drake in Knox Co., Ohio, Feb 10, 1874. In about 1876, Lewis, Mary, and his four children left Ohio and became early settlers in Pottawamie Co., Kansas. Lewis and Mary had no children. They are recorded in a list of "Marriages of early settlers of Pottawatomie County" in William G. Cutler's book, "History of the State of Kansas". Lewis was a farmer.
Lewis died on January 21, 1923 and is buried in Wamego City Cemetery, Wamego, Kansas. The funeral notice as it appeared in the Wamego Times, Wamego, Kansas is shown below:
"L. C. Rightmire"
"Lewis Critchfield, oldest son of James and Lydia Rightmire, was born December 2, 1836, near Mt. Vernon, Knox County, Ohio, and died at his home in Wamego, Kansas, January 21, 1923, age 86 years, 1 month, and 19 days. He was married to Martha F. Welker in 1856. To this union four children were born. Mrs. Rightmire died December 23,1873. On February 10,1876, he married Mrs. Mary Drake. They moved to their present home in Wamego. Mr. Rightmire has been in failing health for several years, and was almost totally blind for two years."
"He is survived by his aged companion, four children, Milton, James, and Porter, of Wamego, and Mrs. Emma Townsend, of Wamego, one stepson, Edgar Drake, also of Wamego, seventeen grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren, also two brothers, Ellis and Abe, who still live in the old home in Ohio."
"A short service was held at the home Tuesday, January 23, followed by services at the Methodist church, conducted by J. W. Tanner. The Odd Fellows had charge of the services at the grave."
Cards of Thanks
"We wish to thank the neighbors and friends who so
kindly assisted us during the illness, and death of our beloved husband
and father."
Mrs. Mary Rightmire,
Milton Rightmire,
James Rightmire,
Porter Rightmire,
Edgar Drake.
A picture of Lewis' gravestone is shown on the next page.
Picture by James E. Rightmire
In spite of the funeral notice indicating that Lewis and Martha had four children, our records indicate they had five children. In addition, Mary Drake had two children prior to their marriage. The seven children are:
(4) Milton Rightmire, born on June 26, 1858. He met and married Eva May Carley May 21, 1890 in Wamego, Kansas. See Section 3 for their family history.
(4) Emma Rightmire, born January 11,1860 in Mt. Vernon, Knox County, Ohio. She married John A. Townsend August 16, 1879 in Pottawatomie County, Kansas. They were married at the residence of the bride's father, by Rev. Warley. John was born December 24, 1857 and died March 9, 1904 in Kansas. Emma died March 13, 1953 in Topeka, Kansas. She is buried in La Clede Cemetery in Topeka, Kansas. She was 93 years, 2 months, and 2 days old at the time of her death.
(4) James Rightmire was born on April 16, 1863 in Knox County, Ohio. He married Nannie (Nancy) Dailey on January 17, 1900 in Westmoreland, Kansas. See Section 4 for their family history.
(4) Porter Rightmire was born April 30, 1867 in Knox County, Ohio. He married Kate Taylor on December 31, 1891 in Wamego, Kansas. See Section 5 for their family history.
(4) Kate Rightmire, born about 1868 in Ohio. Kate died October 6, 1886 in Wamego, Kansas.
(4) Edward Drake, born Apri1 30, 1869 in Knox County, Ohio. Edward died of a heart attack July 12, 1924. Edward was a son of Mary Drake from an earlier marriage and a stepchild of Lewis.
(4) Charles Drake, born about 1871 in Ohio. He was a son of Mary Drake and a stepchild of Lewis.