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Since 1899 J. B. Ririe has
been identified with the agricultural and stock raising interests of
Magrath and vicinity, where he owns nine sections of land, and he is
president of the Magrath Trading Company. A native of Utah, his birth
occurred in Springville, Utah county, on the 22(1 of October, 1858, a
son of James and Ann (Boyack) Ririe, both natives of Scotland. The
father was born on the 24th of January, 1827, at Newcastle, Scotland,
and the mother was born in 1830. Their marriage was celebrated in Utah,
whence he came, in 1853, with the Jacob Gates Ox-team Company, and she
came in 1855, with the Milo Andrews Company. Mr. Ririe made the trip to
Utah by way of the Mississippi river to Keokuk, Iowa, and thence
overland, crossing the Missouri river at Florence, Nebraska. He was one
of the pioneer settlers of Utah county and he homesteaded considerable
land there. He engaged in general farming and stock raising and met with
well deserved prosperity. In 1856 he was united in marriage to Miss Ann
Boyack and to their union the following children were born: Marguerite,
the widow of George Hogg of Ogden, Utah; J. B., whose name introduces
this review; David, whose demise occurred in Idaho; Alexander, a
resident of Ogden, Utah; Elizabeth, the widow of James Farrell of Ogden,
Utah; Isabelle, the wife of Joseph Stallings of Eden, Utah; Agnes, the
wife of David Burnett of Eden, Utah; Joseph, a resident of Ogden, Utah;
1-lyram, residing in Lewiston, Utah; and George and Mary, deceased. Mr.
and Mrs. Ririe were zealous workers in the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-clay Saints, and he held many minor offices in the church and
subsequently became high priest. Mr. Ririe died on the 17th of June,
1905, and his wife passed away in September, 1914.
The boyhood and youth of
J. B. Ririe were passed on the old homestead in Utah county and he
attended the schools of Weber. After putting his textbooks aside he
engaged in sheep raising in Davis county, that state, starting oil small
scale. He gradually increased his land interests, however, until he
owned some two hundred acres, most of which was under cultivation, and
he resided on that land until 1899, when he was called to assist in the
colonization of Magrath. He arrived in Magrath in August of that year
and lived in a tent with his family until December. lie purchased six
hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of Magrath and a ten-acre block
in the town. At that time the land was nothing but raw prairie. In a
systematic manner he went about improving it and he has built thereon
many fine buildings. He continued his sheep raising and also the
breeding of blooded Shire horses, shorthorn cattle and the Merino
thoroughbred sheep, and he now runs all of three thousand sheep. He owns
nine sections of land in the vicinity of Magrath, which includes his
original purchase. He has inherited the thrift, energy and business
integrity of a long line of Scotch ancestors, all of which qualities he
has exercised in the pursuit of his career, and as a result he is today
the owner of valuable property and enjoys the respect and confidence of
his fellow citizens.
Mr. Ririe was first
married to Miss Elizabeth Morgan, a native of Kaysville, Utah. She was
born in September, 1862, and died in 1904. She was the mother of
thirteen children: Anna Louise, now Mrs. Ralph Winterton of Magrath;
James A., manager of the Magrath Trading Company, who served three years
oil mission in Holland; Joseph W., residing in Magrath; David L., born
oil 24th of July, 1887, who died in February of the following year;
Lawrence, farming in Welling, Alberta; Laura, the wife of Orsen Bridge
of Magrath; Olive, the wife of R. W. Bradshaw of Beazer, Alberta, where
he is engaged in farming; Elmer, a resident of Magrath, who was on a
mission in the state of Maine for three years and served as councilor
under Bishop Harker; Melvin, farming at Raymond; Leonard, who served on
a mission in Florida for over two years; and hazel, Horace and Lloyd at
home. On October 16, 1908, Mr. Ririe was married to Miss Julia Hawkes, a
native of West- water, Utah, and a daughter of Nathan Havkes of Ogden.
To the second union four children were born: Velma, Marguerite, Prudence
and Julia Dean, all living at home.
Mr. Ririe follows an
independent course in politics and he takes an active and helpful
interest in all local affairs. He served as mayor of Magrath several
terms and is now trustee of the school district. The entire family are
members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-clay Saints and Mr.
Ririe has devoted a large part of his time to the church. At the present
time he is holding the office of high councilor and has held every
office from deacon to that of high priest. |
