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FACTORS IN COLUMBIA COUNTY HISTORY From Columbia County at the End of the Century Volume II Published and Edited Under the Auspices of the Hudson Gazette The Record Printing and Publishing Co. Hudson, New York M C M (1900)
"Ra-Ri" SURNAMES These biographies in Part III begin after page 132 of Volume II beginning with page 3. Abbreviations used: p. o. = post office
Pages 198 & 199: RAINEY, Samuel R., (deceased), was born in the city of Hudson, September 9, 1838. His father was Robert Rainey, a native of Scotland, who came to Hudson early in the eighteenth century, and engaged in the woolen goods trade; he married Mary, daughter of Jonathan Perse, who bore him three sons, namely: William H., who is cashier of the National Union Bank of Kinderhook, N. Y.; David A., who was a business man of Hudson and New York, and who died in Hudson in 1874; and Samuel R., the youngest. Samuel R. Rainey was educated at the Hudson Academy. In the beginning of his business career he was the junior partner in the firm of Benedict & Rainey, hardware dealers; following which he was a member of the firm of Rainey & Tilley, in the clothing business, and later was secretary and manager of the Clapp & Jones Manufacturing Co., builders of steam fire engines, and was also manager of the Hudson Iron Works. He was one of the first board of water commissioners, and devoted his best energies to the duties of the office. As secretary of the board of managers of the Hudson House of Refuge for Women, he served several years, and in financial circles his services were always in demand; he was a director of the National Hudson River Bank, and in 1882 was elected secretary and treasurer and a trustee of the Hudson City Savings Institution, which positions he retained up to the time of his death. His ability as a financier was recognized not alone in his native city, but was well known in other places, as was evidenced by his selection for chairman of the executive board of the State Savings Bank Association. His acumen was such that he was employed to look after all the laws that were inimical to savings banks in this State, and he fulfilled the task with signal ability. As agent of the bondholders of the Kinderhook and Hudson Railroad, he preserved the company from bankruptcy, and managed the financial part of the business of the company until prosperity was secured. His judgment in regard to investments and the general policy of the banks he was connected with was sought and freely given, and was uniformly conservative and well considered. His opinions were always well defined, and while considerate of the views of others, he maintained his opinions in his own gentle but convincing manner. The solidity and soundness of his judgment, his wide knowledge of men and affairs, and his large experience, enabled him to fill every position which he occupied with a degree of ability and success, the value of which it is impossible to over-estimate. His exemplary Christian character, cheerfulness of disposition and pleasing address will long be remembered. In 1868 Mr. Rainey was married to Helen C., daughter of Alexander C. and Cornelia H. Mitchell. They had two sons and two daughters born to them: S. Mitchell, Arthur P., Mary C., and Edith L. Mr. Rainey's death occurred on March 17, 1900. S. Mitchell Rainey was born in Hudson, N. Y., February 13, 1871, and received his education at the Hudson Academy. His first business employment was as bookkeeper in the old Hudson Iron Works. In July, 1893, he was appointed bookkeeper in the Hudson City Savings Institution, and was promoted to the position of teller in 1895; in this capacity he served with entire satisfaction until the death of his father in March, 1900, which occasioned a vacancy in the responsible office of secretary and treasurer, and to which he was appointed. In 1884, Mr. Rainey was married to Ida M., daughter of A. Eugene and Anna E. Miles; they have one son, Howard E. Arthur P. Rainey was born in Hudson, January 13, 1876, and received his education in the public schools of Hudson and at the Hudson Academy. In 1896 he entered the service of the National Hudson River Bank, where he now fills the position of bookkeeper. In 1898 he was married to Alice E., youngest daughter of Philip L. and Emma Ham. They have one son, Arthur Perse Rainey, Jr. Pages 199 & 200: RAINEY, William H., of Kinderhook, one of the oldest and most successful bankers of Columbia county, was born in Hudson, January 29, 1831, a son of Robert Rainey, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. Rainey obtained his education in the Hudson schools and Hudson Academy, after which he was employed in the sperm oil and candle manufactory of Barnard, Curtiss & Co., as bookkeeper. A few years later he entered the Hudson River Bank in the same capacity, from which position he was promoted to teller, continuing to 1853. At that time he removed to Kinderhook, where he organized the Union Bank of Kinderhook and took the position of cashier. From that time to the present, a period of nearly half a century, he has filled that office, and under his direction the institution has gained a widespread reputation for financial stability. Mr. Rainey is a Republican, but has never held public office. He married, in April, 1855, S. Elizabeth Waterman, of Hudson, a daughter of Joshua T. Waterman. They have two children, a son and a daughter. Pages 350 & 351: RANSFORD, Mrs. Elizabeth, p. o. Rayville, N. Y., was born in London, England. Mrs. Ransford's husband, George E. Ransford, was born in the town of Chatham, N. Y., and for many years was freight agent for the Harlem Railroad; he was a member of Columbia Lodge, No. 98, F. & A. M., at the time of his death, which occurred on June 22, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Ransford were the parents of the following children: Jennie E., Edmond D., Sarah R., and William D., who died in August, 1876. Page 200: RAYNOR, Jacob, of Livingston, N. Y., was born in that town, November 22, 1845, son of William Walter and Catherine (Van Deusen) Raynor, who were the parents of four children: Elethea, wife of Daniel H. Link, Jacob Amidee, and Mary J. (deceased). The father was also a native of Livingston, and a son of Jacob and Sarah (Rosecrans) Raynor, he coming from Long Island and she from New Jersey. Jacob Raynor was educated in the public schools, and remained at home with his parents until he was thirty years of age, when he engaged in business as produce dealer- mainly hay--with locations in New York and Brooklyn; this he followed for fifteen years, a portion of the time dealing in live stock, and then returned to Livingston, and since has followed farming on the old homestead, making a specialty of fruit, having 155 acres and 1,700 trees. On February 10, 1886, he was married to Frances Emily, daughter of Ira H. Coleman; they have two children: Thaddeus W. and Everett J., both born on the old homestead. Mr. Raynor was elected supervisor in 1894 by a majority of 108, the largest majority ever given a candidate in the town, and held the office by re-election until and including 1897. He is deeply interested in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his native town. Page 200: REID, William R., is a native of Hudson, born April 15, 1855. He is a son of John Reid, who came to Hudson in 1845, and was married to Ann McArthur. He served three years and three months in Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment, N. Y. Vols., during the War of the Rebellion, and died in 1888. William R. Reid was educated in the public schools, and when yet a boy became engaged in the fish and oyster trade, under the supervision of Stephen B. Newcomb; remained with him until 1875, then went to New York; was there until 1892, when he returned to Hudson and established his present thriving fish and oyster house, the most extensive in the city. In 1900 he extended his operations by purchasing an adjoining building and introducing a stock of foreign and domestic fruits. By unremitting industry and close attention to the details of his business, Mr. Reid has built up a lucrative trade, and his honorable and up-to-date methods of doing business meet with the approbation of the people. He is a member of Hudson Lodge No. 7, F. & A. M. Page 201: REYNOLDS, James Adger, was born in Kinderhook, N. Y., February 4, 1852, a son of John H. and Margaret A. (Whiting) Reynolds. He is teller of the National Union Bank of Kinderhook, also a manufacturer. Mr. Reynolds is a member of the Empire State Society Sons of the American Revolution. Page 201: RICHMOND, Cornelius J., p. o. Lebanon Springs, N. Y., was born in the town of New Lebanon, May 12, 1843, son of Elias and Lucenia (Boughton) Richmond, whose children were Jeremiah B., Simeon H., Lester B., Cornelius J., Ophelia A., Mary L., Eliza A., and Frances E. Elias Richmond was born in Grafton, Vt., came to New Lebanon in 1829, was married in 1830, and was a cooper by trade; he died in 1871, and his wife died in 1893. C. J. Richmond, after attending the common schools, engaged in the harness-making business, which he has carried on at Lebanon springs since 1868. In 1898 he was appointed postmaster. He is a leading Mason, a past master of Unity Lodge No. 9, and is past high priest of Lebanon chapter No. 13, R. A. M. He was married to Elizabeth Hungerford Fields in 1873, and they have one daughter, Flora E. Pages 201 & 202: RICHMOND, Robert P., was born at Valatie, N. Y., on February 24, 1862. His father was Jeremiah B. Richmond and was born at New Lebanon, N. Y., and removed to Valatie about 1858, where he conducted a general mercantile business. He has been supervisor of the town two terms --1880 and 1881. Has been treasurer and president of the village of Valatie and is now a trustee. He married Mary A. Penoyer, of Valatie, N. Y., by whom he had three children: Jessie, Robert P. and Clara, L. (Richmond Rowed, of Hudson, N. Y. Mrs. Richmond died in 1896. Robert Penoyer Richmond attended the public schools and the Kinderhook Academy, after which he was connected with his father in mercantile trade. Being in poor health in 1887, he, with his family, went to California and spent a year; returning, he engaged in the paper manufacturing business with Cassander F. Davis (now deceased), and continues the business. He is the president and manager of the Valatie Electric Light Co.; has been treasurer of the village several terms; a water commissioner for five years, and several times a member of the board of health. He is also president of the board of trustees of the Presbyterian church. He was married in 1885 to Miss Effie A. Davis, who bore him two children: Ralph Davis, who died in 1892, and Marjorie L. Page 202: RICHMOND, Simeon H., p. o. New Lebanon Center, N. Y., was born in New Lebanon, N. Y., in 1833, son of Elias and Lucenia (Boughton) Richmond, whose children were Jeremiah B., Simeon H., Ophelia A., who married Jeremiah Chandler; Mary L., who married Hiram Leonard; Lester B., who married Harriet B. Hicks, and are the parents of one son, Bernard; Cornelius J., Ann Eliza, who married Oscar J. Herrick, and Frances E., who married George W. Carpenter. Elias Richmond was born in Vermont, December 16, 1789, and was a barrel manufacturer; he came to Columbia county and was married to Lucenia Boughton, of Nassau, Rensselaer county, born February 21, 1806. Mr. Richmond died in October, 1871, and his wife in February, 1893. Simeon H. Richmond was married to Adeline, daughter of Hiram B. Hicks. Their children are Eva A., wife of Albert Moore, and Isabelle H. Page 202: RIDER, Thomas Benjamin, was born at Rider's Mills, N. Y., September 4, 1823, and was the son of Jonathan and Marcy (Wilson) Rider, who came to Rider's Mills from Bristol county, Mass., in 1802. In 1845 he graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with the degree of C. E., after which he entered Harvard College at Cambridge, Mass.; graduated in 1849, receiving the degree of LL.B. Was admitted to the bar, and practiced law in New York city four years, when he returned to Rider's Mills, where he remained until his death, which occurred February 6, 1888. He was married in 1852 to Lucretia Lefferts Morrell, of Brooklyn, N. Y., who was born January 20, 1830, and died November 23, 1883. They had the following named children: John M., Francis V., Helena M., Thomas B., Lucretia A., who died April 27, 1876, Edward W., and Jane M. Pages 202 & 203: RIGHTMEYER, Joseph C., was born in Conesville, Schoharie county, N. Y., December 23, 1853, and came to Greenport, Columbia county, N. Y., in 1867, where he has been engaged as a farmer, contractor and fruit grower. He has maintained a prominent standing in Greenport, where he has served six years as supervisor -- very good evidence of his trustworthiness and of the confidence of the people in his ability and intelligence. In 1877 he was married to Anna Richmond Storm, daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Skinner Storm, whose ancestors were among the earliest and prominent families of Claverack, N. Y., Richard Storm, father of Stephen, being one of the first millers in that town. Mr. and Mrs. Rightmeyer are the parents of two sons, Arthur and Stephen B., and two daughters, Rachel S. and Anna Storm. Page 203: RIPHENBURG, S. Richmond, P. O. Malden Bridge, N. Y., was born in the town of Chatham, N. Y., October 28, 1874. His father is Samuel H. Riphenburg, born in Taghkanic, N. Y., May 11, 1832, a farmer; he has served as assessor nine years and was collector one year, and is a member of Nassau Lodge, F. & A. M.; his wife was Eliza Richmond, and their children were Jennie J., Margaret M. (died on May 7, 1894), and S. Richmond. Mrs. Riphenburg died March 11, 1897. S. Richmond Riphenburg was educated in the common schools and at Albany Business College. He is engaged in farming and is a representative business man of his native town. He has been a school trustee for two years, and in various ways has earned the confidence and respect of his fellow men. Page 203: RISDORPH, Edward, was born in Greenbush, June 25, 1868, and takes his name from his grandfather, who was a carriage-builder by trade, carrying on a good business for many years in Kinderhook. The earlier Edward Risedorph married Margaret Lodewick, who was a native of Greenbush; he died in Kinderhook in 1888. His son, Franklin Risdorph, father of the present Edward, is a native of Kinderhook and is a harness-maker and is now engaged in business in Kinderhook. He married Sarah J., daughter of John and Sarah Van Loan, and their children are Edward, Nellie and Charles, who died in 1892. Edward Risedorph, son of Franklin, was educated in the academy of Kinderhook. He then secured the position as bookkeeper with R. Alexander for six years, and in 1892 he went to Stuyvesant as bookkeeper for Henry A. Best. Returning to Kinderhook November 21, 1892, he purchased the business of his late employer, Mr. Alexander, and still continues the business. Mr. Risedorph is a member of Valatie Lodge No. 362, F. & A. M., a member of Kinderhook Chapter No. 264, R. A. M.; has been recently elected president of the village of Kinderhook, and is president of the board of education. Mr. Risedorph married Minnie I. Mandeville, daughter of Griffin and Sarah (Decker) Mandeville, of Kinderhook; they have two children: Florence E. and Marion. Page 351: RISEDORPH, George E., of Hudson, was born in Kinderhook, N. Y., June 3, 1850, son of Edward, native of the same town, where John Risedorph, father of Edward, was a pioneer about 1790, being one of the first settlers in Valatie. Edward Risedorph was married to Sophia Tator, and through life engaged in the business of wagon manufacture. George E. Risedorph was educated in Hudson and at Claverack Institute, and from 1865 to 1880 was engaged in wagon manufacturing. In 1880 he entered the employ of the American Express Company, with which he has now been connected for twenty years, and for three years has been its agent in Hudson. In 1875 he was married to Ida A., daughter of Henry and Eliza Waldorph, of West Ghent, N. Y. Page 204: RITCHIE, James Hanna, of Claverack, was born in Greenport, N. Y., December 22, 1847, a son of Robert and Jane (Hanna) Ritchie, who had a family of seven children. Mr. Ritchie was educated in the district schools at Stottville, and assisted in the work about the home farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he left home and went to Hudson to learn the blacksmith's trade with Peter S. Burger. He stayed with him but a short time, then returned home until fall of the same year, when he went to Mellenville to work in the paper-mill of H. W. Rogers. After two years in that place he was with his brother Robert, in Chatham, two years learning horse-shoeing, then returned to Mellenville and finished his trade with Edward Gernon. He was with him four years, when he engaged in business for himself, which he carried on for six years, then sold out and went to work for James Aken, remaining with him eight years. At the end of this time he opened the shop he now occupies and has been in business for himself ever since, as a general machinist and blacksmith. Mr. Ritchie has been twice married, first, to Jennie Greason, of Cohoes, who died in 1880, leaving three children, and, second, to Julia F. Nichols, of Philmont; they have two children. Page 204: RIVENBURGH, John H., was born in the town of Ghent, August 28 1854, a son of Jacob M. and Charlotte S. (Tipple) Rivenburgh, grandson of Jacob and Maria (Miller) Rivenburgh, and great-grandson of John H., who was of German descent, and came to Columbia county about 1790, settling in the town of Ghent. John H. Rivenburgh was educated in the common schools of Ghent and Amenia Seminary. When about seventeen years of age he engaged in the hardware business at Ghent, which he followed for about seven years, then engaged in the produce and forwarding business, dealing in hay, straw, live stock and general farm produce. This business he followed until 1897, when he was elected superintendent of the poor of Columbia county, which position he still holds (1900). In 1874 Mr. Rivenburgh married Sarah J., daughter of Henry R. and Hannah (Simmons) Coburn; they have one son living, Willard T., and two deceased. Mr. Rivenburgh has been trustee of the school for ten years, town clerk, and has held several other offices.
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