Ken,

I'll post a couple of links that might be old news to you. The restoration of John Ritchie's house has been taken on as a project by the Shawnee County Historical Society here in Topeka, and that has generated the following:

http://skyways.lib.ks.us/orgs/schs/ritchie/index.html

http://skyways.lib.ks.us/orgs/schs/ritchie/education/resources/Ritchie-Narrative%20Report.htm

I would suggest that if you are looking for more information on Ritchie, you might contact Bill Wagnon, a professor of history at Washburn University, also here in Topeka. Wagnon has (or had) been leading the efforts on the restoration, and they had someone conduct research on Ritchie some years ago. I believe he would know what was available--and that includes some Ritchie descendants that are still around.

I know just enough about Ritchie to know that he had the political connections to see him through some troubles, but not enough to be able spell it out.

Blair Tarr
Kansas State Historical Society