Eighth Generation

7336. William E. Rippetoe²³⁷⁴⁸ was born on 4 January 1855 in De Kalb Co., MO. "As a boy in Jackson County William E. Rippetoe made the wisest use of the opportunities afforded by the district schools, and also attended high school at Holton. At the age of 19 he married and settled down to farming in Jackson County, where he remained for twelve years.

"His first experience in the lumber business was at Hoyt, where he conducted a yard from 187 to 1907, a period of twenty years. Then, after five months in the coal trade at Colorado Springs, Colorado, he returned to Kansas and for a like period was selling lumber at Irving in Marshall County. This was followed by four years as a lumber merchant at Topeka and two years at Overbrook. Coming to Havana in May, 1914, he bought the interests of E. W. Worthen and Walter Myers in the Havana Lumber Company and also their yard at Wayside, and has since actively managed these two places of business. He is also interested in the Home Lumber Company at Sedan and has lumber yards at Niotaye, Kansas. The business has grown rapidly, and he is rated as one of the prosperous men of that community. He owns his home on Mary Street in Havana, also other real estate there and a lot and place of business at Wayside.

"He stands very high in Masonry. He has served three years as master and is now past master of Caney Lodge No. 324, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; is a member of Overbrook Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Topeka Commandery, No. 5, Knights Templar; Topeka Consistory No. 1 of the Scottish Rite and has also received the honorary degree for services K. C. C. H.; and Caney Chapter of the Eastern Star. His membership in also in Havana Lodge No. 343, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Havana Country Club. His politics in republican.

"In his native Missouri County Mr. Rippetoe married Miss Lucinda Harris, a daughter of John Harris, a farmer. Mrs. Rippetoe died in Jackson County, Kansas, in 1883, leaving three children. Rosa B., who died at Hoyt, Kansas, May 12, 1915, was the wife of E. C. Lyon, a carpenter at Havana. Benjamin went to the Philippines with the army and now has a Government position there. Flora E. is the wife of James Randels, a cement worker at Overbrook.

"In 1884 at Meredian, Kansas, Mr. Rippetoe married Mary F. McDowell, daughter of Barton and Ava McDowell, both now deceased. Her father was a farmer. By this marriage there were six children: Franklin H., who graduated from the Stricklin Business College of Topeka, where he is now bookkeeper for the Chicago Lumber Company; Everett O., a manager of the Howe Lumber Company at Sedan, Kansas; Ava, who is a graduate of the Colorado Springs Academy, is the wife of Clifford E. Hileman, a mail carrier at Topeka; Robert H., a graduate of the Dougherty Business College of Topeka, is manager of his father's lumber yard at Wayside; Walter Leslie is manager of his father's business at Havana; Charles W., a student at Kansas State Agricultural College."

William E. Rippetoe and Lucinda Harris were married in DeKalb Co., MO.²³⁷⁴⁹ Lucinda died in Jackson Co., KS in 1883.

William E. Rippetoe and Lucinda Harris had the following children:

14529	i.	Rosa B. Rippetoe was born (date unknown).
14530	ii.	Benjamin Rippetoe was born (date unknown).
14531	iii.	Flora E. Rippetoe was born (date unknown).

William E. Rippetoe and Mary F. McDowell were married in 1884 in Meriden, Jefferson Co., KS.²³⁷⁴⁹ Mary F. McDowell was born (date unknown).

William E. Rippetoe and Mary F. McDowell had the following children:

14532	i.	Franklin H. Rippetoe was born (date unknown).
14533	ii.	Everett O. Rippetoe was born (date unknown).
14534	iii.	Ava Rippetoe was born (date unknown).
14535	iv.	Robert H. Rippetoe was born (date unknown).
14536	v.	Walter Leslie Rippetoe was born (date unknown).
14537	vi.	Charles W. Rippetoe was born (date unknown).