"Uncle Ben" Ridenour is dead. He passed away at his home in Mount Morris near the noon hour on Sunday.

Mr. Ridenour had been in failing health throughout the winter and had been confined to his bed for a number of weeks from extreme weakness due to the infirmities of old age and gradual fading of vitality after his long and useful life. During his long illness he had the loving care of a devoted family who did all in their power to ease his last days with them.

Benjamin Ridenour was born at Cavetown, Washington County, Maryland, May 6, 1839, and died at his home in Mount Morris, Sunday, Feburary 24, 1918, aged 78 years, 9 months, and 18 days.

On the 24th of August, 1857, he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Houser at Greencastle, Pa. Eight children were born to them, six of whom with the aged companion of sixty years survive. The children are John M. Ridenour, Mrs. Mary Alice Rudy, Mrs. Rosa Belle Gibbs, and Mrs. Anna Elizabeth Few, all of Mount Morris; Mrs. Emma Trapp of Aurora, and Lee Ridenour Billings, Okla.

Those preceding in death are Mrs. Ann Rebecca Stouffer and Laura Kate, the latter dying in infancy. There are also 18 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

With family, Mr. Ridenour removed to Illinois in 1877, locating three miles southwest of Mount Morris, where he continued to reside and engage in farming until removing to the village twelve years ago.

In early life, Mr. Ridenour became a member of the German Reformed Church, later uniting with the United Brethren Church of which he has been a member for the past thirty years, being prominent in it's work and councils, and serving as a class leader and ? for many years. A man of decided opinions and not easily swerved from his views, he was withal a man of most kindly disposition, and was surrounded by a host of friends who held him in the most kindly respect and regard.

Funeral services were held yesterday at the M. E. Church conducted by Rev. Buckwalter, Pastor of the United Brethren Church at Mount Carroll, assisted by Rev. H. P. Barnes of the M. E. Church of this place. Burial was made in Oakwood Cemetery.

The family desires to express their appreciation of the many acts of kindness and attention shown by friends and neighbors during the sickness and following death of their beloved father and husband.