Andrew Jackson Ritchie

Andrew Jackson Ritchie was born in 1868 in Rabun County, GA, to Riley and Sarah Ritchie. Riley Ritchie farmed a small family farm and made many of the family's necessities. Andrew's mother Sarah stayed at home and looked over the house and her six children. Andrew's brothers were Robert, William and James. His sisters were Elisabeth and Laura.

There was little education in the late 1800's and by the age of twenty, Andrew had gone to school a few years and was still studying out of a spelling book.

When Andrew was attending the George W. Truett School in Hiwassee he met his future wife, Addie Mae Corn. "I was telling her good-bye with one arm run through the bridle reins of a prancing horse that was sent over to bring me home. It was then we parted with a pledge to go to college and then get married" Andrew writes.

After working a short time as a third grade teacher Andrew had enough money to finish one year at Emory University at Oxford. He then decided to follow George W. Truett to Texas where he worked one year as a school teacher. At this time Andrew Ritchie was twenty six years old, had no money, and no college prospects.

Just as his life was turning so bad Andrew found a pamphlet in the Baylor University Library telling of possible work oppourtunities at Harvard College. When he returned home to Rabun, GA with the news that he was going to Harvard to go to school his family and friends were discouraged because they had not graduated also.

While at Harvard Andrew had a very difficult time and faced many problems including extremly cold weather and hard classes. He finished that year at Harvard and then transfered to the University of Georgia where he earned his A.B. Degree and a law degree. Andrew then moved back to Harvard for two years where he earned his M.A. Degree with honors. The next summer Addie Mae Corn and Andrew Jackson Ritchie were married and they moved to Texas where they lived for three years.

During summer vacations in Georgia they felt a responsibility to help the young people of their own area. When he moved back to Rabun Gap the people gave him $5000 to start the school. Andrew and Addie picked out a hill to build the school on that could be seen by every road in and out of the county. In 1903 construction started on the school, and by 1905 the school opened its doors to its first students.

Thirty Years passed and now the school farm was over 1500 acres, which made possible a unique farm-family plan where large families lived for five years only and all family members attended school or special classes. The school suffered a fire which made way for new buildings for growing needs, a well trained and dedicated faculty and a growing student body, which was later upgraded to the junior college level.

Finally after forty-three years it was time to retire and he was asked to write the history of Rabun County specifically his 43 year involvement with Rabun Gap Nacoochee School, the book Sketches of Rabun County was dedicated to Mrs. Addie Ritchie: "The story of our Mountain people is dedicated to the woman whose ancestory and background is in every way the counterpart of my own, to the generation of younger people for whom she and I have labore together and to their children and grandchildren: together with others f succeeding generations who will be the citizens in this county for the year to come."

Andrew Jackson Ritchie died on Nov. 22 1948 and is now buried next to Addie Mae Corn Ritchie on the hill overlooking the school.