From the book History of Idaho
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DAVID RIRIE

The late David Ririe, who gave the best years of his life to the business interests and religious activities of his community and for whom the town of Ririe, Jefferson county was named was born in West Weber, Weber county, Utah November 21, 1860, and died in Denver, Colorado, July 3, 1919, after an illness of almost two years. He was son of James and Anne (Boyack) Ririe, both of whom were natives of Scotland. They came to America in their youth, probably some time in the '40s, and here married. They then established their home in Weber County, Utah, on a homestead where they remained for a number of years developing their land into a modern farm. Sometime later they bought a farm near Ogden valley Utah, and there they spent the rest of their lives, the death of the father occurring in 1904 and that of the mother in 1915.

David Ririe received a public school education in Weber County, Utah where he grew to manhood rendering valuable assistance to his parents in the cultivation of the homestead. Thus in early life he laid the foundation of the success he later achieved when he took up agricultural operations on his own account. On reaching his majority, he left his father's home to engage in sheep raising with his brother and continued at that occupation until 1890. That year witnessed his arrival in Idaho and he located in that part of Bingham county which later was included in Jefferson County, where he took up a homestead. In those days this country presented a far different appearance from what it does today for it was almost entirely covered with sage brush. Such was the condition of Mr. Ririe's homestead when he arrived here but he set to work with his limited equipment, cleared his land which, after years of toil he developed into one of the best improved farms in the state of Idaho. After the death of Mr. Ririe, his wife took up the management of this farm of one hundred and sixty acres, the cultivation of which she supervises along with one hundred and sixty acres of dry land which she owns and two hundred and forty acres which she leases and intends to purchase.

In the course of time that part of Jefferson County where Mr. Ririe had located had developed to such an extent as to warrant the need of a commercial center. He was the first to recognize this need and accordingly in 1915 platted the site of the town of Ririe which received its name from the proprietor. Determined upon the assurance of a successful future for the town, he then used his influence to secure the railroad faci1ities which the citizens now enjoy. Thus whatever distinction this busy village acquires in the future will in the last analysis be traceable to the wisdom and foresight of its founder. Aside from agriculture Mr. Ririe had extensive business interests in that part of the county of which he was a resident. For years he was water master and a director of the Farmers Friend Canal Company and at the time of his death he was president of the same. He was also a stockholder in and vice president of the First National Bank of Ririe and owned stock in the Ririe Mill & Elevator Company, the Ririe Garage, the Ucon grist mill and the Farmers Equity Elevator Company.

On September 14, 1893, Mr. Ririe was united in marriage to Leah A. Lovell, who was born in Oak City, Millard County, Utah, November 1, 1877. She is the daughter of Joseph H. and Ellen (Radford) Lovell, the former being a native of Nauvoo Illinois, and the latter of Provo, Utah. When only a small child Joseph H. Lovell removed to Utah with his parents who located on a farm in that state in the early days. There he received the limited schooling which the frontier settlements at that time afforded and remained on his father's farm, acquiring a practical training in agriculture, until he started out for himself. He carried on farming operations until 1890, in which year he left Utah and located in Star Valley, Wyoming, where he farmed for two years. He then removed to Idaho and settled in that part of Fremont County which later became a part of Bonneville County. There he remained until his death, which occurred in the month of June in the year following that of his arrival. The mother survives and is now living in Bonneville County.

To Mr. and Mrs. David Ririe were born eight children: namely: David the eldest who died on January 20, 1895, at the age of six months; Joseph H. and James E. who are farming the home place; Elizabeth A., George F., Parley A., Eldon C. , and Sylvia, all of whom are living at home.

Mr. Ririe was, as is his wife, a lifelong and zealous member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and from the time of his coming to Jefferson County until his death he was continuously performing some valuable service which resulted in furthering the best interests of his denomination. He was a member of the Shelton ward from 1890 until 1910, during which time he served as a ward and Sunday school teacher. He then became bishop of the Perry ward and retained this position until the Ririe ward was established in February, 1918, when he was made bishop of the latter ward and served in that capacity until his death in the following year. He also spent twenty-six months in England as a missionary of his church. Because of his superior business ability and good judgment, Mr. Ririe was frequently called upon to lend his assistance in the erection of church edifices for his denomination in Jefferson County. Such was the case when the meeting houses of the Shelton, Perry and Ririe wards were erected, and during the construction of the stake tabernacle at Rigby, he served as a member of the finance committee which did an important piece of work in raising the funds for the erection of this structure.

In politics Mr. Ririe took his stand with the Democratic party, but he never sought political honors, although he served as justice of the peace for a number of years. It must appear to the casual observer who reviews the life and achievements of this man that with his passing there was lost to the community a citizen of sterling worth and of unselfish devotion to the common weal.

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