1. 1. Lynn Bowman RARIDEN b. 6 Feb 1921, Missouri; d. Oct 1975, California.

Willard B. Rariden was left fatherless at the age of eleven. Two years later he left home and began business upon his own responsibility. He worked on the farm of B. I. Morris for seven years and received from $8 to $16 per month compensation. In 1881 he began trading in stock and followed this business four years. In 1885, he began clerking in a store in Farmington, Missouri and in February of the following year he was appointed postmaster of that city by Postmaster General-General William F. Vilas. December 29, 1885, he married Miss Mary A. Highley, daughter of Robert Highley, of Washington County. She was born in the last county named in 1858 and is the mother of one child, Walter. Mr. Rariden attends strictly to his post office business and makes a first class postmaster. He is a Democrat, politically and his first presidential vote was for Cleveland in 1884. He is a K.P. and his wife is a member of Methodist Episcopal Church South.*******************************************February 24, 1934Willard B. Rariden Former Sheriff, Postmaster; School Board President, DiesWillard B. Rariden was born near French Village, Missouri, July 3, 1860, and died at his home near Farmington February 19, 1939, aged 78 years, seven months, and 16 days.He was married to Miss Mollie A. Highley in December 1885. To this union three children were born -- Walter, who died when only two and one-half years old, R. Lynn and Lee, of Farmington. Two grandchildren, Lynn Bowman Rariden and Billy Lee Rariden, also survive. Mr. Rariden had four brothers and three sisters, and two brothers and two sisters survive him. They are: Mrs. Sallie Highley, of Farmington, Mrs. Nannie Shaw, of Seattle, Washington; Wesley Rariden of Oklahoma, and Kennett, of St. Francois County.His entire life was spent in this community. He had served his community as Postmaster, appointed in 1886, and Sheriff, elected in 1894. He also served on the local school board for 24 years. In addition to these activities he was a dealer in livestock and acted as special agent for the Missouri Pacific Railway for many years.A good citizen, a loyal husband, and a father who was a friend to many.Services were held at the home, Tuesday, February 21, conducted by Rev. A. C. Johnson, of the M. E. Church, South, with interment in the Masonic Cemetery under the direction of Cozean Funeral Service

1. Walter RARIDEN b. 1 Oct 1886, Saint Francois Co., Missouri.
2. 2. Lynn R. RARIDEN b. 1892, Missouri, probably Marion, Saint Francois, Missouri.
3. Willard Lee RARIDEN b. 15 May 1895, Saint Francois Co., Missouri.

1. Re: Theodore's birth place: Most Rariden children on 1880 census list father (Theodore) place of birth as Missouri. Alexander said Ohio. The brief history below says Indiana. Theodore on 1870 census says Kentucky.
Re: Surname spelling: most records spell Theodore's name as Rariden, the exception is the 1880 census (after he has died) uses Rairden.

2. Census: 1860 Exclusive of Liberty Twp., St. Francois County, Missouri. Occupation: 1860 Teacher

3. Census: 1870 Marion Twp., St. Francois County, Missouri, p 658:
Theodore Rariden, M, 43, farmer, Kentucky; Mary A., F, 36, MO ( all children born Missouri)
Alexander, M, 18; Margart, F, 16; James, M, 14; Willard B., M, 11; Theodore K., M, 8; Martha A., F, 4; Sarah V., F, 5; Nancy B., F, 2.
(Note, Sarah (age 5-1865) and Sallie (not in census, 1867, married Highly) may be the same although the Rariden history below indicates Mary Ann had 10 children and only 9 are in the census)

4. Theodore Rariden: Mexican War, Private, 3rd Regiment, Company F, Bartholomew County. Mustered in 22 Jun 1846, at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill, mustered out 25 Jun 1847, at New Orleans, Louisiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill. Source is Indiana in the Mexican War, Oran Perry, 1908.

Willard B. Rariden, postmaster at Farmington, Mo., is a native of St. Francois County, Mo., born July 3, 1860, being a son of Theodore F. Rariden and Mary (Patterson) Rariden. The father was born in the state of Indiana and when a young man came to St. Francois County, Mo., and began teaching school. He was married in this county and taught school the remainder of his life. He died in 1871. He resided near French Village and was the owner of 125 acres. His wife was born in St. Francois County, Mo. and after the death of her husband Theodore, she married Pleasant Becket who now resides near French Village. She was the mother of ten children by her first marriage to Theodore Rariden and one by the second, Pleasant Becket. The names of the children from the first marriage to Theodore are as follows:Alexander (farmer), Maggie (Mrs. William Offer), James, Willard B., Kennett T., Mattie, Sallie, Wesley and Nanie.The child by the last marriage is named Clark Beckett.

( on the 1870 census in Marion, St. Francois, Missouri, John G. Patterson family lived within a few houses of his sister Louisa (married Buchanan) family, sister Mary Ann (married Rairden) family, Pleasant Beckett who his sister Mary Ann married as a 2nd marriage 3 years later, brother John W. Patterson family, brother William's family & Nancy Patterson (Poe) his mother age 60, bir- Ohio)

1880 census Marion, St. Francois, Missouri, p 432:
Pleasant BECKETT Self M Male W 47 MO Farmer MO MO ( Mary Ann's 2nd marriage)
Mary A. BECKETT Wife M Female W 47 MO Keeping House MO OH ( Mary Ann Patterson)
Nancy L. BECKETT Dau S Female W 12 MO School MO MO
John M. BECKETT Son S Male W 7 MO MO MO
Pleasant C. BECKETT Son S Male W 3 MO MO MO
Sarah RAIRIDEN SDau S Female W 12 MO MO MO ( Mary Ann's 1st marriage to Theodore)
Nancy RAIRIDEN SDau S Female W 10 MO MO MO
Wessley RAIRIDEN SSon S Male W 8 MO MO MO

1880 census St Francois Co., Missouri: (Note, Louisa (Patterson) Buchanan is Mary Ann's sister)
Augustus BUCHANNAN Self M Male W 43 MO Farmer NC NC
Louisa BUCHANNAN Wife M Female W 40 MO Keeping House MO MO (maiden Patterson)
Nettleton A. BUCHANNAN Son S Male W 18 MO Farm Hand MO MO
Nancy A. BUCHANNAN Dau S Female W 17 MO Keeping House MO MO
Margaret L. BUCHANNAN Dau S Female W 14 MO Keeping House MO MO
Martha J. BUCHANNAN Dau S Female W 12 MO School MO MO
Elba R. BUCHANNAN Dau S Female W 10 MO MO MO
Thomas F. BUCHANNAN Son S Male W 7 MO MO MO
Wm. W. BUCHANNAN Son S Male W 5 MO MO MO
Willard A. BUCHANNAN Son S Male W 3 MO MO MO
Bennie O. BUCHANNAN Son S Male W 1 MO MO MO
Willard B. RARIDON Nephew S Male W 21 MO MO MO (Louisa's sister, Mary Ann's son).

the last entry, Willard B. Raridon is the nephew of Augustus and Louisa which means either Louisa's sister or Augustus's sister married a rariden. There is a marriage entry for Mary Ann Patterson to Theodore Frelingheusen Rariden for 19 Oct 1851 in St. Francois Co, Willard (above) would be born Cal 1859, 8 years after Mary and Theodore's marriage date... therefore I am assuming Mary Ann Patterson is the sister of Louisa Patterson (wife of Augustus).

1. Theodore Rariden (1827-72) m. 1851 Mary Ann Patterson (1833-1917).
2. John Rariden (1796-1836) m. Margaret Mitchel (b. 1794); Alexander Patterson (1801-64) m. 1824 Nancy Ann Poe (1809-1901).
3. Moses Rariden (1770-1839) m. 1789 Eleanor Manning; Alexander Patterson (1782-1829) m. 1800 Rebecca Sharpe (1784-1860); Isaac Poe (1784-1824) m. 1804 Jane Totten (1786-1854).
4. John (Rariden) Rardin m. 2d 1760 Nellie Freeland; William Patterson m. 1779 Mary Ann Hancock; David Poe m. 1775 Elizabeth Cairnes; John Sharpe m. 1778 Sarah Higgins (b. 1752); John Totten m. 1782 Matilda Allen.
John Rardin was a ranger on the frontier under Capt. Charles Mitchell, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania militia. He was born in Ireland; died in Allegheny County, Pa.
[p.26] William Patterson (1762-1840) received a pension, 1831, for services as private in the Pennsylvania troops under Colonel Culbertson. He was born in Ireland; died in Ohio.
David Poe (1742-1816) was a quartermaster and deputy quartermaster general of Baltimore County, Maryland, where he died. He was born in Ireland.
Elizabeth Cairnes Poe (1756-1838) was a patriot of Maryland who superintended the making of clothing for the soldiers. She was born in Pennsylvania; died in Baltimore, Md.
John Sharpe received a pension for service as private in the Pennsylvania troops under Colonels Butler and Wayne. He was born, 1755, in Pennsylvania.
John Totten served as private under Capt. Isaac Cooper and Col. William Bradford, Philadelphia militia; also in Captain Semple's company, Colonel Dean's regiment. He was born, 1754, in Pennsylvania, where he died.

1. Alexander RARIDEN b. CAL 1862, Missouri, probably Marion, Saint Francois, Missouri.
2. Margaret "Maggie" RARIDEN b. CAL 1864, Missouri, probably Marion, Saint Francois, Missouri.
3. James RARIDEN b. CAL 1866, Missouri, probably Marion, Saint Francois, Missouri.
4. 4. Willard Bayless RARIDEN b. 3 Jul 1860, Marion, Saint Francois, Missouri; d. 19 Feb 1939, Saint Francois Co., Missouri.
5. Theodore Kenneth RARIDEN b. CAL 1862, Marion, Saint Francois, Missouri.
6. Sarah V. RARIDEN b. CAL 1865, Marion, Saint Francois, Missouri.
7. Martha "Mattie" A. RARIDEN b. CAL 1866, Missouri, probably Marion, Saint Francois, Missouri.
8. Sallie RARIDEN b. 26 Mar 1867, Marion, Saint Francois, Missouri; d. 22 Apr 1947, Desloge, Saint Francois, Missouri.
9. Nancy "Nannie" RARIDEN b. CAL 1870, Missouri, probably Marion, Saint Francois, Missouri.
10. Wesley RARIDEN b. CAL 1872, Missouri, probably Marion, Saint Francois, Missouri.