Mr. Peter D. Ridenour was born at College Corner near Cincinnati, Ohio, May 5, 1831. In the fall of 1857, he visited Ohio and before his return to Kansas on January 28, 1858, he was married to Miss Sarah Louis Beauty of Xenia, Ohio. They came to Lawrence in the spring of 1858 Mr. Ridenour entered into partnership with Harlow W. Baker and they established a small grocery store. The firm of Ridenour & Baker prospered from the first. But in 1863, the Quantril Raid occurred and their entire stock of goods valued at $40,000 was totally destroyed, and Mr. Baker was seriously wounded. Mr. Ridenour procured another stock of goods and opened them for sale in a corn-crib. Shortly after the recovery of Mr. Baker, the firm built a one story brick store. Later on, they built the second story.

Mr. Ridenour built the house on Tennessee St., which was afterwards the Bowersock home, then the Sigma Chi house. In 1932, the Sigma Chi’s razed this house and built the elegant home they now have.

Ridenour and Baker moved their business to Kansas City in 1880 where they established their wholesale grocery business. Mr. P. D. Ridenour died in 1909, and Mrs. Ridenour left four children, Mrs. John C. Lester (Kate), Edward M., Mrs. A. E. Raymond (Alice), and Miss Ethel Baker Ridenour.

This picture was given to the library by Mrs. W. C. Tenny in 1929.