Phillips County Museum News for June 17, 2020

This week we have the story of Johnny Ritch another Phillips County character.

Johnny rode into the town of Landusky in the glory days of the mining camp. During his first visit to Landusky, he lost his hat and cigarettes and came to several days later on a poker table, but he must have liked the town as he soon became a well-known citizen. Now Johnny had a bit of the reformer in him and had tolerable oratorical gifts. He was often called on to speak at funerals.

The community of Landusky did take exception at a funeral for two local men who killed each other when he called his sermon “When Fo...