MOGMJRalls
THOMAS RIDDICK 1808-1882
Grand Master, 1846
BIOGRAPHY
From Biographies of Past Grand Masters, 1821-1901, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri:
Most Worshipful Brother John Ralls succeeded M. W. Brother Mitchell as Grand Master, October, 1846. The first session held in May, 1847, as well as the Annual Communication in October, were presided over by others in consequence of Brother Ralls' absence with the army in Mexico. He had previously regularly attended the sessions of the Grand Body, which he entered in 1841, as Master of New London Lodge No. 21. The following year he filled the office of Junior Grand Warden and was made a Trustee of the Masonic College.
Brother Ralls was born in Bath County, Kentucky, in December, 1808. His father removed to Missouri in 1817, settling in Ralls County, where the subject of this sketch obtained his early education, later attending college at Owensville, Kentucky. He adopted the profession of law and practiced in the courts of Ralls County, Missouri. Prior to the Mexican war he was Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts of Ralls County.
At the breaking out of the war with Mexico he assisted in raising troops, and was elected Colonel of the Third Regiment of Missouri Mounted Volunteers and served until the close of that war. He attained prominence in the battle of Vera Cruz in 1848. When he left the State with his regiment he was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge.
Brother Ralls entered Masonry in the late thirties. No data can be obtained as to whether he was made a Mason in Palmyra or New London; however, he served as Master at various times in New London Lodge No. 21 , from which he dimitted and united with Ralls Lodge No. S3, where his membership remained until his death.
The Capitular degrees were conferred upon him in the Chapter at Palmyra, from which he dimitted to Ralls Chapter No. 55, which he served as Excellent High Priest and retained membership during his life. The Cryptic degrees he received in the old Council of Royal and Select Masters at Hannibal, but, like the Chapter, the dates are impossible to obtain in consequence of destruction. While he was serving his country during the Mexican war, and stationed at various points in New Mexico, he established a number of Masonic Lodges. His death occurred at the age of 74 years in July, 1882. His funeral was conducted by his Lodge; his remains were interred in Olivet Cemetery in Ralls County.
