Person:Abel Rittgers (1)

Named for his maternal grandfather, we first see him age 6 on the 1880 census with his parents in Valley, Polk Co., Ia.(p 545 fam #213/218) In 1900 we find "Findley" Rittgers, 24 , in Stella Twp., Woods Co., Ok. Mabel was the daughter of Joseph and Clara (Smith) McCreight. On the 1910 census he is age "33" and a Dairy farmer. He and wife Mabel, age 32, have been married 3 years. She has born 2 children, one is living. (ED 184, p 9A, fam #119/119) In the family record he is called "Uncle Fin", and owned a grocery store in Johnston, Ia., on the NW corner of Merle Hay and Rt. 62. In an ad from a "Farmer's Directory" (undated photocopy), is an ad for "Rittgers Bros. General Merchandise Coal and Grain Dealers, A.F. Rittgers - J.H. Rittgers, Herold, Ia." This place is Herold Station now the site of Camp Dodge, Polk Co., Ia. This is the uncle some of Ambrose's (#162.1) children came to live with in order to go to High School. On the 1920 census we find A. Findley Rittgers, 45, a storekeeper -general merchandise in Webster, Polk Co., Ia. Wife Mabel, 42, is caring for the children. If any of Ambrose's children are here at this time, they are not listed on the census.(ED 187, p 11B, fam #106/106) In the estate of his parents, "A.F. Rittgers " purchases the land that had been left to his sister, Daisy's son, Paul Wilson, filed 24 Jun e 1921.

    Family story tells us; "In September of 1921, Uncle Fin was digging a ditch for sewer line for their dwelling beside the grocery store building.  The house was made by joining three Camp Dodge houses', many of which were left at Camp Dodge after World War I. [We are told these were just 1 and 2 room wood cottages]  "The soil in the Johnston area is quite sandy and the ditch Fin was digging was probably 7-8 feet deep.  He had quipped at noon, It woul d be a joke if that ditch caved in on me.' Well, in mid p.m. when someone checked on him, the ditch had caved in! Neighbors, friends, and relatives rushed to dig him out but he was not alive.  He was standing with the shovel raised over his head as if he had just thrown sand - or possibly he sensed the cave-in and was going to throw the shovel out before he climbed out at the end.  Mabel was left with three small daughters and a grocery store and a partially finished home.  Fin's brothers, Jasper and John, came to aid what they could by running the store' until she felt able to assume the responsibility.  I think Pearl was living there and working in Des Moines and perhaps Archie helped with the store, altho it would seem he would have finished 12th grade.  Later, school teachers roomed with kitchen priveleges. It was very tough going for Mabel.  She worked very hard and I remember she was always tired. "  Told by Laura (Rittgers)(Peitzman) Emmert.
    His death record tells us he "suffocated by cave in of tile ditch".
    Mabel Rittgers, wife of "A.F. Rittgers, deceased" petitioned for administration of his estate on 7 July 1922.  She gives date of death as 13 Sept 1921 and lists the three daughters - Helen, 12; Mildred, 9; and Dorothy, 6 - as the sole heirs at law.  It states he owned at his death "certain real estate in Minnesota, Indiana and Texas."  An inventory was filed 7 July 1922. Mabel applied for "Widow's allowance" on 14 May 1924, asking for $1200.  On the 1930 census, we find Mabel as head of household on Johnston Station Rd, Webster Twp.  She owns her property worth $10,000.  she is 53, a widow, b Ill to father b Oh and mother b. Ill.  She is a proprietor of a grocery store.  With her are three daughters. (ED 77-129, p. 5B-6A, fam #129/131) In 1935, the court is petitioned to sell several pieces of property, which coencides with bits and pieces of Reuben's original holdings. (Abst 76811; gives probate dockett #43-13190)

1. ↑ Death record
   Polk Co. Death record, p. 355, 22 Jan 1977.
2. ↑ Death record
   Polk Co., Ia., Death record, p. 355, 22 Jan 1977.
3.   United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626)
   ED 77-129, sheet 5A/6B, fam #129/131, Johnston Station.

   Rittgers, Mabel, head, owns $10,000, no radio, 53, widow, b Ill to father b Oh, mother
   b Ill, proprietor of grocery store.
   Helen L., dau, 21, b Ia
   Mildred L., dau, 16, b Ia
   Dorothy M., dau, 14, b Ia

4. ↑ ED 172, p. 545, fam #213/218
   Rittgers, Reuben, 42, head, farmer, b Oh to father b Va, mother b Oh
   Abigail, 36, wife, b Pa to par b Pa
   Ambrose, 14, son, b Ia
   Daisie, 9, dau, b Ia
   Max, 7, son, b Ia
   Findley, 6, son, b Ia
   Jasper, 4, son, b Ia
   Walberg, 2, son, paralized (Dr. Carter) b Ia
5. ↑ #134
   Rittgers, Mrs R.R., 50, Widow, farmer, b Pa, presbyterian
   Findley, 20
   Jasper, 18
   Vivian 14
   Mabel, 12
   Chester, 11
   John, 9
   Eva, 8
   Jennings, Bessie, 21, teacher, b Pa
6. ↑ Precinct #1, ED 184, p. 9A, fam #119/119
   Rittgers, Findley A., head, 33, m3yr, b Ia to father b Ia, mother b ?, farmer, dairy,
   Mabel, wife, 32, m3yr, born 2 children, 1alive, b Ill to father b Oh, mother b
   Ill
   Helen L., dau, 1yr, 1 mo., b Ia
7. ↑ ED 187, p. 11B, fam #106/106
   Rittgers, A. Findley, head, 45, b Ia to father b Oh, mo b Pa., store keep, gen merch
   Mabel, wife, 42, b Ill to father b Oh, mother b Ill
   Helen L., dau, 10, b Ia
   Mildred L., dau, 6, b Ia
   Dorothy M., dau, 4, b Ia
   Galbreath, Joseph, boarder, 70, b Pa to par b Pa, clerk general store