Person:Ambrose Rittgers (1)

He is on the 1870 census, age 3, with parents Valley Twp, Polk Co., Ia.(p 407 fam #109 /119) and age 14 with parents there on the 1880 census.(p 545 fam #213/218) Verta is the daughter of Andrew J. and Margaret (Farnsworth) Snider. She is seen age 7, on the 1880 census, Valley Twp., Polk Co., Ia., with her parents. Andrew is 56 and a farmer, b. Ind. His parents were born in Kentucky. Wife Margaret, 37, is caring for the three children in the home. She was born in Ill., but her parents were born in Ind. Based on the age of the two sons, Oliver, 16, and Robert B., 13, and the age of Margaret, it is possible that Margaret is a second wife and not the mother of the two boys.(ED 172, p 34, fam #133/137) Shortly after marrying, Ambrose and Verta moved to to Eads, Colo., where Ambrose held a position in the County Courthouse. On the 1900 census we find Ambrose, 32, working as a Printer in Waltentown, Precinct 3, Kiowa Co. Co., Colo. Verta, 26, declares they have been married 9 years and she has born 4 children, all alive at this time.(ED 43, p 3A, fam #44/46 ) The 1910 census, shows Ambrose, 42, now a "deputy clerk, courthouse". Verta, 36, declares they have been married 18 years and she has born 9 children, all alive at this time. They are listed in "precinct 5" Kiowa Co. co., Colo.(ED 88, p 5A, fam #106/108) In 1920 Ambrose, 52 , is listed as "district clerk, court house". Verta, 47, is raising the last 5 children. In the home is also "Marie Coster, Mother-in-law", who is a 61 year old widow. Since Verta' s mother, Margaret, would now be 77, we don't know quite how she fits in. They are shown living on Burt St., Eads, Kiowa Co. Co., Co.(ED 109, p 4A, fam #81/87) Two of Ambrose's children, Archie and Pearl, came to Iowa to attend High School, as there was none in Eads at that time. They made their home with their "Uncle Fin" (Abel Findley Rittgers, #162.4)

1. ↑ p. 407, fam #109/119
   Rittgers, Reuben, 30, farmer, $7500 RE, $1395 pers prop, b Oh
   Abigail, 25, b Oh
   Ambrose, 3, b Ia
2. ↑ 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
3. ↑ Dear ones at home.
   I will try to write a few lines Verta says I ought and I feel as though I had myself. We are both as well as usual.
   The weather is pleasant but dry although crops are not hurt much as yet Rye is about ready to cut and wheat soon will be. A good rain a week ago would have helped the rye some and would help the wheat yet. some estimat the wheat crop at a yeald of 18 bu per A(cre) but I don't think it will go over 15 and believe that 12 will very near catch it. the rye is about the same.
   Our garden is doing nice have a splendid stand of weeds on part of it. Peas will come in this week . Our turnip seed is making one of the nicest patches of rutabagas I ever saw we have over three hundred cabbages out and growning nicely and would to be out 200 more but will have to water them if it don't rain.
   We have a train of mules one of them is gentle as any mule can be but the other is a wild sort of a chap. Verta went to harness him the other morning and he gave her a friendly punch in the ribs. Didn't hurt her much, wouldn't have hurt her at all but one of the cows had tickled her in the same rib a few days before. I was uneasy for a few days about her (I don't mean the cow) for a few days but is all right now. I guess we will sell the mules this fall or next spring and get something safer if not so strong.
   We have an old gobbler who hovers the little turkeys at night while the hens go go up on the roost.
   Mother you know how many cucumber seed we had well we planted half of them and have got one hill of cucumber. Two vines have grown straight up in the air about a foot high and are in blossom, we have concluded not to put up more than our barrel of pickles this fall
   Abe went to the 4th of July at Towner and had a good time there were 300 or 400 people there
   Verta is getting to be an expert at catching fleas.
   With love and best wishes I will close
   Ambrose
4. ↑ ED 43, p. 3A, fam #44/46
   Rittgers, Ambrose, head, b Oct 1867, 32, m9yrs, b Ia to father b Oh, mother b Pa
   printer, owns farm
   Verta, wife, b Jan 1873, 26, m9yr, born 4 children/4 alive, b Ia to par b Ind
   Mary A., dau, b Oct 1891, 8, b Colo
   Reuben B., son, b Sept 1893, 6, b Colo
   Blanche, dau, b Dec 1895, 4, b Ia
   Pearl, dau, b Jan 1898, 2, b Colo
5. ↑ Precinct 5, , ED 88, p 5A, fam #106/108
   Rittgers, Ambrose, head, 42, m18yr, b Ia to father b Oh, mother b Pa, deputy clerk
   county courthouse, owns house free
   Verta, wife, 35, m18yr, born 9chldren/9alive, b Ia to par b Ind
   Mary A., dau, 18, b Colo
   Reuben B, son, 16, b Colo
   Blanche, dau, 14, b Colo
   Pearl, dau, 12, b Colo
   Sylvia, dau, 10, b Colo
   Archie M., son, 8, b Colo
   Abigail, dau, 5, b Colo
   Clara B., dau, 3, b Colo
6. ↑ ED 109, p. 4A, fam #81/87 Burt ST
   Rittgers, Ambrose R., head, owns home free, 52, b Ia to par b Oh, district clerk
   court house
   Verta, wife, 47, b Ia to father b Pa, mother b Ind
   Archie M., son, 17, b Colo
   Abbie V., dau, 15, b Colo
   Clara S., dau, 11, b Colo
   John, son, 9, b Colo
   Faye V., dau, 6, b Colo
   Roy V., son, 6, b Colo
   Coster, Marie, mother-in-law, 61, widow, b Ny to par b NY