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Family tree▼ (edit)
m. 9 May 1797
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m. 1821
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m. 1856
Facts and Events
Questionable information identified by WeRelate automation
There is a photocopy of an ornate "Certificate of Birth and Baptism" in the family that states "John A. Rittgers and his wife Catharine, a daughter of J. Comer, was born a son on the ninth day of February in the year of our Lord 1800. This child was born in [left blank] in [blank] County, in the state of Virginia in North America: was baptized by the Rev. [blank] and received the name of Jacob B. Rittgers. Witness present at the Act of Baptism: Peter Nail and his wife Elisabeth." The names were all filled in by the same hand, and the form has no printing date visible, thus we have no idea how much later than the baptism the form was filled out. It must have been done before the family lost touch with the Comer family , as Elisabeth Nail is a sister of Catharine (Comer) Rittgers. We are told that the original Certificate is in the possession of Bobbie (Rittgers) Lonker of Medicine Lodge, Ks. On the 1830 census, we find Jacob Rittgers in Hocking Co. He has in his house one male and one female between 20-29; one each between 5-9; and one each between 0-5.[reel 132] On the Ohio River Survey Map, Congressional Lands, we see Jacob Rittgers bought 39.50 acres in Range #17, tw p #15, section #20, Marion Twp, Hocking Co., Oh., on 16 Sept 1834. His residence at that time was listed as Fairfield Co., Oh. [Kocher, L. Richard; SECTION MAPS WITH ENTRYMAN ON LANDS IN HOCKING CO., OH; Oh, Gen. Soc., 1992; p. "Marion 20".] On 19 July 1844, Jacob purchased part of his father's farm in Fairfield Co., Oh. [Fairfield Co, Oh., Book 10 of deeds, p. 260, Lancaster, Oh.] Further research into deeds in Fairfield and Hocking Cos. is needed to determine the size of his Real Estate holdings in Ohio.
On the 1840 census, Marion Twp., Hocking Co., Oh., we find Jacob "Ritgers", age 30-39, with one female in home age 30-39, and another age 40-49. Also in home are 2 males and one female 0-4, one male and one female 5-9, and one male 15-19. [p 138] The 1850 census, Marion Twp., Hocking Co., Oh., shows us Jacob, age 50 with wife "Easter", 47, and 10 children. Missing are the three oldest. Of them, son Samuel is next door, daughter Isabelle is married and nearby, and daughter Nancy died young. All ages correspond with family information. [p. 855, f am. #213/219]
In the widely quoted letter of 1914 from Sarah (Rittgers) Good we see Jacob: "Came to Iowa in 1852 or 1853 and purchased a large tract of land on Beaver Prairie, a few miles north of what is now the city of Des Moines, but which at that time was a small town. The following year (1854?) he moved his family by wagon train from Ohio to this Iowa Prairie. (It can be seen today by driving east of Johnston [Polk Co., Ia.] on NW 67th Ave, turning north on N W Beaver Dr. As you approach the stop sign 1/2 mi. north, you will see a large white house in the yard in front of you.) (This house has since been moved, and development planned for this spot. JR.) This was the home spot. The land lay in all directions around this point but mainly to the north and to the west. NW Beaver Drive intersects what was once Johnston Rittgers' farm, the same land as Jacob B. purchased. The Rittgers Cemetery is on the south side of NW Beaver Dr. about 1/4 mile west (and north) of the home.)" This parenthesis believed added by a later transcriber. In the copy received by this author, as it was transcribed the following was inserted: "A great granddaughter of Jacob B., Mary Ann Roberts, lives in the brick home across NW Beaver Dr. from the old home place. Many descendants of Jacob B. live in Iowa now, many in the N.W. part -in the West Bend area and some near Paton in Central Iowa. They are descendants of Ben and George." Shared with us by Laura (Rittgers)(Pietzman) Emmert.
In the warranty deeds of Polk Co., Ia., we find that William P. Koger and Elizabeth, his wife, sold 7 Apr 1853, to Jacob B. Rittgers" the SE 1/4 of section 6-79-24, West 5th P.M., excepting three acres...and other property." [Deeds Book F., p. 4., Polk Co., Ia.] On 5 Apr 1856, Jacob sold 40 acres to Joseph H. Hamilton, husband of his daughter, Margaret (#12.6). [Polk Co. Book H of deeds, p. 493] These taken from a photocopy of land abstract No. 76811, p. 19, Polk Co., Ia.
Hester d. 19 Jan 1856 and is buried in Rittgers Cemetery, Johnston, Polk Co., Ia. Hartman tells us that "After Esther died, Jacob sent to Germany for a bride, Anna "Catherine" Schleigh (1827-1913)." We find contradictory evidence on later census records. Jacob married (2) Catherine Anne SCHLEIGH 1856. She was born 30 Mar 1827 in Germany.
On the 1860 census, Jefferson Twp., Polk Co., Ia., [p. 95, fam. #765/700] we find Jacob, age 60, a farmer, with real estate valued at $10,000 and personal property at $500. With him is wife Catharine, b. Wutenburg, age 33. Also in the home, besides the Rittgers' children, is one Guttip Bates, listed as "son". He is age 5 and born in Indiana. (Guttip found on the 1870 census with Perry C. Rittgers, name spelled Golleib Botz, 15, in Walnut Grove, Saline Co., Ks.) This must be Christina's son. On 1900 census, she reports she immigrated in 1851. We find in the California Death Records that one "Gottlieb W. Betts, was born 2 Nov 1854, Iowa, mother's maiden name 'Schley', died 1944 Tulare, Calif.' In the California Birth Records there are 14 'Betts' born in Tulare.
On the 1870 census, Valley, Polk Co., Ia.[p. 406, fam. # 97/107] Jacob age 70, with wife Catherine, age 43, and children as reported in family records with the exception of Mary, who was not yet born. Ages correspond to our information.
We can be sure that by 1871, Jacob is well aware of the passing years. He deeds to nephew Reuben Rittgers (#16.2) for "one dollar in hand....as trustee.. "premises situated in Polk County, Iowa, for the express use of the Rittgers family and their connections for the burial of the dead of their respective families.." dated 21 Jan 1871, filed 6 May 1874. [Photocopy had no book number, but appears to be from the original as transcribed into a book of deeds.] Jacob died 17 Dec 1879 in Jefferson Twp., Polk Co., Ia., and was buried in Rittgers Cemetery, Johnston, Ia.[Rittgers Cemetery records, Johnston, Polk Co., Ia.]
By the 1880 census, Catherine, age 53 is head of house in Valley, Polk Co., Ia. [ED 172 , p. 541, fam #131/134] With her are Benjamin, age 17, through Mary, age 8. In a rare find, Jacob's name is listed last, age 79, with the notation that he died Dec 1879 and a single line drawn through the entry.
Jacob's death started quite a public family discord. In his will, Jacob included a passage stating that he bequeaths to Catherine all property and money "for the purpose of raising, clothing, and educating the children born to us until such time that Mary our youngest child shall attain the age of fifteen." Then he adds that "at that time or as soon thereafter as can be conveniently done" everything was to be sold and the "proceeds thereof be equally divided between my wife Catherine Rittgers and my children who shall survive me and of any children who shall have died between the time of my decease and the time of such division or distribution [their heirs] to be entitled to such share of shares as their respective ancestors would have been entitled to receive...and the share of my real and personal estate bequeathed to my wife to be in lieu of her dower." His will was written 15 Dec 1877 and filed 27 Dec 1879. [Land Abstract #62638; Probate 2, #916; Will Rec. 3-198, Polk Co.,Ia.]
What follows is a landmark court case that upheld the widow's right to her dower - in spite of what the will specified. On 6 Mar 1880, Catherine filed a "Petition for Assignment of Dower", or the right of a surviving spouse to have one-third of the estate left by a deceased spouse. She wants a referee to be appointed to "assign and set apart to her one third in value of all the said Real Estate as and for her share and interest..." The adult children, coincidentally being the children of Jacob and first wife, Hester, and being the children that we are told Catherine alienated and drove from the home, petitioned to have the will upheld, that Catherine should only get one/twenty-third of the estate at the time the youngest child is fifteen. Despite protests, "under Iowa Law" Catherine won her right to dower. She was given 70 acres that contained the homestead "exclusive of the family burying ground situated thereon." This case is in law books and is required reading for law students. [This author received a photocopy of the entries relating to this case, but no bibliography. The page is titled "Supreme Court of Iowa, June Term 1881, p. 218. Much of this is supported in the land abstract, also.] Her dower, one third of the property, was set aside on 20 Feb 1882. She was allowed to maintain the entire estate until the youngest, Mary, was 15. At that time, she gave a report to the court - citing much hardship in raising the younger children, "that the income from the estate has been insufficient to raise the family and only by the personal exertions and earnings of the Executrix and by the use of the income from her separate estate has she been able to raise the family and keep the Estate out of debt." This estate is marked "Closed" on the face of the docket following this entry. The last entry in the abstract is a deed from Johnson Rittgers to his mother, buying most of the land from her, dated 21 Oct 1901, and mortgage satisfied acknowledged 4 Mar 1902. The corner Johnson didn't buy may have been taken by heirs living in the area.
The 1900 census finds Katherine, age 73 and b. May 1827 in Germany, with son Johnson as head of household in Grimes, Polk Co., Ia.[p.290, fam. #151/158] With them are also two of Jacob and Katherine's daughters; Priscilla, age 36 (b. Jan 1864) and Mary, 29 (b. Sept 1871). On the 1910 census we find Catherine, age 83, living with youngest child, Mary, and her husband, Herschel Rhoad in Rippey, Greene Co., Ia. [ED 106, p 9A, fam. #188/190] Catherine died 5 Apr 1913, and was buried in Rittgers Cemetery, in Johnston, Polk Co., Ia. Her stone in the Rittgers Family Cemetery reads "Anna Catharine."
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