Person:Magdalene Rittgers (1)

Family records call her Mary Magdalene, but in her father's estate papers she is referred to as "Magdalene, wife of John Root of Hocking Co." There is also a "Mary, wife of Eli Deel." listed in the same paragraph. She is called "Molly" on her marriage record.[Fairfield Co. Marr. Bk 1, p. 28] We see John Root on the 1840 census in Laurel Twp., Hocking Co., Oh. In his home are one male 40-49, one female 30-39, 2 males and one female 10-14, one male and one female age 5-9, and one male 0-4.[p 182] These ages correspond to the known children of John and Magdalene. On Maps of the Ohio River Survey, Congressional Lands, we see that John Root purchased 42.18 acres on 26 Dec 1836, and an additional 42.18 acres - separated from the original purchase by two farms - on 25 Apr 1837. These are in Range #18, Twp. #12, Section #24, Laurel Twp., Hocking Co., Oh. [Kocher, L. Richard; SECTION MAPS WITH ENTRYMAN ON LANDS IN HOCKING CO., OH; Oh, Gen. Soc., 1992; p. "Laurel 24".]

    In the estate of her father, John A. Rittgers, an accounting dated 4 April 1848, we find a list of debts owed the estate.  We see that "John Root...Five dollars, dated Apl 21st 1837, due on demand, on which has been paid 14 Sept 1844 three dollars and seventy five cents, and on the 22nd of March 1847 one dollar, supposed to be good for balance and interest."
    The 1850 census gives us John, 57, born in N.Y., a farmer with $300 in real estate.  With him is wife Magdalene, age 45.  The eldest child that is listed in the family record, Ephriam, is not in the home, but the rest are shown on the census.[p 57, fam #411/420]  We are told Magdalene died 12 June 1862, Marion, Hocking Co., Oh.  In Hocking Co. Book "C" of Marriages, p. 510, one John Root married 25 Feb 1869, Catharine Steele. We are told he died in the 1860's, so this might be son John, or another John Root altogether, as the family was large.  We are told our John married after 1850, Fanny Woods.
    We thank Barbara Jo (Mudrich) Smith for contributing much to the Root line.  Also "Arlene" for submitting an extensive descendancy.  Arlene reports that our John Root is actually of the 9th Root generation - going back thru (Joshua 8; Joshua 7; Joshua 6; Joshua 5; John 4; John 3; John 2; Thomas 1.)

1. ↑ Family Group Sheet.
2. ↑ Family Group Sheet.
3. ↑ p. 57, fam #411/420
   Root, John, 57, farmer, $300 RE, b NY
   Magdalene, 45, b Oh
   Isaac, 24, b Oh
   Sarah, 21, b Oh
   Daniel, 18, b Oh
   Catherine, 16, b Oh
   John, 12, b Oh
   Sophrona, 10, b Oh
   Belinda, 5, b Oh
   Mary, 2, b Oh