Person:Michael Rittgers (1)

On the 1860 census, age 9, with his mother in Polk Co., Iowa.[p. 94, fam #742/677] In 1870 he is still in his mother's home, age 19.[p 406 fam #96/106] On the 1880 census, Grimes, Webster Twp., Polk Co., Ia., Michael is now 29, a farmer married to Mary E, age 33, born in Maine. (The 1880 census reports her parents b. Maine, also, but 1900 gives her mother as being born in New Brunswick, Canada.) They have in their home one Addie Lawson. Addie is 18, born in Ia., and states that her father was born in Pa. and her mother in Connecticut. She is listed as a servant. (Could she be daughter of Moses Lawson, who was by this time married to Michael's mother? He has a daughter, Elizabeth, who would be 18 at this this time.)[E D 175, p 587A, fam #282/232] In 1900 we find Michael still farming in Webster (Grimes) Polk Co., Ia. He is 49 and Mary E. is 53. She declares they have been married 24 years and she has born 3 children, 2 alive at this time. Also listed is one Lizzie Close, boarder, age 10, born July 1889 in Ia., as were her parents. Family history tells us that Michael and Mary Ellen took in a "Florence" and raised her. [p 290B fam #154/162] Florence later married their son Anson. The 1910 census shows them in Webster, Polk Co., Ia. Michael is 59 and still farming. Mary E. is 63. With them is Florence Close, 20, a servant. She states she born in Ia., but doesn't know where parents born.[ED 184, p 7B, fam #77/77] Michael died of pernicious anemia.[PVRD, p. 278] In 1920 we find Mary, now 73 and a widow, with son Charles, a widower, and seven of Charles' children in Webster, Polk Co., Ia. We may assume he is farming his father's property.[ED 187, p 12B, fam #125/126]

1. ↑ Abstract number 76811 - Daniel Rittgers. (Extracted from Deeds of Polk Co., Ia., under name of Daniel Rittgers.)
   Probate Journal Bk 1, p. 364, 22 Jan 1977.
2. ↑ Death record.
3. ↑ p. 442, fam #147/160
   Rittgers, Daniel, 39, farmer, $3000 RE, b Oh
   Christina, 20, b Oh
   David F., 13, b Oh
   Reuben, 12, b Oh
   Mary A., 11, b Oh
   Sarah, 9, b Oh
   Malina, 7, b Oh
   John H., 4, b Oh
   George, 2, b Oh
   Michael, 1mo, b Oh
4. ↑ p. 285, fam #63
   Rittgers, Daniel, 45, farmer, b Oh, #yrs in Iowa - 2
   Christina, 25, b Her
   David F., 19, b Oh
   Reuben, 17, b Oh
   Sarah, 13, b Oh
   Melinda, 11, b Oh
   John H., 9, b Oh
   George, 7, b Oh
   Michael, 3, b Oh
   Rosanna, 1, b Ia
   (Sister Nina missed on this census, age 3; and Michael should be six)
5. ↑ p. 94, fam #742/61
   Rittgres, Christina, 29, no occupation, $5000 RE, b Germany
   Reuben, 22, no occupation, $1000 RE, b Oh
   Mary Ann, 19, no occupation, $1000 RE, b Oh
   Malinda, 15, no occupation, $1000 RE, b Oh
   John, 13, no occupation, $1000 RE, b Oh
   George, 11, $1000 RE, b Oh
   Michael, 9, $1000 RE, b Oh
   Caroline, 7, $1000 RE, b Oh
   Rosina, 4, $1000 RE, b Oh
   Nancy J., 1, $1000 RE, b Oh
6. ↑ ED 112, p. 290, fam #154/162
   Rittgers, Michael, head, b Sept 1850, 49, m24yr, b Oh to father b Va, mother b Ger
   farmer on farm owned free
   Mary E., wife, b Oct 1847, 53, m 24 yr, born 3 children/2 alive, b Me to
   father b Me, mother b Eng
   Lizzie, dau, b May 1878, 22, b Ia
   Anson, son, b Sept 1885, 14, b Ia
   Close, Lizzie, boarder, b July 1889, 10, b Ia
7. ↑ Ward #1, ED 184, p. 7B, fam #77/77
   Rittgers, Michael, head, 59, m34yr, b Oh to par b ?, farmer, owns farm
   Mary E., wife, 63, m34yr, born 3 children/2alive, b Me to father b Me, mother
   born, New Brunswick, Can.
   Close, Florence, servant, 20, b Ia to par b ?
8. ↑ ED 187, p. 12B, fam #125/126
   Rittgers, Charles, head, 47, widowed, b Ia to father b Oh, mother b Me., farmer
   Harry W, son, 20, b NY, ships waiter (unable to read ship)
   Dorothy M., dau, 19, b NY
   Charles B., son, 16, b NY
   Grace A., dau, 14, b NY
   Walter J., son, 12, b NY
   Herbert D., son, 10, b NY
   Elizabeth E., dau, 6, b NY
   Mary E., mother, 73, widowed, b Me to father b Me, mother b N.B., Can