Person:Andrew Rittgers (1)

He is on the 1870 census, age 3, with parents in Valley, Polk Co., Ia. [p 406 fam #97/107] and there, age 13, with mother on the 1880 census.[p 541 fam #131/134] By 1900, "Johnson" is 33 and head of household, farming in what is now Grimes in Webster Twp., Polk Co., Oh. He has with him his mother, Catherine, now 73; and sisters Priscilla and Mary.[p 290A fam #151/158] On 21 Oct 1901, Catherine sold him 219 acres - all but a small portion of Jacob's original holding. She charged him "$12,000 of the purchase money yet unpaid." Several months later he paid it off. In 1940 Jennie wrote a letter, apparently in response to questions about her parentage: "My Grandfather Beer was an Englishman, so that "Beer" don't mean Dutch! Grandfather Philip Snyder was Pennsylvania Dutch and his wife was Scotch-Irish. My father died when I was 14 months old and my brother Anthony was 3 years old. Our mother moved to Iowa from Ohio when I was eight years old as her two brothers were in Jones Co., Ia. When I was eleven years old, she married Dad Philips, and if anybody had a good daddy, we did in him." In 1910 we see them in Precinct #1, Webster, Polk Co., Ia. Andrew, a farmer, is 43. Wife Virginia is 41. They have been married 8 years and she states she has born 4 children, all living. Also in the home are his in-la ws Luther Phillips, 75, born in Conn., and his wife Lucinda, 72, born in Pa. The Phillips have been married 33 years and Lucinda states she has born 4 children - one alive now.[p 8A, E D 184, fam #87/87] On the 1920 census, A. Johnson Rittgers, 52, is listed in Webster, Polk Co ., as a general farmer. Wife Virginia, is 50.[ED 187, p 12B (p. 297), fam #196/198] In 1930, he continues on Beaver Rd, Webster Twp. He owns his general farm and is now 61. He declares he 34 when first married, and is not a veteran. Wife Virginia, 60, declares she was 33 when first married. (ED 77-129, p. 4A, fam #89/91) Johnson lived on the homestead on Ridgedale Rd. until his death 1941. In his will, filed 29 Aug 1941, Polk Co . Probate Court, Des Moines, Ia., he bequeaths his land to his four children.

1. ↑ Family Group Sheet.
2. ↑ Abstract number 62638 - Jacob Rittgers. (1848-1902, Abstract of Title - Land, American Abstract Co., Des Moines, Ia, Photocopy of original abstract #62638).
3. ↑ ED 172, p. 541, fam #131/134
   Rittgers, Catharine, head, 53, widow, farming, b Wutenburg to par b there
   Benjamin, son, 17, farming, b Ia to father b Va mother b Ger.
   Priscilla, dau, 16, b Ia
   George, son, 15, b Ia
   Andrew, son, 13, b Ia
   Lillie, dau, 11, b Ia
   May, dau, 8, b Ia
   Jacob B., 79, husb., 79, died Dec 1879, b Va to father b Ger, mother b Va.
4. ↑ p. 123
   Rittgers, Catherine, 68, b Ger, widow, Lutheran
   Priscilla, 31
   Andrew J., 27, farmer
   Mary, 23
5. ↑ p. 290, fam #151/158
   Rittgers, Johnson, head, b June 1867, 33, b Ia to father b Va, mother b Ger, farmer
   Katherine, mother, b Mar 1827, b Ger as were her par.
   Priscilla, sister, b Jan 1864, 36, b Ia
   Mary, sister, b Sept 1868, 29, b Ia
6. ↑ ED 184, p. 8A, fam #87/87
   Rittgers, Andrew, head, 43, m8yr, b Ia to father b Va, mother ?, farmer
   Virginia, wife, 41, m8yr, born 4children/4alive, b Oh to father b Oh, mother
   b Pa
   Raymond, son, 7, b Ia
   Anthony T., son, 5, b Ia
   Robert J., son, 2, b Ia
   Pauline E, dau, 2 mo, b Ia
   Phillips, Luther, father-in-law, 75, m33yr, b Conn to father b NY, mother b Conn
   Lucinda, mother-in-law, 72, m33yr, born 4 children/1alive, b Pa to par b Pa
7. ↑ ED 187, p. 12B, fam #196/198
   Rittgers, A. Johnson, head, 52, b Ia to father b Va, mother b Ger, farmer, gen farm
   Virginia, wife, 50, b Ia to par b US
   Raymond, son, 16, b Ia
   Theodore, son, 14, b Ia
   Robert J., son, 12, b Ia
   Pauline, dau, 9, b Ia
8. ↑ ED 77-12, p. 4A., fam #89/91, Beaver Rd
   Rittgers, Andrew J., head, owns farm, no radio, 61, 34 when first married, b Ia to
   father b Va., mother b Ger
   Virginia, wife, 60, 33 when first married, b Oh to father b Oh, mother b Pa
   Anthony T., son, 25, b Ia, laborer, general farm
   Robert J., son, 22, b Ia, laborer, general farm
   Pauline E., dau, 20, b Ia.