Person:Catherine Rittgers (3)

TODO: Description: 1920 census - James and Catherine (Rittgers) Stewart - #12.F Category: Census Local: Paradise Valley, Humbolt Co., Nev. Date: 18 Mar 2001 Status: Open Type: 0 Priority: 8 Repository:

On the 1860 census , age 1, with parents in Jefferson Twp., Polk Co., Ia.[p 95 fam #765/700] In 1870, age 11, in Valley Twp. with her parents.[p 406 fam #97/107] We don't know when, how or why she went to California but we find Catherine in Lone Pine, Inyo Co., on the 1880 census with her husband. There is a reference to their marriage in the 1878 "San Francisco Call" newspaper. Full article not on internet where this found. fhs.org/ethnic.html In one family record, we find the following story: "James J. Stewart was born in Cuba, and then moved with his family to Michigan. When the Civil War broke out, he joined the 5th Michigan Cavalry, and shortly after the close of the war went to Ca., died there Feb 1929 shortly before his 87th birthday at the home of his son Fred in Paradise Valley, and was buried at Paradise Valley on Feb 5, 1929." He consistently states on his census return that he was born in Michigan to a father born in Pa. and a mother born in Scotland. The 1880 census has Catherine and John in the home of Anna B. Stewart, in Lone Pine, Inyo Co., Calif. Anna is 58 and listed as head of the house, born in Scotland, as were her parents. In the same house is John J. Stewart, son, age 32, Post Master. His wife Catherine is 22, born in Ia. With them is Frederick B., b. July 1879 in California.[p. 505 fam #219/262] The 1900 census shows the family still in Inyo Co., Calif. John, age 57, b. Apr 1843 in Michigan, has with him wife Catherine, 41. Fred, 21 and "John E." 16, are in the home as well as John's mother, Anna, age 79.[ED 32, p 3A fam # 51/51] The 1910 census gives us John, 66, with "own income" in occupation. His wife, Katherine, 51, declares they have been married 32 years and she has born 2 children, one alive at this time. In the home is son Fred, so we must assume that son John has died. They are listed in "4th Twp. (Lone Pine)", Inyo Co., Calif.[ED 18, p 1A, fam #10/10] We do not see them in Lone Pine in 1920 . James died Feb 1929 in Paradise Valley, Humbolt Co., Nev., and was buried there 5 Feb 1929. In a photocopied newspaper article, with no news banner or date, we see that Mrs. J.J. Stewart was in Bakersfield, Calif., with brothers B.F. Rittgers (Benjamin #12.H) of Rolfe, Ia., and G.M. (George #12.J) Rittgers, Jefferson, Ia., and half brother G.W. Betts (could this be Guttip Bates, son of her mother?), of Bakersfield, Calif. It reports that the brothers had not met for sixty-five years. "Mrs. J.J. Stewart, Paradise Valley, Nev.," hadn't seen her brothers for 25 years. "She went to California when a young girl and made her home with her brother until she married J.J. Stewart, postmaster of Lone Pine. After he passed away, she moved to Paradise Valley, Nev., where she could be near her son who runs a large cattle ranch."

1. ↑ Family Group Sheet.
2. ↑ p. 95, fam #765/700
   Rittgers, Jacob, 60, farmer, $10,000 RE, $500 pers prop, b Va
   Catherine, 33, b Wurtenburg
   Peter, 18, b Oh
   Henry, 12, b Oh
   Daniel, 3, b Ia
   Catherine, 1, b Ia
   Bates, Gutep, 5, b Ind.
3. ↑ p. 505, fam #219/262
   Stewart, Anna B., head, 51, keep house, b Scotland to par b Scotland
   John J., son, 32, postmaster, b Mich to father b Pa, mother b Scotland
   Catherine, 22, dau-in-law, b Ia to par b Pa
   Frederick B., grandson, 11 mo, b Ca
   Fau, Oh, 30, cook, b China
   Mark, Patrick, 19, laborer, b Mass to par b Ire
4. ↑ Twp #3, ED 32, p. 3A, fam #51/51
   Stewart, John J., head, b Apr 1843, 57, m22yr, b Mich to father b Pa, mother b Scot.
   postmaster
   Catherine, wife, b Aug 1858, 41, m22yr, born 2children/2alive, b Ia to father
   b Pa mother b Ger
   Fred B., b June 1878, 21, b Ca, school teacher
   John E., b Apr 1884, 16, b Ca
   Anna, mother, b Aug 1820, 79, widow, b Scotland, immigrated 1830
5. ↑ 4th Twp., ED 18, p. 1A, fam #10/10
   Stewart, John, head, 66, m32yr, b Mich to father b Pa, mother b Scot., own income
   Katherine, wife, 52, b32yr, born 2children/1alive, b Ia to father b Ger,
   mother b Pa
   Fred B., son, 30, b Ca, Civil Engineer - mines