Person:Charles Rittgers (1)

Adopted son of Michael and Mary E. (Barton) Rittgers. We see him on the 1880 census , age 7, with his parents, Webster Twp., Polk Co., Ia.(ED 175, p 587A, fam #282/236) In 1900, we found Charles in Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY. Here he was 27 and a "machinist". Wife Mary, 25, declares they have been married 1 year and she has born one child, seen with them on the census. Also in the home are Mary's mother and brother. At the time of his sister, Gretchen's, death in 1917, her obit states he was living in Brooklyn, New York. We are told that Charles heard about the opportunities on the Brooklyn Ship Yard and went there to seek his fortune. On the 1920 census, Charles, now a widower, age 41, has come home to Webster, Polk Co., Ia. , with his children. He is a farmer on a "general farm." Besides his children, we see living with him his mother, Mary E. Rittgers, age 73. He is probably running his father's farm as it states he is renting. (ED187, p 12B, fam #125/126) Wife Mary (Kavenaugh) Ritgers must have died after about 1914, as the youngest child, Elizabeth, is six. On the 1930 census, Webster Twp., Polk Co., Ia., Charles R. lives on Johnston Station Rd. He owns his general farm and has a radio. Age 57, he is a widower, b Ia to father born Oh and mother b. Mass. With him are three adult children. (ED 77-129, p. 6B)

1. ↑ ED 309, p. 10B, fam #114/228 87 Vanderbuilt Ave
   Rittgers, Charles, head, b Dec 1872, 27, m1yr, b Ia to father b Oh, mother b Me,
   machinist, rents house
   Mary, wife, b Sept 1875, 25, m 1yr, born 1 child/1 alive, b Oh to father b
   Ire, mother b NY
   Kavanaugh, Annie, mother, b Aug 1846, 53, wid, born 3 children/2 alive, b NY to
   father b Ire, mother b NY
   Joseph, brother, b Aug 1879, 20, b Oh to par b NY, machine operator
   Rittgers, Harry, son, b July 1899, 10 mo, b NY
2. ↑ 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
3. ↑ ED 77-129, sheet 6B, 76 Johnston Station
   Rittgers, Charles R., head, owns & has radio, 57, widower, b Ia to father b Oh,
   mother b Mass, farmer general farm
   Dorothy, daughter 29, b Ny
   Walter J., son, 22, b NY, laborer, general farm
   Hubert D., son, 20, b NY, laborer, general farm