Person:David Rittgers (1)

On 1850 census, age 13, with father and step-mother in Bern Twp., Fairfield Co., Oh.[p 442 fam #147/160] Sarah was the daughter of Timothy P. and Ann (__) Denney. On the 1860 census, they were in Jefferson Twp., Polk Co., Ia. David is 23, a farmer with property worth $1000 and personal property worth $300. Wife Sarah E. is age 17. [p 104 fam #830/764] They live next door to his sister Sarah, who just married James Denney, brother of his wife. In 1870 we find David, 33, a farmer in Valley, Polk Co., Ia. His property is valued at $5000 and personal property is $2050. Wife Sarah, age 27, who was born in Delaware, has two children. They also have in their home 4 others. Jacob Hamilton is 14. (Son of David's cousin, Margaret (#12.6 daughter of Jacob Rittgers), and Joseph Hamilton.) David also has Anna Wooley, age 10, born in Ohio; George Curl, 21, b. in Indiana; and Sarah Root, 17, born in Ohio. (David 's aunt Magdalene (#1.4) married John Root. Their son Daniel Root has a daughter, Sarah, b. 1853. ) We have found no connection to the Wooley child or George Curl, but they could be kin to the Denneys.[p 407 fam #108/118] On the 1880 census, we see David continues to do well. He is now 43 , and a farmer in Valley, Polk Co., Ia. With him are wife Sarah, 37; six children, and four servants listed: Wilbur Gray, 25, b. Ohio, a farm laborer; Annie Wobry, 19 (Wooley on 1870 census?) "died Oct 1879", b. Ohio; Job Truman, 56, b. Ohio; and William Ogden, 28, b. N.J.[ ED 172, p 545, fam #214/219] In 1900, David 63, a farmer in 1st ward, Des Moines, Polk Co., Ia, and Sarah E., 57., still have four children in the home, as well as grand-daughter, Mina May Wilson, age 4(#1618.1). (ED 68, p. 127B) We find they live at 1134 24th St., in 1st ward, Des Moines, on the 1910 census. David, 73, has "own income:" Wife Sarah E., 67, declares they have been married 51 years and she has born 12 children, 6 alive at this time. Also in the home is Jennie Pickenbrock, 51, widow, and David Royce, 56, single, with no occupation given. (ED 78, p. 4B, fam #98/128) On the 1920 census we see "D.F." age 82, a retired farmer, in Des Moines, Polk Co., Ia. With him are wife Sarah, 76, and son Carl C., 31. It notes Carl is farming father's farm. Also with them is Mary Holmquist, 67, "roomer", a seamstress from Germany, who arrived in 1875.[ED 84, p 4A, fam #97/8 4] We are told David died 16 Apr 1926 "from pleural pneumonia from getting hot in the garden and cooling off too fast." It is reported that in 1929, Sarah had 18 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Sarah died 18 Dec 1931. They are buried in the Rittgers Cemetery Johnston, Ia .[RitCem] They were members of Grace Methodist Church, Des Moines, Ia.

1. ↑ 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
2. ↑ 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
3. ↑ p. 104, fam #830/764
   Rittgers, David, 23, farmer, $1000 RE, $300 Pers prop., b Oh
   Sarah, 17, b Del
4. ↑ Rittgers, David, 33, farmer, $5000 Real Estate/$2050 pers prop.; b Oh
   Sarah, 27, b Del
   Timothy, 3, b Ia
   Eddie, 1, b Ia
   Hamilton, Jacob, 14, b Ia
   Wooley, Anna, 10, b Oh
   Curl, George, 21, $300 personal property, b Ind.
   Root, Sarah, 17, b Oh
   
   [Jacob Hamilton is grandson of Jacob (#1.2) and son of Margaret Rittgers, deceased and Joseph Hamilton]
   [Sarah Root (#144.1)is daughter of Daniel (1.4- Magdalene Rittgers; 1.John Root) and Margaret Zeller]
5. ↑ Rittgers, D.F., head, 82, b Oh to par b Oh, retired farmer
   Sarah, wife, 76, b Del to par b Del
   Carl C., son, 31, b Ia, farming father's farm
   Holmquist, Mary, roomer, 67, immig 1875, b Ger to par b Ger., seamstress