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Esther May Rittgers
b.28 May 1844 Marion, Hocking Co., OH.
d.13 Nov 1887 San Diego, San Diego Co., Calif.
Family tree▼ (edit)
m. 1821
(edit)
m. 9 May 1864
Facts and Events
TODO: Description: 1860 - Esther Rittgers - #12.C Category: Census Local: Polk Co., Ia. Date: 18 Mar 2001 Status: Open Type: 0 Priority: 8 Repository:
We extend a hearty Thank You to Irving Blabon for sending us a Civil War Diary of James Milo Nosler, youngest brother of William Nosler. We are going to include passages about James' courtship of Sallie Snyder, sister of George Snyder, to show what the times were like.
In this Milo reports that his grandfather, John Nosler was about seven when his parents "began their voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, and on the way the man and wife both died and the boy was brought on to America..." John lived in Virginia, and then moved his family to Tennessee "on the Duck River ten miles from Knoxville..." James Milo tells us that his father and mother worked hard, and by the time he was born, "in Putnam County, Indiana on 30th day of April 1843", his father was the proprietor of a well cultivated farm with good buildings, orchard, and ghristmill and saw milll...." He here states his father of German descent, and that is all the hints of ancestry we find. His older sister, Caroline, married a Lawson as we will see in the diary.
James talks of his childhood, and in 1857, "had my first experience in farming this summer and went to school in the fall. The family traveled in 1858 "looking at the country" in Mo., Kansas, and Iowa. At age 15, James struck out on his own and several pages follow his adventures, with only passing mention of "Will". "The clouds of war kept gathering..." and James and William joined the union army on 7 Aug 1861 in Capt. G.C.Graves Co., & 2nd Iowa Cavalry. This was the first cavalry recruited at Des Moines. He now dates his diary by the month and occasionally by the day. He notes that in Dec 1861 they go from Davenport, Ia., to St. Louis. "25 [Dec} I takes the measles. 28 Will takes them." They are taken to the hospital, and "31st we are both considerably better. They are still recouperating in the hospital and note that Will wrote a letter to Valerie - "their father's second wife and their step-mother" has been inserted in the copy. James wrote to Jerry Lawson.
They apparently stay in St. Louis for a while, and talk of fear of smallpox and yellow fever. He talks of the daily life in camp, then in March 1862, mentions that they have been to a party and mentions Molly. It is written "(I may remark here that William was for a long time engaged to be married to this girl. She was a splendid girl, good looking and rich withal.)" They have traveled on the Mississippi, been to Paduca, Ky, and up the Tennessee River. He mentions in his travels that he went past the Shilo, Tenn., Battlefield. "It was awful to pass over this battlefield and see the unhidden effects of the late great battle, the dead horses, the scarred trees, the broken arms and ammunitions of war, and the graves of the soldiers - all told how horrible had been the conflict." Two days later he notes that he is 19 years old.
On 9 May 1862, he and Will are in the Battle of Farmington. He reports that "My horse was slightly wounded in his front leg and a shot struck my sabre which I had in my hand." This is the thread of the diary - many days of guard duty and camp chores, physical ailments from swollen feet to diarrhea to being "not well." In Feb, 1863 James appears to muster out. He goes to the home of brother John in Kingston, Caldwell Co., Mo. On 6 May 1863, James decided to go to Iowa to see friends and attend to some business. He goes to his father's farm - apparently near Beaver, Boone Co. Co. - and goes in to Des Moines. He goes to see Jeremiah (Jerry) Lawson and notes that here he "speak to Sarah Snyder for the first time. I am considerably smitten." She is sister of George Snyder who marries both Mary Ann Rittgers (16.3) and Malinda Rittgers (16.5)
On 24 May 1863 "Go to hear Rube Rittgers preach....Go home with Sarah Snyder." The 27th of May "lend Moses Lawson $106." 31st May "Today I go to church with Maud Madison. Tonight go to meeting. Rube Rittgers goes home with Sarah S. (I learned afterwards that she told him never to come back again. She had mittened him once or twice before.)
On 10 June 1863 James hears that William has deserted, but on the 11th learns that he was taken prisoner. (and that is all he had to say on that subject! JR) June 21 he takes Sallie Snyder to meeting and "venture to lay my arm around her for the first time." 19 July Sallie and James walk over to Jake Rittgers, and on the 26th he goes for the dr. for Jake Rittgers. (Doesn't report what the problem is.)
August was not a good month for James. He finds out that Sallie's father objects to him, and becomes ill, but by the 18th is better. On the 22nd he "ask her a question of great importance, but she does not answer it.". By the 24th he finds that she turns him down because he isn't a memver of the church, her friends opposed to it, and he uses tobacco. He feels he can overcome all objections. "I think nothing should remove it but genuine true love."
In September he is still seeing Sallie, and she has agreed to marry him "at all hazards." On the 9th, "Jake Rittgers and I are going to steal his girl and take her to Mo." This is Kate, daughter of "Old Mr. Lawson. The old man won't talk to him about it." They hatch a plan fetch her at night in a buggy. Her father discovered the plot and kept her in the house that night. On the night of Sept 11th she ran away, and they took her and left for Mo. The 13th they cross the line into Mo., "at dark Jake and Kate [Lawson] are married. The next night they arrive at Sam Rittgers, where he leaves Jake and wife.
Sept 16th he arrives at brother John's home and finds that "Will is here on Parole."
Sept 23rd, "Wm. and I start for Iowa." 24th Arrive at Sam Rittgers.." Apparently they travel north with Jake and Kate Rittgers. 27th at their father's. 28th "Get to Beaver a little after dark. Jake and Kate go to old Jake Rittgers. Wm. and I go to Jerry's [Nosler]." This the Nosler that older sister Caroline married. On the 30th James "work for Rube Rittgers half the day."
Oct 3, William and James "go to town." Here William is arrested as they think he is a deserter and is taken to town." 4th I go to town. Get Wm. released." He also reports that as far as Sallie is concerned "Things begin to look dark." and a few days later, "We agree to quit keeping company for a while on account of the old folks."
On Oct 16th, we find the entry, "Tonight go to party at Docks. Will is with Esther." To this point, we have no idea when they first met. James notes that he sent Sallie [calls her S.A.S.] "a song ballard and write a few lines in it." On the 30th "Melinda Rittgers begins working at Jerrie's."
Nov 5th, "Ella Snyder comes here [Jerry Lawson's] to stay. 7th "Go to meeting tonight with Ella just to cut Rube out." 8th Simon snyder and I cut Geo. and Jno. Highland out, and take Finley's girl to church." Thru the month of Nov., James sends notes to Sallie and receives notes back, but doesn't comment on their content. 23rd Stop at old Jake Rittgers at a play party; go home with Abby Finley."
He continues to pursue Sallie Snyder and notes that on 25 Dec, "Go to supper at Mrs. Rittgers; have a splendid time. Go home with Sallie Snyder. We arrange to get married soon." 27th he talked to her father, who refused to give his blessing. Apparently the minister who was supposed to be speaking in James' behalf was counseling Sallie and her father against him! He agonizes over this for several entries. 10 Jan "Take a sleigh ride with Linnie and Esther Rittgers. James leaves the area and on 30 Jan, he sends a letter to Sallie with a wedding ring. He goes back in the Army in Feb. 15 Feb "Send Valentines to Misses Sallie and Ella Snyder and Linnie (Malinda) and Esther Rittgers."
The diary follows his adventures, and on 23 Apr 1864, 'I buy a suit of clothes (which becomes my wedding suit.)" On 30 April, he and Will are on furlough back in Polk Co., Ia. James runs into Sallie. "I talk to her a long time. She doesn't know what to do. Tonight William goes to see Esther Rittgers." He also notes that others are trying to break up the match. He vows revenge if that happens. The last note on this day is "Today I am 21 years old."
On 4 May, he goes down to Mrs. Rittgers. "There is quite a number of youngsters there. Wm., Esther, Sallie, and I take a walk.....We talk until 11 o'clock and finally Sallie and I agree to get maried tomorrow. Wm and Esther - Sunday." The next day they went into Des Moines and, after a recital of the day, they were married at 8 o'clock at the Des Moines House by Mr. Barbee of the M.E. Church.
On the 8th of May Will tries to get a minister, but can't so they can't get married. 9 May They all go into Winterset, where Will and Esther are married. They arrive back in Des Moines on the 10th and Will and Esther stay at the Des Moines House.
The diary continues for some time, and James is quite happy with Sallie, even tho she is ill much of their early marriage. She stayed with brother George Snyder while James was away in the Army, and took a "water cure" at one point.
He notes in his diary that on 18 Oct 1865, "Wm.'s regt. is at Davenport, Ia." and on the 25th that "hear Wm. is home." He and Sallie were separated by the rigors of Army life for two years.
On 5 July 1866, she comes west on a stage to meet him in Council Bluffs, Ia. They were going to settle in Dakota City, Hunboldt Co., but not sure just where they settled. In Sept 1866 they board at Rube Rittgers. He is working for others, cutting hay and putting it up. He notes on 7 Oct 1866 "Rhubes have a boy and Will helps me haul hay." This is the birth of Ambrose Rittgers. 31 Oct "hear of Linnies (George's wife) death." This is Malinda Rittgers (16.5)
Thursday, November 1st, 1866: Preparing for funeral as they will bring her from Wester here for interment." 2nd "Last night they got here with corpse. Sallies mother and the Dr. Come along."
Sallie was ill in Nov with "her old disease" but on Christmas eve Sallie and Abby went over to Findleys and the next day Rube and I went. We had a very nice time."
On 28 Feb 1867 they began preparing to leave for Nebraska. They leave on the 6th of March and travel much of the way in quite a blizzard. He comments on how strong Sallie is. They finally get there and set up housekeeping. They return in June for their cattle and sheep. While there they are again interacting with Ruben Rittgers and William Nosler. They ultimately wind up in Western College, Linn Co., Ia., where they have a baby girl on 25 Nov 1867. They have a store here. On 23 Dec 1867, Anna Mary Rittgers comes for Christmas. George Snyder is in and out of their home, but apparently lives in Polk Co. On 30 Mar, he notes that "Geo. went to Vinton [Benton Co., Ia.] to marry Anna Mary. He talks of George going to Colorado and opening a drug store.
The entries for several months are of his working, attacks of rheumatism, and frequent mention in passing of Will and Reuben Rittges. On 16 Aug 1868, he notes "go to hear Rube preach." 22 Aug "Geo. Snyder has backed out of everything and left me in the suds; so much for trusting a relative." He also notes that he and Sallie and baby are looking for a place to rent for the winter. "Rube has refused to fix the house according to promise and we can't winter there."
Sallie has been ill, and the doctors advise them to go to Colorado. They sell off what they can't take with them. 4 Sept 1868 "here Rube preach for the last time. The hypocrit." They head for Mo. for the winter, and on Oct 18th "get to John's. Find all well. Wills living in his old house nearby." [Not sure just where this is in Mo.]
Here is where the copy of this journal ends. We don't see any mention of William and Esther going west at this point.
References
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