Person:John Rittgers (11)

We find his birth given in the land abstract for his father's farm, [Abst.#76811] He is age 4 with his father and step-mother in Bern Twp., Fairfield Co., Oh. , on the 1850 census. (p 442 f am #147/160) He continues with them on 1860 census, age 13, now in Jefferson, Polk Co., Oh.(p fam #742/697) John enlisted as a private in Co. H., 44th reg.,Ia. Vols, on 11 May 1864. He is given as 5'6"; hazel eyes; Auburn hair; dark complexion; and occupation is farmer. Because he is 18, he had to have a guardian consent, and Reuben Rittgers signed for him. We find in his Civil War file that John died 15 Sept 1864, in General Hospital, Davenport, Ia., of "Cronick Direah". His inventory is listed: One blouse, one cap, one necktie. He was 18 years old, resided in the town of Polk City, Polk Co., Ia. Laura (Rittgers)(Peitzman) Emmert reports that Reuben wrote in one of his diaries his experiences during the Civil War. He then writes of driving a team of horses as far as Kellogg, Ia., to where the train tracks came, then boarding a train to Davenport [Ia.] where he received the body of his young brother, John Henry, who had died of Measles as he was on his way home from army service in the Civil War." John Henry was returned to the family fold and is buried in the Rittgers Cemetery. Date of death given as 15 Sept 1864.[RitCem.] We find also that he is listed as being buried in National Cemetery, Rock Island, Ill., on the Ancestry.com data base "Full Context of American Civil War Soldiers." This might be explained by an entry in one of Reuben's journals. It is dated Thursday, Feb 21, 1867. "I fized my team paid bill $1.25 and started home. I suffered much with cold. A man got on with me at rising sun and drove part of the time I got home at 3. Found all well. Betsy Cartright ghot married had fine supper." Saturday, 23 " Jacob Rittgers and Mr. Hooper dug grave. We buried John's remains at 3 after noon. Rev Mark officiated. It was a solemn time. Quarterly meeting begins this evening No preachers Hiram preached."

1. ↑ Family Group Sheet.
2. ↑ Abstract number 76811 - Daniel Rittgers. (Extracted from Deeds of Polk Co., Ia., under name of Daniel Rittgers.)
   Probate Journal Bk 1, p. 364.
3. ↑ Rittgers Cemetery Records, Polk Co. Ia..
4. ↑ 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
   Malinda, 1 mo, b Oh
5. ↑ 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
6. ↑ p. 94, fam #742/61
   Rittgres, Christina, 29, no occupation, $5000 RE, b Germany
   Reuben, 22, no occupation, $1000 RE, b Oh
   Mary Ann, 19, no occupation, $1000 RE, b Oh
   Malinda, 15, no occupation, $1000 RE, b Oh
   John, 13, no occupation, $1000 RE, b Oh
   George, 11, $1000 RE, b Oh
   Michael, 9, $1000 RE, b Oh
   Caroline, 7, $1000 RE, b Oh
   Rosina, 4, $1000 RE, b Oh
   Nancy J., 1, $1000 RE, b Oh
7. ↑ Enlisted 12 May 1864, mustered in 1 June 1864, mustered out 15 Sept 1864, Davenport, Ia. Age 18.