Person:John Rittgers (3)

He is on the 1900 census, age 15, with widowed mother in Grimes, Webster Twp., Polk Co ., Ia. (ED 112, p 8B, fam #152/159) In 1910 we find John, age 25, with wife Gretchen, age 22 , in Precinct #1, Webster, Polk Co., Ia. He is a farmer. They have been married one year and have no children. With them are Forest S., age 7, nephew (son of Max #127.6 and his deceased second wife, Effie Helms.)(ED 184, p 8A, fam #89/89) In 1920, John, now 35, and Gretchen , now 32, are in Walnut Twp., Dallas Co., Ia. His mother, Abigail, is still with him, and we see their daughter, Laura Ann, age 7.(ED 21, p 8A, fam #192/194) In 1930, John owns a farm in Walnut Twp., Dallas Co., Ia. He is 45 and declares that he was 24 when first married. He was born in Ia to father born Oh. and mother born Pa. He farms a general farm. With him is wife Gretchen I., 42, who reports she 20 when married. She was born in Tenn to parents born in Oh. Three children. (ED 25-34, p. 6A, fam #122/123) We are told in family story that he was in the grocery business with brother Abel F. and is the "J.H.Rittgers" on the ad we have seen, photocopied from a Farmer's Alminac without date, for the store in Havelock (now Camp Dodge), Ia. In 1938, he deeded over 80 acres of his land to Jasper. It appears that he held on to 120 acres, Polk Co., Ia.(Abst. 76811, p 42) John and Gretchen are buried in Ridgedale Cemetery, Polk Co.,Ia., along with baby daughter Eleanor; sect S, row 5.

1. ↑ Cemetery Record
   Ridgedale Cemetery Book, p. 8, 22 Jan 1977.
2. ↑ #134
   Rittgers, Mrs R.R., 50, Widow, farmer, b Pa, presbyterian
   Findley, 20
   Jasper, 18
   Vivian 14
   Mabel, 12
   Chester, 11
   John, 9
   Eva, 8
   Jennings, Bessie, 21, teacher, b Pa
3. ↑ fam #152/159
   Rittgres, Abigail, head, b Feb 1855, 45, widow, born 13 children/ 10 living, b Pa to par
   b Pa, owns farm free
   Jasper, son, b June 1875, 24, b Ia to father b Oh, mother b Pa, farm laborer
   Mabel C., dau, b Apr 1882, 18, b Ia
   Chester, son, b June 1883, 17, b Ia
   John H., son, b Nov 1884, 15, b Ia
   Eve M., dau, b Sept 1886, 14, b Ia.
4. ↑ ED 184, p. 8A, fam 89/89
   Rittgers, John H., head, 25, m1yr, b Ia to father b Oh, mother b Pa, farmer
   Gretchen, wife, 22, m1yr, born 0children, b Tenn to par b Oh
   Forest S., nephew, 7, b Okla to father b Ia, mother b ?
   Rittgres, Abigail, mother, 65, widow, born13 children/9 alive, b Pa, to par b ?
5. ↑ ED 21, p. 8A., fam #192/194
   Rittgers, John H., head, owns mortgaged farm, 35, b Ia to father b Oh, mother b Pa
   manager,farm
   Gretchen I, wife, 32, b Tenn to father b Oh., mother b Pa
   Laura Ann, dau, 7, school, b Ia
   Rittgers, Abbie, mother, 74, widow, b Pa to par b Pa.
6. ↑ U.S. Findley has been trustee for the share of the estate of Mary Jane (Kerr) Findley that was Carrie Findley's share. Carrie, because of her religious beliefs, refused to take the money, so Ulcestes has been keeping it and writting checks for her as needed. Now Ulcestes is 73 and his health is failing. He asks the court to appoint John H. Rittgers as Carrie's trustee, and the request is granted. There was no further accounting found in Dallas Co., and it was probably filed in Polk Co., as in 1900 Carrie was living there. In 1923 John H was living in Polk Co., also.
7. ↑ ED 25-34, p. 164, sheet 6A, fam #122/123
   Rittgers, John H., head, owns farm, has radio, 45, 24 when first married, b Ia to
   father b Oh., mother b Pa
   Gretchen I., 42, 20 when first married, b Tenn to parents b Oh.
   Laura A., dau, 17, b Ia
   John H., son, 9, b Ia
   Thomas E., son, 6, b Ia