USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III > Part 56
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Charles Riber, the subject of this memoir, re- ceived his education in the schools of his native country and as a boy served as an acolite and altar boy in the Roman Catholic church of which he was a member.
He learned the business of silk manufacturing at an early age with his father. At the age of thirteen years, during the Franco-Prussian War, he ran away from home and enlisted as a soldier in the service of the Empire, then came to Amer- ica with his father and family.
He attended the public schools of New York, where he obtained a knowledge of the English language, speaking also German and French. He- first worked as a silk weaver in New York City, and also learned the trade of baker, which he. did not follow. On going to Paterson, N. J., he followed the silk business, remaining there. until 1886, when he was sent to Allentown as. foreman of the Pioneer Silk Mill, under Mr .. John Ryle, continuing there until 1901, in which year the Pioneer Silk Mill failed.
He then formed a partnership with Mr. John A. McCollom, under the name of the Lecha Silk: Company, which he conducted with great suc- cess, continuing in business until 1908, when he was forced to sell out his interest on account of ill health and retired.
He died Jan. 13, 1910, and was buried at the Holy Sepulchre cemetery at Paterson, in the family plot.
Mr. Riber was a Republican and a member of the Royal Arcanum. He was a consistent mem- ber of the Roman Catholic church, attending the. church of the Immaculate Conception, and was: a man of enterprise and progressive ideas, and took much interest in Allentown, the city of his adoption, its people and institutions, domestic in his tastes and much devoted to his home and family.
He was married in Paterson, N. J., May 12, 1880, to Frances Durget, born in Paterson, daughter of Joseph and Caroline (August) Dur- get. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Riber
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has continued to make her home on Twentieth street, Allentown, in the beautiful house which she herself planned. Mrs. Riber is much in- terested in real estate operations and may be con- sidered a successful business woman. She is the mother of four very talented daughters, viz : Caroline Louise, born March 23, 1881, edu- cated in the school of the Sacred Heart, also the public schools of Allentown, and received a thor- ough musical training as pianist under Profes- sor Lockwood. She married Charles Green, of Allentown, and has two children, Frances and Walter. (2) Mary Frances, born Nov. 17, 1882, educated in the school of the Sacred Heart and Allentown Business College and musical edu- cation as violinist under Professor Lockwood. She married, July 14, 1903, R. J. Erdman, who died March 18, 1910, leaving one child, Roy Edward Charles, born Youngstown, O., March II, 1905. Mrs. Erdman and son make their home with her mother. (3) Emma Christine, born Sept. II, 1884, educated in the Sacred Heart School and Dorney's Business College, studied as violinist under Professor Lockwood, and is also an artist of much ability, both in oils and pastel work. In her mother's home are many fine evi- dences of her work with the brush. She married Emanuel Toman, of New York City, and now resides in Allentown. They have two children, Eleanor and Emanuel. (4) Pauline, born Sept. 21, 1886, was educated in the school of the Sacred Heart church and Dorney's Business Col- lege and learned to play the cornet under Pro- fessor Lockwood. She married William J. Kel- ler, of Paterson, N. J. They have one child, Frances Pauline.
JOSEPH RICHARDS.
Joseph Richards, slate operator, at Slating- ton, was born in Monmouthshire, South Wales, on September 16, 1848. His early opportunities were very limited ; nevertheless by perseverance he eventually reached distinction and comfort- able circumstances. His father was a worker in the coal mines and the educational advantage of Wales for the humbler class having been very limited, he looked towards the country of great prospects and emigrated to America in 1854. There he naturally sought a locality for him- self and family in the coal fields of Pennsyl- vania and at various times resided in the coun- ties of Schuylkill, Luzerne, and Carbon.
Joseph Richards, the son of this immigrant family, while a boy only nine years old, was obliged to work in a coal-breaker and he con- tinued to work there for five years; afterward he was in the mines for seven years, and it was only" after he had reached the age of twenty-
one years that he was able to secure an educa- tion by attending the Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, in Luzerne county for two terms, but he still worked in the mines during the summer months so as to support himself and pay for his education during the winter months. He then directed his energies from the hard and discouraging field of labor to the promising and profitable one of business by starting earnestly as a clerk in stores at Freeland and Summit- Hill, and he filled these positions acceptably for five years.
While so engaged, his employer at Summit Hill died in 1876, and he became the purchaser of the general store-business at that place and he carried it on successfully as the proprietor for seventeen years. During this time he real- ized the great promise of the slate business, and therefore in 1888 he associated with Ellis Owens and Robert G. Pierce who were engaged in that business at Slatington, and its great success prompted him to sell his store at Summit Hill in 1894 and move to Slatington; and there he has continued to reside until the present time.
In 1892, when Summit Hill came to be in- corporated as a borough his fellow-citizens elected him as the first burgess and he filled the important position for one term, with credit to himself and the advantage of the tax-payers. Upon his locating at Slatington he was selected to serve as the secretary and financial manager of the Carbon Slate Co. and these offices he has filled ever since. He also became the secretary and treasurer of the Franklin Slate Co., and the treasurer of the Surprise Cash Store which he has served seven years. These companies em- ploy upwards of 200 persons and their products are sold in all the markets of the world.
Mr. Richards identified himself in a prom- inent way with the public affairs of Slatington as a growing centre, and the citizens elected him first to the office of school director in 1895, and then to the office of Burgess in 1899; and in both of these public positions he conducted him- self with dignity in the interest of the general welfare. During his term as the Burgess, the new main street bridge across the railroad, and also the new high-school building, were erected ; and it can be said that it was mainly due to his influence and progressive spirit that the Slating- ton Silk Mill was established in this thriving borough.
Politically, Mr. Richards is strongly attached to the principles of the Republican party. He frequently served his district in the county conventions and acted as a delegate to State Conventions, at Harrisburg. He has a high appreciation of music, and his fellow-country-
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
men honored him as the presiding officer at the Eisteddford which was held and largely attended at Slatington on Thanksgiving-Day in 1905. He has also shown great interest in religious matters as an active member of the. Baptist Church, which he served as a deacon for a long time; and he was a liberal contributor when the new edifice was erected. He identified him- self with Slatington Lodge No. 440, F. and A. M.
In 1874 Mr. Richards was married to Mar- garet, a daughter of the late Josiah Williams, of Lansford, in Carbon county. Five sons have been born to the family, one having died at the age of two years.
Dr. Josiah W. Richards, after having been carefully educated, entered the United States Army as a Surgeon at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, and he remained in the service of the country for six years. During this time he visited Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Phillipine Islands, as well as other distant lands, and upon his return to Slatington he started the practice of his profession and carried it on there for six years. In September, 1910, he removed to Pennington, N. J., and there he has estab- lished a lucrative business. He was married to Emma Storch and they have two children, Mir- iam and Louise.
David, the second son, was married to Mabel Kern, a daughter of Milton J. Kern, of ·Allen- town, treasurer of Lehigh County. He is a clerk in the office of the County Commissioners at Allentown.
Joseph, the third son, resides at Slatington. He was married to Susan Campbell, and they have one daughter, Margaret. He died Dec. 8, 1912.
John, the fourth son, was graduated from the Kingston Seminary in 1910. Since 1912, he has been engaged as a civil engineer in the em- ploy of the Lehigh and New England R. R. Co. He married Carrie Henton, daughter of Frank E. Henton, merchant at Slatington.
REV. M. H. RICHARDS, D.D.
Rev. Matthias Henry Richards, D.D., profes- sor at the Muhlenberg College in Allentown from 1868 until his decease in 1898, was born June 17, 1841, at Germantown, Pa. He received a thorough preparatory education at Reading, to which place his parents had removed in 1851, graduating from the high school with the first class in 1856, and then he attended the Pennsyl- vania College at Gettysburg, from which he was graduated with first honors in 1860, having de- livered the Latin salutatory. After having fol- lowed teaching for three years, he enlisted in the
Civil War in 1863 and served as a corporal in Co. A, of the 26th Emergency Regiment, Penna. Vol. Upon his discharge, he entered the Luther- an Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, as an advanced student, and continued his studies for the ministry until 1864, when he was graduated, and he received ordination at Pottstown in Trin- ity Week, 1864, from the Ministerium of Penn- sylvania. For the next three years he served churches at Reading and Easton, and also Green- wich, N. J., and in 1868 he was elected professor of English and Latin at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, and here he continued until his de- cease in 1898, excepting from 1874 to 1877, when he took active charge of a Lutheran church at Indianapolis, Ind. He served as senior pro- fessor of the institution and as secretary of the faculty since 1886. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him in 1889, by the Pennsylvania College.
In addition to his duties as professor, he served different Lutheran churches on special occasions ; in 1880, he took charge of publishing the Church Lesson Leaf, and The Helper, and acted as edi- tor until 1895; he was chairman of the General Council Sunday-school Committee for many years; and he was intimately associated with the publication of the Lutheran, the recognized monthly newspaper of the denomination. He was a forcible writer and debater, and as a lec- turer he was widely renowned.
Dr. Richards manifested great interest in pub- lic school education at Allentown, having served as a school director for many years, and he offi- ciated as secretary of the Board of Control from 1883 to the time of his decease. He was a mem- ber of the Livingston Club; also of the Pennsyl- vania German Society.
In 1866, Dr. Richards was married to Sarah M. McClean, of Gettysburg. His children were: Rev. John W. Richards; Mary McC., married David R. Stockton; Dora G .; Adelaide P .; and Rosa Muhlenberg. He died Dec. 12, 1898.
Dr. Richards was the son of Rev. John W. Richards, D.D., a distinguished Lutheran min- ister, who was born April 18, 1803; served as secretary of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania for three terms from 1843, and as president for three terms from 1850; and he was a grandson of Hon. Matthias Richards, prominent in the political history of Berks county for forty years, who was married to Maria Salome Muhlenberg, a daugh -. ter of Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the first Lutheran minister in Pennsylvania.
RIEKER FAMILY.
Charles Rieker son of Gottlib, of West Cata-
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
sauqua, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 21, 1848. He came to this country, settling at his present place in April, 1869. He is a laborer and member of the Catholic church. In 1874 he married Francisco Nagle, a daughter of Xavia Nagle, of Germany. Their children are: Frank, Charles, Joseph, Jacob, Rosa, Thec- la, John C., Leah, Anna Margaret and Carrie.
John C. Rieker of West Catasauqua was born at that place, October 26, 1886. At the age of sixteen years he learned the mouldingi trade with the Lehigh Foundry & Machine Co., at Fullerton, Pa., and there he was employed about nine years. In 1911 he engaged in the grocery business at the lower Catasauqua bridge, having as a partner Harry Keim for about one year, when the latter sold his interests to C. P. King. The firm have traded since under the name of John C. Rieker & Co.
RINGER FAMILY.
John Ringer was born Dec. 8, 1775, and died Dec. 19, 1831. He built the Unionville. Hotel and conducted it for some years. He and his son, John, each died in their forty-fifth year of age. His wife was Elizabeth Remaly, born June 16, 1787, and died May 2, 1853. Their chil- dren were: John, Jonas, Edward and Maria.
John Ringer Jr., was born November 28, 1810, and died Oct. 10, 1856. He was an early German school teacher, and for twenty-one years he was organist at the Unionville church. His wife was Magdalena Wotring. They had the following children: Mary Ann, born 1832, lives with her sister, M. Messina, at Slatington; Fianna, died in infancy ; M. Messina; Elizabeth, married Geo. Frederick; John; Sarah A., mar- ried George Knecht; Francis M., of Slatington ; James S., of Slatington.
George Ringer, farmer of North Whitehall, owned upward of 300 acres of land, for which he paid $8.00 per acre, being all the land from Sheidys, back to the Lehigh river. He died in 1812.
His wife was Elizabeth Ritter, daughter of Caspar Ritter. Both are buried at Egypt. They had the following children, each of whom re- ceived $1,100. Jacob; Daniel, born August 20, 1796, died April 10, 1872, was buried at Egypt church-his wife was Salome Ringer, born July 5, 1795, and died Sept. 20, 1873; William, lived near Rising Sun; George lived at Helfrich's Spring, where he died; John, who lived in the West; Sallie, married Samuel Snyder; Catharine, married Stephen Lentz; Polly, married Christian Troxell.
Jacob Ringer, son of George Ringer, lived
near Ballietsville, and is buried on the old grave- yard at Egypt. He was a farmer. His wife was Polly Schneck. They had two sons, Lewis, who died in his twenty-fifth year and was buried on the same day with his father and Harrison.
Harrison Ringer was born near Ballietsville. He was a laborer, and lived on a small lot at Ballietsville; and was a Lutheran. His wife, Amanda (Smith) resides with her daughter, Lillie, near Ballietsville. They have two chil- dren : Lillie, married to Benjamin Clauser, near Ballietsville, and Rosa, married to Peter W. Deibert.
HENRY P. RINGER was born in South White- hall township, near Ballietsville, Nov. 13, 1869. He was raised upon the farm, and at the age of nineteen became a clerk in a general store near Ballietsville. He also clerked about four years at Cementon. He later worked in the cement mill of that place for a period of ten years. In 1893 he engaged in the mercantile business at Mechanicsville, and continued there four years. In 1903 he began farming and two years later he moved upon his present farm of ninety acres, which he still tills. This farm was a Troxell homestead. He also owns an eighty-two-acre farm in Whitehall township, which was the William Lazarus homestead.
In religion he is Lutheran, his wife, Reformed, and member of Mickley church. For six years he was a deacon. In politics he is a Republican. On June 14, 1889, he was united in marriage to Miss Ida C. Lerch, daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth (Lazarus) Lerch. They have three children : Reuben H., Raymond I. and Roy H.
Charles V. B. Rinker was born Oct. 1, 1836, in a small frame house at the corner of Sixth and Linden streets, where the Democrat build- ing now stands. The house was a story and a half high and was reached by a steep stairway, which led down to it as the house was set in a hollow.
Mr. Rinker was a machinist by trade, and for forty years, following his marriage, was employed at Barber's foundry, which later became the Al- lentown Foundry and Machine Company.
On Jan. 29, 1857, he was married to Miss Sarah Meeker, by Rev. Richard Walker, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, at his parsonage, corner of Lumber and Hamilton streets, where the Fair store is now located.
Mrs. Rinker was born March 18, 1839, at the corner of Fifth and Linden streets, in the old Lehigh county prison, her father, J. D. Meeker, being county sheriff at the time. Mr. Rinker's grandfather, Abraham Rinker, was sheriff of Lehigh county for two terms. They reside at 423 Mayberry street, Allentown. They
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
have one son, Wm. Rinker, who is employed at the Palace Silk Mill, and resides in the 'Twelfth ward.
HON. A. E. RINN.
Albert E. Rinn, justice of the peace of Upper Saucon, was born June 6, 1864, at Easton, where he attended the public schools until eleven years old; and his parents having moved to Allen- town he continued attending school there until he became fourteen years old. He then learned printing under his father. He ran off the first edition of the Daily City Item, and worked on different newspapers until he was eighteen years of age, then he found employment at New York with a firm of card manufacturers for whom he solicited trade in parts of the United States, in Canada, Cuba and England during a period of nine years. He returned to Allentown and after working for Wilson & Arbogast, dealers in pro- visions for several years, he engaged in the sale of wire and wire brushes in the whole of North and South America until 1913.
On June 12, 1913, he received from Governor Tener the appointment of justice of the peace of Upper Saucon and on November 6th he was elected for a full term without opposition, which he is now serving in a satisfactory manner. On Nov 3, 1914, he was elected a member of the State Legislature. He is a member of Barger Lodge, No. 333, F. and A. M., and of Lehigh Lodge, No. 83, I. O. O. F, of which he is a past grand.
Mr. Rinn was married in 1893 to Katie A. Hartman, daughter of Jacob and Sabina (Uhler) Hartman.
His father was Emil Rinn, a printer and pub- lisher, for many years at Allentown and after- ward associated with Wilson & Arbogast. He was married to Augusta Stroh.
RITTER FAMILY.
The first of this family in America were four brothers, who arrived at Philadelphia on the ship Pennsylvania, Sept. 11, 1732, having sailed from Rotterdam, Holland. Their names were Paul, Henry, Martin and Caspar. Accompanying them were Elizabeth, the wife of Paul, their sisters Anna and Barbara, and Paul, the son of Paul. Martin and Caspar were under sixteen years of age.
Paul Ritter secured a tract of 192 acres of land by a warrant dated Dec. 2, 1737. This tract was situated on the Hosensack creek, north of the Great Swamp Reformed church, in Lower Milford township. He lived there some years and attended the Lutheran church near Dilling- ersville, but later transferred the land to Caspar.
and removed to Colebrookdale township, Berks county, where he became the owner of a 300-acre farm. He was born in 1713, and died Feb. 14, I 799. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in 1710, and died July 23, 1798. Caspar Ritter sold his land on Nov. 28, 1758, to Joseph Eberhard, for £250, who bequeathed it to his son, Joseph Eber- hard, Jr.
Henry Ritter secured by a warrant dated March 16, 1737, a tract of 170 acres, 149 perches, at that time in Bucks county, but when North- ampton county was erected in 1752, 74 acres fell in the new county and the balance, 96 acres, re- mained in Bucks county. This land is situated on the line of Lower Milford township, west of the Great Swamp Reformed church. On this tract of land Henry Ritter built in 1739, a log house, with a stone chimney, which stood until a few years ago. The cellar and part of the chim- ney can still be seen. The log over the fireplace was removed by the present owner, Squire O. C. Keiper, and the section of it containing the date 1739 was presented by him to the Lehigh County Historical Society.
Henry Ritter was naturalized Sept. 11, 1740. He and his wife attended the Lutheran church in the township until 1754. He did not remain long upon his land, which was secured by a va- cating warrant, dated Jan. 13, 1749, by Law- rence Erbach, who deeded it to his only son, Jacob Erbach, on May 7, 1785. Henry Ritter then located in Salisbury township, where, in 1764, he owned 280 acres of land. He was an elder of the Lutheran congregation at Salisbury church and a prominent resident of the township. He died in January, 1797. He and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, had a number of children, among whom were: Caspar ; Martin; Henry William, -born Feb. 20, 1751, John Theobald, born June II, 1753; and Barbara Anna, born in 1758.
Martin Ritter, son of Henry was born Nov IO 1749, and died Nov. 2, 1827. He married, Jan. 11, 1774, Anna Margaret Steininger, who was born Jan. II, 1752, and died Aug. 4, 1838. He was an inn-keeper on the road from Moun- tainville to Emaus, and his tavern was the scene of many exciting events at the time of the Fries Rebellion in 1798. He was a tax collector of Salisbury township for several years. He had seven children: Henry, born 1779, died 1833, married Lydia Knappenberger; Martin, born 1781, died 1863, married Anna Margaret Bogert ; John ; Daniel, who married Lydia Knauss ; Jacob ; Michael, who married Eloisa Miller ; and Mar- garet, who married Solomon Klein.
Daniel Ritter was born in Salisbury township, Dec. 1, 1817, and died April 27, 1871. He was the son of Henry and grandson of Martin Ritter.
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
He was reared on a farm and was educated in the public schools. He first rented and worked the Trexler farm, and then purchased a farm in Upper Milford township, where he reared his family and resided until his death. He was a life-long member of the Lutheran Church, and a Democrat. In business, he was progressive and enterprising; was an extensive stock raiser, and was devoted to his home and family. Mr. and Mrs. Ritter were both interred in the Western Salisbury church cemetery.
Daniel Ritter married Annette Romich, born Sept. 17, 1825, died March 4, 1900. Their children were: Peter W. Henry Ritter, who married Mary Wolf, and died at the age of 56 years; Milton H., who married Marie Ritter, and had one daughter, Cora. He is a miller and resides in Allentown; Alfred R., a carpenter ; William Matthias; Rebecca Eleanor; James Morris, died aged 17 years; and Montana, who died in infancy.
WILLIAM M. RITTER, son of Daniel, a resi- dent of Allentown, and for several years recorder of deeds, is a native of Upper Milford township, Lehigh county, and was born in 1852.
He attended the public schools and assisted his father on his farm until the age of 19 years, at which time his father died (1871). He was a teacher in the public schools of his native place and at Vera Cruz until 1873, when he removed to Allentown, and took a course in the Allen- town Business College. He then entered the employ of Shimer & Co., where he continued for three years as book-keeper.
He embarked in the clothing business in 1878 with Samuel Hoats and continued with him until 1886. In 1887 he was appointed deputy recorder of deeds and filled this position until 1892, when with John Yeager, he conducted a real estate business for a period. In 1899, Mr. Ritter was elected recorder of deeds and held this office until 1902, when he retired from all active pursuits.
In 1894 he was badly injured by an accident, which left him permanently in a crippled condi- tion.
In politics Mr. Ritter is a Democrat, and him- self and family are members of St. John's Lu- theran church, and he was for some time a dea- con. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., con- nected with the Macungie Lodge; also Past Master of Barger Lodge, No. 333, F. & A. M.
William M. Ritter, son of Daniel and Annette (Romich) Ritter, born 1852, was married April 19, 1883, to Emma Rebecca Wagner, daughter of Charles and Henrietta (Seip) Wagner, of Allentown.' Their children were: Charles Dan- iel, Florence Aleata, Aaron Wagner, and William Stanley Ritter. Charles Daniel was educated in
the public schools and took a course at the'veter- inary school at Toronto, Ontario.
Florence A. attended the public schools, also the Keystone State Normal School, and graduated in 1907. She is a teacher in the Lincoln school. Aaron W. 'attended the public schools and the Keystone State Normal School, from which he graduated in 1909, and is now a teacher in the Second ward building. William S. 'is now a student at Muhlenberg College.
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