History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 58

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 854

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III > Part 58

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Michael Ritter, a descendant of this branch of the family, was born April 18, 1782, and died March 17, 1854. He married, in 1805, Mar- garet Arner, who was born Feb. II, 1787, and died Feb. 11, 1859. He was the founder of Rit- tersville and built the first hotel there, in connec- tion with which he kept a store, and farmed sev- eral hundred acres of land. He was a member of the Assembly and as justice of the peace of Hanover township. Among his brothers were Daniel, Peter, Benjamin, and Jonas. He had four

sons: Thomas, Charles, William, and Frank. Frank was an accomplished musician and former- ly lived in Chicago. Thomas had three children: Sarah, Amelia, and Asher. Charles had three children : Mary, Fietta, and Oliver.

WILLIAM RITTER, son of Michael, was born. July 24, 1822, and died Oct. 30, 1874. He farmed a truck farm of five acres at Rittersville, now owned by his widow. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. His wife, Sabina, the daughter of Jesse and Christiana (Brader) Buss, was born Oct. 3, 1833, in Lower Nazareth town- ship. Their children are: Marilla, wife of Peter Gross, of West Bethlehem; and Charles. J., who married Ida S., daughter of James W. and Caroline (Gruver) Fretz, and has three children : Elizabeth N., Charles W. H., and Sa- bina C. Mr. Ritter is a painter and carpenter- and resides with his mother in the old Michael Ritter homestead, which was one of three houses in 1850. Mr. Ritter and family are members. of the Lutheran Church.

William F. Ritter, chief engineer for the Le- high Portland Cement Company, is a son of Dan- iel Ritter, and a grandson of Christian Ritter, of Hanover township. Daniel was born in Hanover township, Feb. 16, 1817, in which township he spent his entire life tilling the soil. He was mar- ried to Catherine Newhard, a daughter of Daniel and Elisabeth ( Fogelman) Newhard. She was: born near Kreidersville, Northampton county, Oct. 6, 1827, and died Sept. 13, 1896, in her 80th year. Both she and her husband are buried at Shoenersville. Mr. Ritter served as school director in his native township, also both as dea- con and elder in the Shoenersville Lutheran con- gregation, of which he was a member. He helped in erection of the present church edifice. In poli- tics he was a Democrat. To them were born seven children : Camilla, married to Asher Smith ; Lenia, married to Jeremiah Fenstermacher ; Wil- son F .; Preston H .; Addison, who lived and died in New York City; Aquila J., married to Carrie. Nonnemaker; Harvey, a letter carrier in Phila- delphia; and Cora, married to Howard New- moyer, of Bethlehem.

WILSON F. RITTER was born in Hanover township, May 30, 1854. He spent his early- years on the farm and received his education in the schools of the township. About 1876, he be- came an engineer and has followed this trade- ever since. He was in the employ of the Cat- asauqua Manufacturing Company for a period of twenty years, and of the Atlas Cement Company for two years. In 1904 he accepted the position- of chief engineer for the Lehigh Portland Cement- Company, in which capacity he is still employed. On Dec. 26, 1874, he was married to Elizabeth

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Bartholomew, a daughter of James and Mary Ann (Laub) Bartholomew. This union was blessed with five children: Harry W., married to Ida Hepner, resides at Reading; Cora, married to William Hook, of Catasauqua, and has three children : Earl, Norene, and Esther; Bertha, married to William McQuinter, of Hokendau- qua and has three children: Flora, William, and Mathew; Mabel M., married to James Loch, of Catasauqua, who has one son, George; and George H., of Reading. Mr. Ritter is an adher- ent of the Lutheran faith and in politics is a Dem- ocrat. He resides in Catasauqua since 1881.

Peter Ritter is said to have emigrated to Amer- ica about the middle of the eighteenth century, settling in what is now Springfield, Bucks county, Pa., but some years prior to his death, he removed with his son, Job, to Durham Furnace, where his death occurred, and he is buried in Durham Fur- nace Church graveyard. He was a farmer. Among his children were: John and Philip, of further mention; Catherine, married to Mr. Smith, of Lehigh county, whose death preceded her own; Rev. Job, who lived about Flourtown, Montgomery county, and wrote the Ritter his- tory.

John, son of Peter Ritter, was born in Bucks county, and died in Allentown, while on a visit to his son, Joseph, when he was more than eighty years old. He was buried at Gruver Mills, in the graveyard of an Evangelical church, of which he was a member. In early life he was a farmer, later becoming a shoemaker, employing a num- ber of men and disposing of his wares in Phila- delphia. He was an exhorter in the church and his home was open to all ministers. During the summer months his large orchard was used for religious meetings, conducted by such men as Bishop Seibert, and others of equal standing in the church. Mr. Ritter married Christiana Smith, born near Coopersburg, and they had: Jacob, who died in Philadelphia; Kate, married to Peter Hoffman, of Allentown; Polly, married to John Gruver; John, who lived and died near the homestead; Samuel, a resident of Philadel- phia, where he died; Joseph, whose history fol- lows:

Joseph, son of John and Christiana (Smith) Ritter, was born in Bucks county about 1800, and died at Allentown, in 1874. Until 1847 he was a farmer on the homestead, then removed to Al- lentown, where he farmed town lots and drove a team. He was a member of the Evangelical Church. He married Barbara Muffly, born in 1800, died in 1867. Children: Susanna, mar- ried to Jacob Weaver, of Allentown; Christiana, married to Ephraim Heff, of Allentown; Eliza-

beth, married to Jesse Lucas, and lives at Wor- cester, Ohio; Henry, of Bethlehem; James M., of further mention ; and Mrs. Philip Diley ; Han- nah, married (first) to a Waltman; (second) Daniel Roth ; Libby, married to Jacob Stauffer, and lived in Philadelphia.

James MI., son of Joseph and Barbara (Muffly) Ritter, was born on the Ritter homestead, Sept. 6, 1835. In 1847 he came to Allentown with his parents and there attended the public schools until the age of seventeen years. Having then learned the carpenter's trade he followed this all his life, later establishing himself as a contractor and builder. He owned and operated his own planing mill, generally employing from twenty- five to fifty men. Among the buildings he erect- ed are: A large part of the Muhlenberg College, Allentown Thread Mill, Schankweiler & Lehr Building, Second National Bank, Methodist Episcopal Church, at Mauch Chunk, Methodist Episcopal Church of Allentown, First Evangeli- cal Chapel, on Turner street, and many other important buildings in Allentown and its vicinity. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; he has been president of the board of trustees for more than half a century, and a teacher in the Sunday school since 1857. In political matters he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for John C. Fremont for President of the United States. Mr. Ritter married, April II, 1858, Maria, a daughter of Adam and Mary (Newhard) Kuntz, and they have had: Allen, who died at the age of three years; Elmer E., of further mention; John W., deceased; Mary B., married to George Charman, of Bethlehem ; Edgar J., of Allentown; Hattie O., married to Rev. Archibald Schenk, a Lutheran minister of Philadelphia ; Minnie L., married to George B. Santee, of Allentown; Charles H., of Allen- town; Alfred G., deceased; and Gertrude M.

Elmer E., son of James M. and Maria Ritter, was born in Allentown, April 17, 1861. He learned the carpenter's trade and the work of a planing mill under the supervision of his father, and held the position of superin- tendent in the mill for some years. In associa- tion with A. A. Smith he organized the well-es- tablished firm of Ritter & Smith, in 1892, and this has been doing a successful business since that time. He is a Republican, has served as a member of the school board from the Eleventh ward, a member of the section board eleven years and on the board of control six years. He is a prominent member of the Masonic Fraternity of Allentown and Lehigh county, and was one of the original twenty members, who organized Jor- dan Lodge, No. 673, F. & A. M., in 1913. Mr. Ritter married, Nov. 21, 1881, Eleanor M., a

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

daughter of Simon and Mary (Jacoby) Scherer, of Allentown. Children: Ray J. G., a musician and piano salesman of Allentown, is married to Helen L., daughter of George and Alice ( Scholl) Philips, of Allentown, and has: Marjorie E. Ira L., a registered plumber of Allentown, is married to Blanche Wolf, and has: Beatrice E. and May.

Philip, son of Peter Ritter, the immigrant an- cestor, lived on a farm adjoining the homestead. He had children: Philip; John; Samuel; Jacob ; Lewis; Henry; Mrs. Bliem, of Bucks county ; married (first) Benjamin Landis, (second) Dan- iel Roth, of Allentown; Mrs. Schelly, of Bucks county; and Mrs. Bliem, of Allentown.

Jacob H., son of Philip Ritter, was born in Springfield township, Bucks county, Pa., Jan. 30, 1804, and died July 20, 1891. With the ex- ception of a few years spent on the farm at Weatherly, he lived in Allentown from 1827 until his death. He conducted a cedar cooper- age business for ten years, when he sold his in- terests to Charles Saeger, then took charge of the Cross Keys Hotel, and was proprietor of this six years. He then again engaged in the coop- ering trade, which he carried on intermittently until 1881. For a time he was a boatman on the Lehigh canal. Mr. Ritter married, April 12, 1829, Hannah Marsteller, who died in 1883. Children : Mary E., married Rev. S. K. Brobst, now a widow in Allentown; Sarah C., died in November, 1913, was the wife of Benneville Frederick; Lewis, a cooper of Allentown, was formerly a merchant at Mauch Chunk; Charles, of further mention; Matilda, married Rev. Reuben Ritter; Andrew, was a machinist at Weatherly; the wife of Rev. Reuben Kis- tler, of Cherryville; Franklin S., a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was killed at Antietam.

Charles, son of Jacob H. and Hannah (Mar- steller) Ritter, was born in Allentown, where he also died. He was the proprietor of a soap fac- tory at Mauch Chunk, and later of a confec- tionery store, in Allentown. He married Sarah Wuchter, and had: Ellen, married Charles Stewart, of Philadelphia; Franklin S., of fur- ther mention.

FRANKLIN S., son of Charles and Sarah (Wuchter) Ritter, was born at East Mauch Chunk, Pa., May 18, 1863. In 1872 he removed to Philadelphia with his parents, and there at- tended the public schools three years. In 1876, the year of the centennial celebration, he drove a two-horse cab about the city, then followed vari- ous callings until 1879, when he came to New- town, Bucks county. The following year he

came to Allentown, where he learned the confec- tionery business, and was employed at it two years. His father having opened the old Kern Brewery and the People's Ice Company, he re- mained as his assistant until 1895 when, in asso- ciation with John C. Schwartz, he organized the Allentown Ice Company and located it at No. 1006 Hamilton street, where it still continues to be the largest and most successful business of its kind in the city. They have eight teams and eighteen men employed during the summer months. Mr. Ritter is a man of many-sided ex- ecutive ability, and is also the proprietor of an extensive coal business. He is connected with the following organizations: Keystone Athletic Association ; Loyal Order of the Moose, No. 129; Fraternal Order of Eagles, No. 110; Leslie Tribe, No. 185, Improved Order of Red Men. Mr. Ritter married, Dec. 25, 1881, Maggie E., who died in 1888, a daughter of Sarah Jacoby, who married (second) John Campbell. One daughter blessed this union: Lucy, who married Lester Walbridge, a capitalist, of Brooklyn, New York.

John Frederick Ritter, a native of the King- dom of Wurtemburg, Beidelsbach, Ober Amt Schöndorf, Germany, was born Feb. 13, 1790. He emigrated to these United States, Nov. 2, 1816, locating in Pennsylvania, in Maxatawney township, Berks county. There he made his home for three years with Jacob Grim, a farmer, receiving as compensation for the three years, the sum of one hundred dollars and clothing. His next employer was Jacob Stein, the noted dis- tiller, of Greenwich township, Berks county. There he learned the distilling and coopering trades; was paid the sum of forty dollars and remained in his employ six weeks. Afterward he was given charge of a distillery by Conrad Straus- ser, in Windsor township. Several years later he was given to marriage, Sarah Strausser, a daughter of his employer. Later on he bought a farm situated near Virginville and after living there some years and had accumulated a suf- ficient competency, he moved with his family to Center county, Ohio. There the wife became homesick, and they removed to Pennsylvania, lo- cating in Greenwich township, where he bought a farm from Jacob Stein, situated one and one- half miles southwest of Klinesville. There he lived until he was 72 years old, when he divided the farm between his sons, John and George, and he moved to Hamburg, until he finally decided to sell his real and personal property and spent some time in visiting among his children, and intending to make his home with his son, Dr. N. Ritter, at Breinigsville. While he was on his

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journey to his future home he was stopping with his daughter, Mrs. Charles Adam, who occupied the same farm which was previously owned by Mr. Ritter, he contracted senile pneumonia, and died on the fourth day of his illness, Oct. 16, 1875, aged 85 years, 9 months, and 3 days. He was buried on the family plot at Dunkels (New Jerusalem) church in Greenwich township. A large monument marks his last resting place. He was a student of the Bible and a firm believer in the religion of Jesus Christ. He chose his own funeral text from I Kings, 19th chapter, 4th verse. He was survived by his widow, 9 chil- dren, 36 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchil- dren. The following were his children : George; Anna, married to Joseph Miller, of Steinsville ; Sarah, married to John Fisher; Mary, married to William Balthaser; John, of Leesport; David, of Middleport, Schuylkill county; Dr. Nathan- iel ; Jonas; Lydia, married to Charles Adam; and Simon, of Philadelphia. George, Sarah, and John are deceased.

DR. NATHANAEL RITTER, physician and sur- geon, of Allentown, was born Jan. 29, 1839, in Berks county. He attended the common schools, Freeland Seminary, and Hamburg Preparatory high school. In the fall of 1857 he took an ex- amination in Chester county, and was licensed to teach in the public schools. On the day of the examination he was offered a position at $40 per month and the term there was eight months; but he had previously promised to accept a school at Lenhartsville, in Berks county, at a salary of only $22 per month for four months. He taught the latter school and at the same time read medi- cine with Dr. E. Hottenstein, at Monterey. In 1859 he entered Jefferson Medical College, Phil- adelphia, graduating March 9, 1861. He located at Breinigsville, Lehigh county, and continued to reside there until 1898, then came to Allentown and since resides at No. 1010 Hamilton street.

He and family are Lutherans and he has served the church as elder. He married, first, Dec. 6, 1861, Anna Louise Bean, of Norristown. She died, Nov. 25, 1900, aged 64 years, 2 months, and 22 days. Their children follow: Ada, mar- ried to B. Weaver, of Allentown; Effie, mar- ried to P. D. Folk, of Maxatawny township; Rev. I. B., whose history follows; Bertha, mar- ried to A. I. Schmoyer, of Allentown; and Rev. Horace B., a Lutheran minister of Hellertown, Pa. He married, second, on Oct. 31, 1904, Sallie E. Kleppinger.

REV. IRWIN B. RITTER was born in Breinigs- ville, Lehigh county, Pa., July 30, 1867, being the oldest son of Dr. Nathanael and Anna Lou- isa (Bean) Ritter. He was a confirmed mem- ber of Zion's (Lehigh) Lutheran congregation,

of near Alburtis, Pa., and was the first member of the same to enter the Christian ministry. At- tended public school and later entered the aca- demic department of Muhlenberg College, where, after a year's preparatory work, he entered the freshman class, graduating at college with honors in 1890. Rev. Ritter is proud of his alma mater and has been active in raising substantial amounts from his own people for the support of the col- lege and also assisted other pastors in raising cred- itable amounts. Entered the Lutheran Theologi- cal Seminary at Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, Pa., in the fall of the same year and graduated in the spring of 1893. He was ordained in St. John's (Ger- man) Lutheran church, Philadelphia, Pa., and immediately took charge of the large Pine Valley parish, Hegins, Schuylkill county, Pa. At the time he resigned the seven congregations belong- ing to the parish, he could point to four new churches erected during his brief pastorate. On Aug. 20, 1894, he accepted a call to the Zions- ville (Lehigh county) parish, consisting of four congregations. Later, the Zion Hill church was detached from his parish and St. Paul's, Trex- lertown, Pa., added. - His home church, Zion, Lehigh, near Alburtis, Pa., was also supplied by him from October, 1901, to October, 1903.

On Aug. 12 and 19, 1906, he preached trial sermons in the Shoenersville-Rittersville parish, was elected its pastor and installed Dec. 16, 1906. His labors have resulted in producing a steady growth of the congregations and its auxiliaries, which he assisted in organizing. A summary of his work appears annually in the form of a parish record published for distribution amongst his members.

Late during 1912 the two congregations at Rittersville amicably severed their relations, the Reformed congregation retaining the original church. The Lutherans, under the leadership of their pastor, early in the spring of 1913, began to build the fine church edifice upon a lot they had previously acquired on the main street of the town. The timely completion of the church and the fact that it is nearly paid, are evidence of the ability and popularity of Pastor Ritter among his parishoners.

Rev. Ritter was married to Martha M. Leo- pold, daughter of Rev. O. Leopold, a former school teacher, also organist of Christ church, Shoenersville and St. Peter's, Rittersville, June 22, 1893. Unto them was born but one daugh- ter, Miriam, married to Prof. James H. Bossard. They reside at Allentown.

JOHN R. ROBERTS.

John R. Roberts, former postmaster at Slat- ington for nine years, was born July 9, 1844, at

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Llanllechid, in Caernarvonshire, North Wales, where he received his education and worked in the slate mines until when he emigrated to the United States. He located at Slatington and worked as a slate-splitter for the Carbon Slate Co. from that time to 1889, part of the time acting as a foreman.

In 1889 Mr. Roberts received the appointment of postmaster at Slatington from President Har- rison and served a term of four years; and in 1897 he was given the appointment a second time in appreciation of his previous reliable and suc- cessful management of the office from 1889 to 1893, and he continued to fill the office in a most faithful and acceptable manner until his death. He died June 2, 1902. During the interim from 1893 to 1897, Mr. Roberts filled the po- sition of traveling salesman for the Carbon Slate Co., which then carried on the most exten- sive operations for the production of school-slate in the region of Slatington. In politics he was a zealous and influential Republican for thirty years. He was a member of the Odd Fellows, and of the Welsh Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Roberts was married to Ellen T. Morris, a daughter of William T. Morris, of New Tri- poli, and they had nine children: Margaret (who has been a teacher of Indian schools for twenty years, now at Cherokee, N. C.) ; Robert (m. Anna Roberts) ; William (m. Salina Sandbrook) ; Nellie ; Allen ( Dean at Lafayette College since 1909) ; Annie (who died Sept. 1, 1902) ; Grace (engaged in the millinery business at Slatington since 1910) ; Stanley (at Norristown) ; and Lloyd (attending Lafayette College).

The father of Mr. Roberts was Robert R. Roberts, a slate worker, remained in Wales and died in 1900, aged 85 years. He had seven chil- dren: John R., William, Richard, Mary, Mar- garet, Ann and Robert; the first and last two having died. John R. was the only child who emigrated.

Mr. Morris, the father of Mrs. Roberts, was born March 14, 1809, at Waen Wen, in Wales; emigrated to the United States and went to Cali- fornia in 1849. After remaining there about a year he returned to Slatington, where he became engaged in the slate business and continued at it until some years before his death. He died Feb. I, 1885. His wife was Elinor Roberts, born in 1820 at Cefu Coed, Llandegi, Wales, emigrated with her parents, and died at Slatington in 1852. They had three children: Robert T., William T., and Elinor.

OWEN H. ROBERTS.

Howell Roberts, a native of Merionethshire, in North Wales, was born March 29, 1844, and

brought up in the slate region, where he was engaged in slate operations until he emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1882. He located at Slating- ton and there continued in the same employment for twenty years, until he died Sept. 22, 1902. He was married to Jane Edwards, a native of the same place, daughter of Griffith Edwards. She was born May 23, 1839, and died Jan. 24, 1901. When Mr. Roberts emigrated he took only one son, Owen H., with him. Six months afterward, in September, 1882, the wife and six children followed, who were: Evan H .; Lizzie, J. married John R. Davis; Griffith H .; Robert E .; Howell J., and Maggie A., married Abraham W. Reidy, of Allentown. Evan H. became a distinguished singer and choir leader. In 1901, he led the Slatington male chorus of forty voices at the Buffalo Exposition in competition with the Utica chorus and won the first prize. He resides at Milwaukee, Wis. Mr. Roberts and family were members of the Welsh Congre- gational church, which he served as a deacon for many years.

Owen H. Roberts, the second son, was born at the place mentioned, April 23, 1866. He at- tended the public schools until he was eleven years old; then he was placed in a slate quarry, where he was employed for five years. In 1882 he accompanied his father to Slatington and con- tinued working in slate operations there for nearly thirty years, until 1910, when he united with Robert J. Roberts, Robert R. Hughes and Wm. R. Jones in forming the partnership of Roberts & Co., to conduct the roofing slate busi- ness, and they have traded under this name until the present time. They are now operating the Heimbach quarry. He is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle; and in politics is a Republican.

In 1889, Mr. Roberts was married to Hannah Griffith, a daughter of Evan and Gaihnor (Ellis) Griffith from Caernarvonshire, in North Wales; and they had two children. They are also mem- bers of the same church, of which he was the choir leader of twelve years.

WM. E. ROBERTS.

William E. Roberts, a member of the firm trading under the name of M. J. Roberts Slate Company, at Slatington, was born in Caernarvon- shire, Wales, July 5, 1855. He worked in slate operations there until he was eighteen years old, then he emigrated to America and located at Slatington, where he followed the same employ- ment until 1894, when he united with M. J. Roberts, and Hugh J. Roberts in organizing the M. J. Roberts Slate Company, and he has

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continued with this company until the present time. In politics, Mr. Roberts is a Republican. He served in the borough council for three years. He is a member of the K. G. E.

Mr Roberts was married to Jane E. Roberts and they had two children : Ellen, wife of Frede- rick B. Steckel, and John W., publisher of the Slatington Herald. Upon the decease of his wife, he was married to Kate O. Jones. They are members of the Welsh Presbyterian church, in which he has taken an active part, serving as deacon and trustee.

In 1904, Mr. Roberts visited his native place in Wales. His parents, William E. and Ellen (Williams) Roberts, lie buried at Llanbarries.

ROCKEL FAMILY.

This family was founded in Eastern Pennsyl- vania by Balser Rockel, who settled in the vi- cinity of Shoenersville, Northampton county. He and his wife are buried on the old grave- yard at Shoenersville, where the inscription upon their tombstones is clearly legible and follows:

Balser Rockel Born Nov. 10, 1707 Died July 9, 1800 Aged 91 yrs. 8 mos.

Elizabeth Kehler (Wife of Balser Rockel) Born June 24, 1719 Died Oct. 16, 1794 Aged 75 years.

They were the parents of 4 sons and 6 daugh- ters.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 58

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 854

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 854