Merle, this may help with the Ritter family. Elizabeth Miller's husband Jacob Ritter had made a trip on horseback the spring of 1829 in company with other men locating land open for settlement in the then Northwest territory. Jacob & Elizabeth changed from German Baptist to the Universalist Church. Bio. from 1907, "Pictorial and Biographical Memoirs Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties" , (IN), pgs. 187, 198. Jacob Ritter, of South Bend, Indiana and one of the pioneers of St. Joseph Co., is a Montgomery Co., Ohioan, born about three miles west of Dayton, on the 1st of January, 1806, a son of John and Barbara (Garber) Ritter. John Ritter was born in NC, April 1777, and there grew to manhood. When a young man he learned the cooper's trade and for some time made that his chief occupation. He afterward resided near Nashville, TN, for a short time and later was a resident of KY. As he was married in Montgomery Co., OH in 1805, he was probably a settler of that locality about the year 1803. At the time he crossed the Ohio River at Cincinnati there was only a block house and a few cabins where that city now stands, the principal inhabitants at that point being soldiers. His wife was born in VA, a daughter of John and Barbara Garber. About the year 1818 the Ritter family removed to Wayne Co., IN being among the pioneers of that county, where Mr. Ritter became the owner of 160 acres of land. Here Mr. Ritter lived for several years. He afterward disposed of his property there and settled in St. Joseph Co., a portion of his land being in Portage and a portion in German Twp. He afterward settled on the Michigan road in German Twp., where he lived until his death in Feb. 1867. His wife survived him several years, her death occurring at the home of her daughter in Floyd Co., IA, at the advanced age of one hundred and two years. Mr. and Mrs. Ritter were the parents of the following children: Jacob, Michael, John, Benjamin, David, Samuel, Martin, Sarah and Susan, all of whom are living but John, who served three years as cavalryman in the late war under Gen. Custer. Jacob Ritter, whose name is at the head of this sketch, was about twelve yrs. of age when his parents settled in Wayne Co., (IN), and there in his native county he succeeded in obtaining a practical education in the common schools, which were held in the old-time log cabin. He was reared on a farm, and has always devoted his attention to that occupation. In Wayne Co. he united his fortunes with those of Elizabeth Miller, Oct. 26, 1826, her birth having occurred in Montgomery Co., OH, June 5, 1809. She being a daughter of David and Sarah (HARDMAN) Miller, who also became pioneers of St. Joseph Co., IN. In the spring of 1830 Mr. Ritter came to this county also, and found himself in Portage Prairie on April 5 of that year, and located on a farm of eighty acres in Sec. 32, which he had previously selected in the fall of 1829, at which time he also became the owner of eighty acres of timber land. A number of other families came at the same time and that year they all raised quite good crops of corn. Several of these settlers combined work and in 1830 seeded about 200 acres to corn, which Mr. Ritter says became the finest crop of sod corn he has ever seen produced in any county. That years they also raised some magnificent melons and turnips, but he refuses to disclose their exact size and weight for fear people of the present day would be inclined to doubt his veracity. He erected a log cabin on his property in German Twp., Sec. 29, in the fall of 1831, where he lived for many years, and which he still owns. In 1866 he retired from active labor and purchased property in South Bend, where is now residing. He also owns 342 acres of land, and is nicely situated to enjoy life. He and his worthy wife became the parents of fourteen children: Lucinda (deceased), Barbara, Sarah A. (deceased), Amanda E., Martha E., Aaron M., William H. H., David M., John N., Benjamin F., Theodore (deceased), Lorinda and Clarinda (twins) and Elizabeth M. Of these children, Amanda E., Martha E., William H. H. and Elizabeth M. are residents of this county; Barbara, now wife of Joseph Hardman, is living at Prairie City, Grant Co., OR; Aaron M. and David M. are farmers near Springfield, MO; John N. is engaged in the practice of law and in banking at Columbus, KS; Benjamin F., a farmer and dealer in agricultural implements, resides in Castleton, Cass Co., ND. Lorinda, wife of Q. A. Bulla, lives near St. Edward, Boone Co., NV and Clarinda, who married J. F. Buchtel, is living in Kansas City, MO. Two sons, William H. H. and David, served three years during the war in the 23rd IN Battery, under command of Capt. Andrews. Mrs. Ritter died Feb. 20, 1867, and in 1872 Mr. Ritter took for his second wife Ellen Lentz, born Feb. 26, 1831, in PA, daughter of Christopher and Hannah (Davis) Lentz, who were of Scot. descent. Christopher Lentz was a soldier in the War of 1812 and for many years was a resident of German Twp., where he lived until his death, which occurred Aug. 14, 1838. His widow survived him until Oct. 27, 1869. Mr. Ritter is a member of the I.O.O.F., having joined that order about the year 1850. He has always been a great reader, and possesses a well-stored mind. He rather favors the Universalist doctrine in his religious views, and in politics has always been an ardent Democrat. His record as an honorable man of affairs has remained untarnished, and as a citizen he has always been public spirited and law abiding. John Ritter born 1777 in NC going from Tennessee to Kentucky to the (Dayton Ohio area now.) About 1803 married 1805 Barbara Garber born in Rockingham County, Virginia. She was Brethren but John was in the war of 1812 under William Henry Harrison so I don't think he was. They moved to Wayne County, Indiana and then to St Joseph County, Indiana. This info. given to me by; Ira Hardman, _iraandhelen@juno.com_ (mailto:iraandhelen@juno.com) **************Vote for your city's best dining and nightlife. City's Best 2008. (http://citysbest.aol.com?ncid=aolacg00050000000102)

I have two Ritters in my Steele index. Sarah Ann Ritter bd 01 Apr 1831 probably Ashland Co,OH dd 15 Sep 1881 married Joseph F Miller bd 11 Mar 1834 Ashland Co,OH dd 05 Jan 1927 . Both probably died in Excelsior,Hennepin,MN as all there children were born there. Joseph was the son of John B Miller bd 10 Mar 1800 Germany dd 20 Jan 1863 Walbash Co,IN and Elizabeth/Eliza Steele bd 16 Mar 1807 Bedford Co,PA dd 18 Mar 1854 Walbash Co,IN. Elizabeth was the cousin of Jacob S Steele who was a Brethren minister and bishop in Yellow Creek,PA My other Ritter is Martha Ritter bd 27 Mar 1835 Franklin Co,PA dd 03 Oct 1892 LaGrange Co, IN married to David Steele bd 08 Feb 1819 Bedford Co,PA dd 14 Feb 1908 LaGrange Co,IN. David Steele and Elizabeth were brother and sister. Lynn Hilty Sewell ----- Original Message ----- From: <Caland36@aol.com> To: <BRETHREN@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2008 12:44 PM Subject: [BRE] Ritter bio. > Merle, this may help with the Ritter family. > > Elizabeth Miller's husband Jacob Ritter had made a trip on horseback > the spring of 1829 in company with other men locating land open for > settlement in the then Northwest territory. > > Jacob & Elizabeth changed from German Baptist to the Universalist Church. > Bio. from 1907, "Pictorial and Biographical Memoirs Elkhart and St. > Joseph > Counties" , (IN), pgs. 187, 198. > Jacob Ritter, of South Bend, Indiana and one of the pioneers of St. > Joseph > Co., is a Montgomery Co., Ohioan, born about three miles west of Dayton, > on > the 1st of January, 1806, a son of John and Barbara (Garber) Ritter. > John > Ritter was born in NC, April 1777, and there grew to manhood. When a > young man > he learned the cooper's trade and for some time made that his chief > occupation. He afterward resided near Nashville, TN, for a short time > and later was a > resident of KY. As he was married in Montgomery Co., OH in 1805, he was > probably a settler of that locality about the year 1803. At the time he > crossed > the Ohio River at Cincinnati there was only a block house and a few > cabins > where that city now stands, the principal inhabitants at that point being > soldiers. His wife was born in VA, a daughter of John and Barbara > Garber. About > the year 1818 the Ritter family removed to Wayne Co., IN being among the > pioneers of that county, where Mr. Ritter became the owner of 160 acres > of land. > Here Mr. Ritter lived for several years. He afterward disposed of his > property there and settled in St. Joseph Co., a portion of his land being > in > Portage and a portion in German Twp. He afterward settled on the > Michigan road in > German Twp., where he lived until his death in Feb. 1867. His wife > survived him several years, her death occurring at the home of her > daughter in Floyd > Co., IA, at the advanced age of one hundred and two years. Mr. and Mrs. > Ritter were the parents of the following children: Jacob, Michael, John, > Benjamin, David, Samuel, Martin, Sarah and Susan, all of whom are living > but John, > who served three years as cavalryman in the late war under Gen. Custer. > Jacob Ritter, whose name is at the head of this sketch, was about twelve > yrs. of age when his parents settled in Wayne Co., (IN), and there in his > native > county he succeeded in obtaining a practical education in the common > schools, which were held in the old-time log cabin. He was reared on a > farm, and > has always devoted his attention to that occupation. In Wayne Co. he > united > his fortunes with those of Elizabeth Miller, Oct. 26, 1826, her birth > having > occurred in Montgomery Co., OH, June 5, 1809. She being a daughter of > David > and Sarah (HARDMAN) Miller, who also became pioneers of St. Joseph Co., > IN. In > the spring of 1830 Mr. Ritter came to this county also, and found himself > in > Portage Prairie on April 5 of that year, and located on a farm of eighty > acres in Sec. 32, which he had previously selected in the fall of 1829, > at which > time he also became the owner of eighty acres of timber land. A number > of > other families came at the same time and that year they all raised quite > good > crops of corn. Several of these settlers combined work and in 1830 > seeded > about 200 acres to corn, which Mr. Ritter says became the finest crop of > sod > corn he has ever seen produced in any county. That years they also > raised some > magnificent melons and turnips, but he refuses to disclose their exact > size > and weight for fear people of the present day would be inclined to doubt > his > veracity. He erected a log cabin on his property in German Twp., Sec. > 29, in > the fall of 1831, where he lived for many years, and which he still owns. > In 1866 he retired from active labor and purchased property in South > Bend, > where is now residing. He also owns 342 acres of land, and is nicely > situated > to enjoy life. He and his worthy wife became the parents of fourteen > children: Lucinda (deceased), Barbara, Sarah A. (deceased), Amanda E., > Martha E., > Aaron M., William H. H., David M., John N., Benjamin F., Theodore > (deceased), > Lorinda and Clarinda (twins) and Elizabeth M. Of these children, Amanda > E., > Martha E., William H. H. and Elizabeth M. are residents of this county; > Barbara, now wife of Joseph Hardman, is living at Prairie City, Grant > Co., OR; > Aaron M. and David M. are farmers near Springfield, MO; John N. is > engaged in > the practice of law and in banking at Columbus, KS; Benjamin F., a > farmer > and dealer in agricultural implements, resides in Castleton, Cass Co., > ND. > Lorinda, wife of Q. A. Bulla, lives near St. Edward, Boone Co., NV and > Clarinda, > who married J. F. Buchtel, is living in Kansas City, MO. Two sons, > William > H. H. and David, served three years during the war in the 23rd IN > Battery, > under command of Capt. Andrews. Mrs. Ritter died Feb. 20, 1867, and in > 1872 > Mr. Ritter took for his second wife Ellen Lentz, born Feb. 26, 1831, in > PA, > daughter of Christopher and Hannah (Davis) Lentz, who were of Scot. > descent. > Christopher Lentz was a soldier in the War of 1812 and for many years was > a > resident of German Twp., where he lived until his death, which occurred > Aug. 14, > 1838. His widow survived him until Oct. 27, 1869. Mr. Ritter is a > member > of the I.O.O.F., having joined that order about the year 1850. He has > always > been a great reader, and possesses a well-stored mind. He rather favors > the > Universalist doctrine in his religious views, and in politics has always > been > an ardent Democrat. His record as an honorable man of affairs has > remained > untarnished, and as a citizen he has always been public spirited and law > abiding. > > John Ritter born 1777 in NC going from Tennessee to Kentucky to the > (Dayton > Ohio area now.) About 1803 > married 1805 Barbara Garber born in Rockingham County, Virginia. > She was Brethren but John was in the war of 1812 under William Henry > Harrison so I don't think he was. > They moved to Wayne County, Indiana and then to St Joseph County, > Indiana. > > This info. given to me by; Ira Hardman, _iraandhelen@juno.com_ > (mailto:iraandhelen@juno.com) > > > > > > **************Vote for your city's best dining and nightlife. City's Best > 2008. (http://citysbest.aol.com?ncid=aolacg00050000000102) > > ------------------------ > Search the Archives at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/BRETHREN > ------------------------ > Support Our Sponsoring Agency > The Fellowship Of Brethren Genealogists (FOBG) > For further information contact Ron McAdams mailto:McAdamsr@hotmail.com > ------------------------ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRETHREN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >