| Letter #6 - November 15, 2002 |
Publisher's Corner
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Hello to all.
| It's our anniversary. Believe it or not, this is the fourth year of the RitterLetter. Over the past four years we have created six letters, archiving information that will serve many people for years to come. These letters, while not the definitive repository for Ritter family history, include information that will be valuable to many of us researching our ancestors. Much of the information here is not available from other source. Hopefully the content of this issue will further demonstrate this fact even better. Reason for this news letter: My Father, who is from Mississippi, has a half sister that died at the age of sixteen. I spent considerable time searching to find her grave and trying to learn why she was not with her family when she died. For quite some time I could not explain my reasons for spending so much time on this one not-so-close relative. On another occasions I remember driving along a road in the middle of Alabama and suddenly realizing that my great great Grandfather traveled this very same road almost a century ago. This Grandfather was supposedly killed by a group of men for having stolen a chicken. Some folks took that kind of thing very seriously back then. As I searched my own reasons for having spent so much time on details not related to the usual geneological studies, I began to see that my motivation was being fueled by a desire to establish some kind of personal connection with those long deceased relatives. For some of us bent on a genealogy quest, learning names and dates is quite enough. For others, such as this writer, a more personal connection to those who preceeded us is what is desired and that explains why this letter is being published. As we begin our fifth year of publishing we reaffirm our pledge to include statistics about family members as well as continue to publish items that reflect the need for many to connect personally with those in our family that have preceeded us. I am not much of an authority on what I am about to say and I know that there are likely as many opinions about life after death as there are readers out there. One thing I do know from personal experience and that is that our ancestors do live on in the hearts and minds of those of us who knew and loved them. As long as we are alive those memories live within us. But, what happens when we go? That is why I feel a personal obligation to document and personalize the lives of those I didn't know. I will rest my case by calling your attention to the stories told by Thurman Maness and written down by Lacy Garner Jr. in this publication. As you read about Addison Ritter think about how the memory and spirit of this man has now been documented for future generations who would, but for this story, have known only his name. Please keep in mind that YOU are a necessary part of the RitterLetter project. Without you these issues would not be possible. We continue to need your stories, personal recollections, family photos and other information that are not available from other sources. We ask you to take time to document the information that perhaps only you know about your ancestors. It will only be available if you take time to send it to us or write it down for your family. A note of thanks: A lot has happened since the first RitterLetter was published in November 1998. When the idea of this newsletter was first conceived web sites and the technology associated with web publishing was pretty foreign to us. It was only through the kindness of Antone Ritter, our Texas connection, that we were able to have a web identity. His help with writing HTML, creating PDF files and arranging for the hosting of this letter, at his own expense, made this all possible. We all owe Mr. Ritter a great debt of gratitude for sharing his expertise and for arranging for hosting service for this letter until now. Thank you Antone for all you have done to help over the past four years. Back to the top |
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STAR MAN TURNS 98; Recalls Early Days
A news article submitted by a reader - publication date unknown.
Tommy Ritter of Star doesn't slip away from his family and go fishing alone anymore. | And, he could use a hearing aid to advantage. As a matter of fact, a bout with pneumonia and a few other ailments last winter has slowed him down. But, a 98-year-old man isn't the same as he was at 89! Ritter reminisced recently about the years since he was born June 4, 1874, on a "little farm on Deep River in the upper edge of Moore County" near the Montgomery line. He has a remarkable memory, and vividly recalls teaching school for $20 per month on a "second grade certificate issued at Carthage." Schools in Moore county then were for three months out of the year, and he says that he taught in three public schools while doing some farming, too. Ritter got married while he was a teacher-farmer and that bought him some land, built a house, and made a crop. He became the father of a daughter in November after his marriage, and the future looked bright. However, his wife became ill with typhoid fever and died the following October leaving him with an 11 months old baby. Between his farming, and later railroading, he reared Ether Mae Ritter. She later became Mrs. Robert Wright, and she died about two years ago. Since then, his son-in-law's sister has moved into the Spies Road residence to make their home with Ritter. Ritter was a railroad engineer and station agent for nearly 40 years. He started out with the old Durham & Charlotte Railroad on August 1, 1900 at Spies. When the D & C line was extended from Spies to Star, Ritter moved to Star where he has lived since October 1903. In addition to being the stations agent, he also was engineer on a freight train. "We worked where we were needed," he recalls, and there wasn't any railroad union then to say differently. "When the railroad extended its lines to Troy, Ritter became the agent there for two years. He also was engineer on a freight between Troy and Gulf, he said. He returned to the Star station in 1908, recalled Ritter, and he was there until the D&C sold out to the Norfolk-Southern in November 1911. About the same time the old Aberdeen and Asheboro Railroad sold out to the N & S bringing about a consolidation of station agencies in Star with George N. Scarborough remaining there as agent. Ritter was transferred to Candor. Later, according to Ritter, Scarborough "got the post office" at Star and Tom Ellis became the railroad agent. Then Ellis resigned, and Ritter was back at Star as agent in 1915. He stepped down on September 30, 1939, but his retirement from the railroad only meant that [he] had more time for farming and fishing. Ritter doesn't do much of either, now, but he still gets about with the aid of a "Walker" and he reads a lot with the help of glasses. He looks a lot younger than a man only two years from being 100 years old. Ed. Note: This story is about Thomas Wesley Ritter 1874, son of Francis Marion Ritter 1840, Grandson of Capt. John Ritter 1816. See related photo at the bottom of this letter Back to the top |
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JUG TOWN - - "I was the oldest of three babies when my father went to the Civil War," said Mrs. Lucy J. Ritter, 99.
She was born May 15, 1858, in the Concord Church community near Coleridge in Randolph County. Her husband died 41 years ago. She now lives with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Bennie Garner of Jug Town. "When Pa come home, things seemed a lot better. Somehow, he got things painted. We raised everything we had to eat. Made our own clothes. Many a night I've spun thread by the light of a lightered knot. Knitted socks, too and molded candles. Pa had leather tanned and he made our shoes. "Schooling? All we ever got was three months in the winter. Only book was a blue-back speller." She readily consented to have her picture made. Her sense of humor was the most refreshing thing of the heat-swept June afternoon. "Let me tidy my hair a bit. Guess I better put my snuff box and brush in my pocket," she laughed. She walked unassisted down the back porch steps, sat down in a chair and smoothed her apron. "Mister, before me and the heat give that box of yours a stroke, you better snap it," she smiled. "Been a long time since I had a picture made," she said. "Could you send me one?" Editor's Note: This story is about Lucy Jane Owen Ritter 1858, 2nd wife of John Spinks Ritter 1844. See related photo at the bottom of this letter Back to the top |
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Thurman Maness Remembers Addison Worth Ritter 1849 - 1938
A story told by: Thurman Maness, written and submitted by: Lacy Garner, Jr., 08/13/00 |
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People just naturally come in a varying assortment of personalities and temperaments. There are those individuals whose names you may have forgotten and those whose names you shall never forget. As we go about our daily lives we unknowingly paint a picture; pictures that remain in the minds of others long after we cease to paint. Just as in the realm of art, there are works that because of their character seemingly stand out above the rest. Thurman Maness remembers one such work of art; a man of character who arose from the ashes of chaos.
Addison Worth Ritter, or Add as he was called, was born in 1849 (according to the 1850 census) in upper Moore County, North Carolina. His mother, Eliza Ritter, was the baby sister of Capt. John Ritter. His father was Asa Maness, the husband of his mother's sister. Eliza died during childbirth and Add was raised by his mother's family, mainly Capt. John Ritter and his wife Sarah. He was given the Ritter name at birth and proudly carried it until the day he died. Two family members always told him: Add, you ain't never going to amount to nothing because you talk too much! Add set out to prove them wrong and prove them wrong he did. As the years slowly passed he was eventually worth more financially [well off] than both those two men combined. One year he learned the amount paid by those two men in property taxes and saw that he paid twice as much. He took his tax receipts to those two individuals and threw them down; You fellows ain't never goin' to amount to nothing--you don't talk enough! Thurman Maness remembers the stories he heard about Add Ritter: There is a story about Add Ritter that I've heard my daddy tell. It seems he had a log corn crib where he stored his corn. Well, in one place at the back of the crib the logs were a little farther apart than at any other place and there was an opening just large enough for a man to reach in with one hand. Add began noticing that the corn was disappearing from inside the crib at that particular spot. It seemed to him that someone was coming around at night and stealing ears of corn through the crack. He sat out to discover who that individual might be. He went and got a steel varmint trap and carefully set it in the corn and tied it down so it couldn't be moved. Every morning he would get up before daybreak and glance out the window towards the corn crib. One morning he looked out and saw a fellow standing at the back of his crib. He casually got dressed and eventually found his way down to the crib. He walked up to the man and started making small talk. Beautiful morning, ain't it? The man agreed that it was. Add immediately recognized the man whom he had known most his life. The conversation finally turned to the man's predicament. How long you been out here? The man told him he had been standing out there all night, since right after dark the evening before. He proceeded to tell Add how he had stuck his hand through the crack and how he thought he was caught in a trap. Let me take a look. Add got down and peeped through the crack and confirmed the man's suspicions. Yep, looks like that trap has got a good three out of five fingers. Let me see what I can do about that. He walked around to the front of the crib and opened the door. He crawled on top of the corn to the back of the crib and started digging down to man's hand. I think I see the problem. This old steel trap here has got a death grip on your hand. He pried the steel jaws open and the man quickly retrieved his hand. He walked back around to the fellow and suggested: You had better let my wife take a look at that hand. It might need a little doctoring. The man consented and they walked toward the house. Miss Catherine! see what you can do for this fellow's hand. Lord have mercy, what happened to your hand? Before he could answer Add replied: He got it caught in one of them varmint traps down at the corn crib. You better let me take care of that. She went and got a wash basin and cloth and carefully wiped away the dried blood. Catherine carefully dabbed the fingers with turpentine and wrapped them with clean linen. The man thanked her for the medical attention and suggested that he had to get on back home. Add spoke up; Nonsense, stay and have breakfast with us. The man insisted that he really had to go but Add would not take no for an answer. Catherine sat breakfast before them and that fellow ate about three helpings. I bet you 'bout starved to death, standing out there all night. The fellow nodded in agreement. When you finish come on down to the crib. While he was finishing up breakfast Add went back down to the crib and filled a sack full of the finest ears of corn he could find. That fellow came walking back to the crib like a scolded dog with his tail tucked between his legs. Add tied off the sack and threw it out the crib door at the man's feet. Here, this is for you. That fellow looked so surprised. He was starting to get a good case of the conscience. Mr. Ritter, I'm sorry I stole your corn. My wife and children were hungry and I just took enough so that we could have a little corn meal. I didn't mean no harm. Add looked that fellow right square in the eyes, while pointing a finger in his face. If your family is hungry you come and tell me and I'll take care of it, but don't you never steal anything from me again. The man nodded that he understood and walked on out of sight with that bag of corn thrown over his shoulder. Add told this story time and time again but neither he nor his wife ever revealed who that individual was. From that day on they were always the best of friends. Addison Ritter was also one of those unique individuals who seem to possess a gift. He just naturally understood horses and mules and could accomplish things with them when others had tried and failed. He always insisted that he just talked to them and that they understood what he wanted. I ain't never laid a switch on a horse. You can't beat sense into an animal. Horses seemed to love him after their first conversation and would deliver on any demand he made of them. One day Add rode his horse to the store at Highfalls to pickup some supplies. He never tied his horse and that day was no exception. He would just ride up, drop the reins over the saddle horn and go about his business. He got to talking to several friends at the store that day and the minutes turned into hours. I guess his horse got tired of standing so he took a notion to run up and down the road awhile. That horse would run up the road as far as the bridge, turn around and run that far in the other direction. Back and forth, back and forth. Men would come into the store and inform him; Add, your horse is loose, you better go catch him! Add would respond with; You boys better leave my horse alone! Then he would go back to talking. I said he had a gift, actually he had two, with the second one being talking. When he got ready to leave he walked outside and his horse was barely visible up the road. He let out a shrill whistle and that horse came running as hard as he could and stopped right there beside him. He mounted, told everyone to have a good day, and rode off. Some of the Hunsucker boys from Hemp once had a beautiful horse. There was only one problem: They couldn't get her to pull anything, not even a small sled. They tried everything. Finally they approached Add and suggested that he take her home for a couple of weeks and see if he could get her to working. Add agreed. A few weeks later he came walking into town and the boys began laughing. I see you're walking today Mr. Ritter, you couldn't get her to working either. Add calmly replied, “no, that ain't the case at all boys, actually I brought her with me today. He took the crowd outside and pointed to the bottom of the hill. There she stood, all alone, hitched to a wagon loaded with cross-ties. Add gave out another one of those whistles and she commenced to pulling that load to the top of the hill. Everyone just stood around looking at each other, scratching their heads. How did you do it? Add replied; I just had a long talk with her. Add Ritter was a very industrious fellow. Every winter he would kill a bunch of hogs, salt down the hams, load them on the wagon and take them into Fayetteville to sell. He made a lot of money doing that. He was the first man to employ the assembly line concept to Hog-killin'. I've heard my daddy tell that story. One day Add planned on killing about a half-dozen hogs. He had it all planned out in his head. He hired a whole crew of men and split them up into pairs. The first two he told to be there at exactly 4am. The second pair was told to arrive thirty minutes later. The schedule continued, with each pair arriving 30 minutes later than the previous. The first pair arrived at exactly 4am as instructed. Add told them to start gathering the wood for the fire and place it around the scalding vats. Thirty minutes later the second pair arrived and Add told them to fill the vats with water and maintain them at the proper level. The first pair soon completed their task and had the fire roaring. They asked Add what he wanted them to do next. “Just sit down right there boys and rest. I'll let you know when you're needed again. About daylight the second pair finished their allotted task and asked for further instructions. “You boys sit down over there by the other two and I'll call you when you're needed. About that time the third pair arrived and Add instructed them to go out and kill the hogs. They went out and knocked the hogs in the head with the axe. When Add figured the third pair had had enough time to accomplish their job he sent the first and second pair with instructions to help the third pair drag-up the hogs. He followed that scheme through the entire process. Them boys spent a lot of time sitting there and scratching their heads. It was a totally new concept to folks in this area, but one that had its merits. Add was always a busy fellow. Always had to be doing something. I remember one day, while I was still a young boy, my daddy sent me over to Add's place to help him plow. He had already given my daddy instructions on what time I was to arrive and what equipment I was to bring. I was to arrive at exactly 6am with two mules outfitted with collars only. Daddy emphasized the importance of my punctuality. Son, if you're late he's liable to send you back home. I was always on my best behavior around Mr. Ritter. I let him do all the talking and just mainly answered when spoken to. We got along just fine. We started plowing that morning at the break of day. About 8am Add hollered over to me; It's time to take a break! Lay your gears back! Lets go water the mules! We led the mules to the watering trough and I was just about to let my mule have a drink when Add shouted. “NO, NO, NO, that water was drawn yesterday, these mules are just like you and me--they like fresh water! He told me to draw a fresh trough of water. When the trough was full he said, Ok, let 'em drink. When the mules were finished Add said; “lets take them down to the barn. We led both mules to the barn and put them in separate stalls. Add went and fetched some corn and fodder to feed them. For the life of me I couldn't figure out how them mules could be hungry, I had just fed them before leaving home. But whatever Mr. Ritter said do is what I done. “Now boy, lets me and you go to the house and get a bite to eat. Add's wife laid out some food and we both ate our fill. “Alright, lets get back to the field. We got the mules out of their stalls, put them back in harness, and headed back to the field. We plowed about two more hours and I seen Add's signal. He threw up both arms; “Time to go to the house for lunch! We repeated the entire process all over again: Unhitching the mules, drawing fresh water, and feeding the mules. We went back to the house where Miss Janie had a buffet sat before us this time. I had already eaten twice and it wasn't even noon yet! Where was I going to put all that food? Them poor mules probably thought they had died and gone to heaven. I didn't have the heart to tell them they were going home with me. “Alright, lets sit on the porch a few minutes before we go back to the field. We sat on the porch and I just mostly sat while he mostly talked. “Back to the field! We plowed a few more hours then it was back to the watering trough, draw the water, feed the mules, feed ourselves, then back to the field. Finally about 5pm Add announced; “That's it for today! I'll pay your daddy. I was exhausted and still had to lead those two mules home. All the way home I kept trying to decide if I was tired from harnessing and unharnessing mules, drawing water, feeding mules or feeding my face. I had completely forgotten about the plowing! However, I was beginning to understand why all the mules loved him. I recall the day World War I broke: Nov.,11. 1918, I believe. My daddy and I were out in the field drilling in wheat. We commenced to hearing Add Ritter hollering from two miles away. That man could holler like no one I have ever know. You knew immediately it was Add. After listening a few moments my daddy said: “I bet the war has broke, that's what Add is hollering about. My daddy suggested that we wait until the mailman came around and maybe he could tell us what all the commotion was about. Jesse Lambert was the mailman and it wasn't no time before we saw him coming. We went out to the road to meet him. “Mr. Lambert, could you tell us what Add Ritter is hollering about? “Haven't you boys heard?-- the war is OVER! I just came by Add Ritter's place and he was out sitting on the rooftop, hollering to the world. My daddy said; “I figured as much. Add took that Shout it from the rooftops thing seriously. His ability to let out a good holler came in handy while fox hunting too. My daddy said the last time he heard Add holler they were fox hunting up on Deep River. The dogs had run the same fox all morning. That rascal would run over to Bear Creek, make a loop and run all the way over to Buffalo Creek. Every time they would pass by Add Ritter's place he would commence to hollering. Everyone knew what Add sounded like and when he started to hollering they knew exactly where the dogs were--they were over at Add's place. About lunchtime the dogs went silent and Add was still hollering. My daddy knew the dogs had caught that fox over at Add's place. Sure enough, when they got there they found the dogs and the fox in Add's garden. My daddy always held a special affection for Add's knack for hollering. My daddy went to help him do some work onetime and came home laughing, telling this story. My daddy was on up in years at the time. A younger relative, Lonnie Maness, went with my daddy to help Mr. Ritter. After they had finished it was time for Add to pay up. He pointed out across the yard. “Reuben, your money is under that rock out yonder, off to the right. Lonnie, you'll find your money up under that rock over yonder, off to the left. My daddy said he turned over that rock to find an old ragged half-torn bill. Lonnie on the other hand turned over his rock to find a bright, band-new, crisp bill. My daddy finally reasoned that Add had paid them according to their ages and he always thought that was the funniest thing. Add Ritter had his own way of doing things. A bit eccentric at times but quite effective. After Add's first wife Catherine Maness died he set his sights on finding a new wife. He asked around for the names of eligible widowed ladies in the area. With that list in hand he climbed into his buggy and went door to door. He would knock on the door, introduce himself and ask: “You interested in getting married? If she said NO! He would politely excused himself: “Have a good day! About the third day into his mission he stumbled upon Janie Cox from over about the Bear Creek community. Her answer of YES was as good as a proposal. They were married shortly afterwards. Someone commented to Add; “That sure is a strange way to find a wife. Add replied; “I ain't got time to talk no woman into marrying me! Farming pretty much consumed the better part of a man's day and Add Ritter didn't have any time to waste. He had his own way of dealing with people and he either liked you or he didn't. He didn't mind letting you know where you stood either. It became the custom at church that when they got a new preacher Add would take him home with him for dinner after that first sermon. He would then size the fellow up and determine if he liked him or not. If he liked him he would continue to go and hear him preach, but if he decided he didn't like him, he would never go listen to him preach again. Add was over at Pleasant Hill Church once for the funeral of one of his good friends. The church bell began to toll as the procession carrying the coffin came into sight. Add turned to someone standing in the crowd and asked; Do you know who is going to be preaching his funeral? The man told him who the preacher was. Add politely excused himself; “Good day boys! With that he climbed back into his buggy and rode off. He wasn't going to waste his time listening to someone he didn't like. Add was always looking for an opportunity to make a nonverbal statement. What's that old saying; Actions speak louder than words. After the stock laws went into effect everyone was required to fence in their stock. Up until that time everything ran loose. Livestock breaking-out was a common occurrence, seeing as to how they weren't accustomed to being contained. One day some of Add's stock got out and found their way to a neighbors house. The neighbor put them inside his fence and kept them three days. He then sent Add word that he had some of his livestock and that he needed to come get them. Add went over as soon as he heard and he and the boys rounded up the stock to take them home. He asked the man how much he owed him and that rascal went to figuring. Let me see, I think it's fair that I charge you so much a head multiplied times three days. He came up with a figure and Add paid him without saying a word. As time went by, and fate would have it, some of that same neighbor's livestock showed up at Add's place. You could tell by the marks on the animals who they belonged to. Add put them up in his fence and waited three days before sending the man word that he had some of his stock. The fellow came to get his stock as soon as he heard. "How much do I owe you Add?" Add said, "Well, let me see, I think it's only fair that I charge you the same thing you charged me. That would be so much a head multiplied times three days." The neighbor agreed that would be fair, but proceeded to inform Add that he didn't have any money. Add, what if I were to give you some of the stock for payment. Add thought a minute; No, I ain't going to charge you anything, I ain't going to be the rascal that you were, but if I ever hear tell of you charging anyone for pinning up their livestock again--You're going to be hearing from me! Add Ritter was a man of principles and to him that always meant more than money. Add got the idea one day to go into town and see if he could find an honest man. He took an old wallet and stuffed it with green cabbage leaves. He walked up the street of Hemp and casually dropped the wallet on the sidewalk. He then crossed over the street to Marvin Ritter's store and sat down on the bench out front and waited. Pretty soon a fellow came walking up the street and glanced down at that wallet lying there on the sidewalk. He quickly reached down and snatched it up without missing a step. He then darted between the next two buildings. Add jumped up and ran across the street. He hurried down the ally between the buildings just in time to see the man open that wallet. Find much money in that there pocket-book did you? That fellow must have felt like a fool. Add went on back to Mr. Ritter's store to announce; didn't find no honest man today. In his latter years Add got rid of all his livestock and gave-up farming. He went to Mr. Blake Garner, who lived over on the plank road and asked if he could borrow his mule to plow his garden. Mr. Garner was happy to oblige but cautioned him: “Don't let that mule get loose. She's a good mule but if you turn your back on her she's gone. The last time she got loose it took us three days to catch her. Add said that he understood. The next evening Mr. Garner looked out the window and saw Add walking down the road toward the house. His first thought was; “My lord, he has let my mule get loose! He went running out the door to meet him. “Mr. Ritter, did you let my mule get loose? Add calmly replied; “No, no, she's coming. He turned around and whistled and there came that ol' mule trotting down the road towards them. Add had a soft spot for mules and children. My daddy said he was over at Bryant Reynold's store one day and this fellow and his little girl came in to pay his bill. Mr. Reynold's would carry folks on credit during the growing season and they would pay him off after the harvest. Mr. Reynolds was at his desk in the back tallying up the man's bill. The little girl was looking at all that selection of candy to choose from and Add overheard her ask her daddy if she could have some candy. I don't know honey, we'll have to see if I have enough money left after I pay Mr. Reynolds. Add sat on right quite like--I know that must have 'bout killed him. The man finished paying his bill with very little left over. Add stepped up to the counter; Mr. Reynolds, I need some candy please. Give me a little of everything you got. Mr. Reynolds filled up a sack and Add paid him. The little girl was watching every move they made. The man and his little girl were getting ready to walk out the door when Add reached down and handed her that sack of candy. Here you go honey, I believe you'll find everything you wanted in there. Add always held child in high esteem--treated them like they were somebody. His daughter Martha came down for a visit one time and brought her 7 or 8 year old son Braxton along. Martha and some relatives were going into town, Hemp as Robbins was called then. Add told Martha to leave Braxton with him because they had some business to tend to. When she returned she found Add sitting out on the porch and Braxton with a pair of scissors. Add had talked Braxton into giving him a haircut. Braxton didn't know the first thing about cutting hair and that was obvious by the looks of Add's head. The hair lay in heaps around Add's chair and Braxton had the biggest grin on his face; just like the Republicans had in 1928. Add Ritter was a die-hard Republican back when it wasn't fashionable. The 1928 Presidential election pitted Democrat Alfred E. Smith against well known Republican Herbert Hoover. Add let it be known that if Herbert Hoover won the election he would be so thankful that he would wear a necktie the entire four years Hoover was in office. “It's about time we got a Republican back in office. Well, Hoover won and Add went to wearing ties. I've seen him when he didn't have nothing but a string around his neck, but I guess a tie can be anything you want it to be. There wasn't anyone around foolish enough to debate Add Ritter on the definition of a tie. One day Add left his horse and buggy in the shade in a grove of trees across from the boy's dormitory at Elise School. Some of the boys decided to play a prank on him. They went around and collected all the old ties they could find and when no one was looking they took them down to Add's buggy and spread them out on the seat and all over his buggy. Add returned to find all those ties and commented; “Well, I guess I can always use another tie. All those that knew Add Ritter also knew that he wouldn't let anyone think for very long that they had gotten something over on him. How right they were. Add started asking around until he finally learned the name of the boy who had instigated the prank. He boxed-up all those old ties and headed for the post office in Star, N.C. He mailed that box back to Hemp to the boy in question: C.O.D. “Cash On Delivery. He chuckled all the way back home. You didn't play a prank on Add Ritter and get away with it. That's just the kind of man he was. A generous gifted character whom I shall never forget. My daddy always said there wasn't but one Add Ritter and there would never be another. Add Ritter had a lot of sense, and most of it common--but ain't that the best kind? Ed. Note: Addison Worth Ritter 1849, son of Eliza Ritter 1834, Nephew of Capt. John Ritter 1816. Some have disputed that Eliza was his mother, and some disagree that Asa Maness was his father. Back to the top |
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Questions about Howard Tim Ritter b.12/26/45
Submitted by Howard Tim Ritter Jr., Michigan, tritter@concentric.net |
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I hope that [someone] may be able to point me in any direction that may lead to some contact with the Ritter family [to whom] I am connected. My name is Howard Tim Ritter Jr. [I believe I am the 2nd or 3rd Howard Tim Ritter].
I am [the] 31 year old son of Howard Tim Ritter [Sr] (born Dec 26 1945) who [was born in] Belleville, IL (right outside of St. Louis, Missouri). My father was adopted by his grand parents on his mother's side at a very early age (I believe it was at 2-3 years) and had virtually no contact with his [Ritter] family that I can recall outside of an occasional letter (Aunt Perma?? I recall??). I believe that [his Ritter family lived] in the Bellevue, Ohio area. I would appreciate any information that [anyone can] provide. I live in Michigan presently, and would love to find more information on the history of our ancestry. Back to the top |
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Questions about J.H. Ritter
Submitted by Doris Dellinger bylines@ionet.net |
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My particular brick wall has always been J.H. Ritter, who married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Stutts. She was b. c. 1800, the daughter of Leonard Stutts, son of Jacob, son of Ulrich, the original immigrant. They m. about 1816, apparently in Moore Co., NC. Their children were b. in Lauderdale Co., AL. This couple is mentioned in Stutts lineages.
Their son was named John Hiram Ritter and served in the Civil War. He had a twin sister, and two older sisters are recorded for the family. I keep hoping to learn the names of J.H.'s parents in NC. Was his father a brother of Jessie B. Ritter? And I hope to tie in my great-grandmother, Deborah Ritter,. She was b. NC c. 1816, m. William McGee/McGhee in Lauderdale Co., AL 1836, and could be an older daughter of J.H. and Lizzie Ritter. On census records, after the death (date unk) of J.H. Ritter, Lizzie and her youngest children lived close to William and Debby McGee and sometimes one of the other McGee families. The oldest McGee in the county was Jacob, who m. Elizabeth Richardson c. 1805 in Moore Co., NC. Elizabeth was the daughter of early Moore Co., resident Stephen Richardson. I would be very grateful for any help. Back to the top |
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Questions about Conrad or George Ritter of Illinois
Submitted by Janet Krohe, jkro2@theramp.net |
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I am sorry that I couldn't attend the reunion, however, I was wondering if there would be
any chance of anyone that might be related to the family of Conrad, or George Ritter of
Illinois. Or can you refer me to someone that might be?
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Need Information on first generation of North Carolina Ritters
Submitted by Jerry McDonald, Jerry@JRMcDonald.com |
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I have been working to document as many of the Ritter family as possible for many years. When Larry Ritter had his database available online I was in heaven and could gather family relationships any time I felt like working on the project. Now that source has become unavailable and getting this information is more difficult. I would like to make contact with others interested in seeing this project completed and put into some form so that anyone can find family members in the future without having to start from scratch. If you have names and dates for descendants of Everett, Chloe, Susannah, Thomas, Nancy or Jesse Barry Jr. please contact me. I would like to exchange information with you. Back to the top |
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Milestones
These obituaries are dated but need to be documented in our archives. | |||||
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Myrtie H. Ritter Robbins - Myrtie Hussey Ritter, 86, of 467 Jesse Road, died Sunday Oct. 14, 2001, in Pinelake Health & Rehabilitation Center, Carthage. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001, at Needham Grove Baptist church, where she was a member, with the Rev. James E. Cockram, the Rev. Sid Baker and the Rev. Arnold Comer officiating. Burial will be in the chruch cemetery. She was a native of Moore County, was preceded in death by her husband, B. Clifford Ritter; and a son, W. Bascom Ritter. She was a member of the Sunday school class and Senior Citizen's Fellowship at her church. Surviving are a daughter, Betty Ritter Davis of Trinity; a son, Boyd Ritter of Robbins; sisters, Gertrude Owens and Marie Albright, both of Seagrove, Edna Coward and Eva Skeen, both of Robbins and Genevieve Murray of Bennett; brothers, Lennie Hussey and Charles Hussey, both of Robbins; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family will be at Kennedy Funeral Home from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and other times at the Boyd Ritter home, 455 Jesse Road. Memorials may be made to Needham Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, 359 Needham's Grove Church Road, Seagrove, N.C. 27341 |
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Ozzie Clarence Ritter | Ozzie Clarence Ritter, 88, formerly of Raliegh [NC], died Monday, Feb. 4, 2002 at the Masonic and Eastern Star home, where he had resided for more than 20 years. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, 2002 at the Masonic Home Chapel. Committal service will be at 3 p.m. in the Montlawn Memorial Park, Raleigh. Born in Lee County, he was raised in Moore County. Mr. Ritter was a World War II Army Air Corp veteran, a member of the First Christian Church, Greensboro, and a Mason, belonging to the Raleigh Hiram Lodge 40. He was also a member of the American Legion Raleigh Post 1 and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Raleigh Chapter 295 and Millbrook Chapter 292. Mr. Ritter retired from Carolina Power and Light in 1978, after 38 years of service at the Raleigh Substation. Mr. Ritter was predeceased by his wife of more than 66 years, Connie Copeland Ritter. He is survifved by his son, Phillip Ritter and wife, Barbara of Albany, N.Y; grandson, Andrew Ritter and wife, April of Belmont; and granddaughter, Cynthia Prest and husband, Mathew of Madison, Wis. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the Masonic Home. Memorials may be made to the Masonic Home, 700 South Holden Road, Greensboro, N.C. 27407 Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.haneslineberry.com.
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Lucy Owen Ritter | Mrs. Lucy Jane Owen Ritter, possibly the oldest citizen in Moore County died Sunday at her home on Rt. 2 Robbins at the ripe old age of 100. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon [at] the Smyrna Methodist Church with the Rev. M.D. McLamb officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Bennie Garner and Mrs. Bessie Garner of Rt. 2 Robbins; nine grand-children; 17 great grand-children and six great great grandchildren. Editor's. Note: see related story News article about Lucy Jane Owen Ritter
| Please keep us informed of births and deaths of Ritter family members. Back to the top |
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| Thomas Wesley Ritter b.Jun.04.1874 d.Oct.30,1973 |
Lucy Jane Owen Ritter b.May 15,1858 d.Jan.11,1959 |
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| Antone Ritter's web site | http://www.netxroad.com/antone/index.html |
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