Adams County IL Archives Biographies.....Ritter, John E
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Candy Grubb candyg@theofficenet.com November  1997


>From "History of North Washington" Published 1904
Ferry County Biographical Sketches

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JOHN E. RITTER
    John E. Ritter is now treasurer of Ferry county.  He was first
appointed in 1901 to fill an unexpired term in this office, and the
following year was elected to continue in the same office.  Previous to
this he had been treasurer of Republic, and had also served a term as
commissioner in that county.  He is a first class officer and has given
satisfaction.
    John E. Ritter was born in Illinois on November 4, 1866, being the
son of J.H. and Alice Ritter,natives of Pennsylvania and Illinois,
respectively.  As the parents of our subject died when he was four years
of age, he was taken to the home of J. Botorff, where he remained until
sixteen.  He had one brother, Jerry H., who is deceased, and two sisters,
Alice, wife of John Flynn, of Ashland, Illinois and Susie M., married to
Kirt White, of Petersburg, Illinois.  Our subject was educated in the common
schools of Adams county, Illinois, and at the age of sixteen began to
learn telegraphy.  As soon as proficient, he took a position on the Texas
Pacific Railroad as operator, and later was in the employ of the Missouri
Pacific in Missouri.  In 1889, he came to Sprague, Washington, and operated
there and at Cheney, until the time of the extension of the Washington
Central railroad, when he took a position at Wilbur in 1893, remaining in
the same until 1898.  In that year, Mr. Ritter came to Ferry county and
associated himself with J.C. Keller in merchandising.  Soon after he was
located as stated above, and since that time has been in public office.
Mr. Ritter has accumulated some excellent property, including lands and
buildings in Republic, mining property, and other real estate.  He has a
comfortable residence, and is one of the leading men of the county.
    In 1896, Mr. Ritter married Miss Myrtle, daughter of H.D. and
Julia Hall, natives of Connecticut and Missouri, respectively.  Mrs. Ritter
was born in Greenfield, Missouri.  She has one brother, Edward C., a
lumber merchant at Aurora, Missouri.  To Mr. and Mrs. Ritter two children
have been born, June E. and J. Edward.
    Mr. Ritter has always been active in political matters, being allied
with the Democratic party.  Fraternally, he is affiliated with Ferry Lodge
No. 111, A.F. & A.M., the Eastern Star, the W.W., while his wife is also a
member of the Eastern Star.
    Mr. Ritter is an accomplished musician and has done excellent work
as instructor in this art.  Their home is a ceneter of refinement, where
Mrs. Ritter presides with gracious hospitality.
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