BIO:  William RITTASE, Germany Township, Adams County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Pages 431-432

WILLIAM RITTASE, farmer, P.O. Littlestown, was born September 12, 1823, in Union 
Township, Adams Co., Penn., son of John and Catharine (Poe) Rittase, natives of 
Witkenstein, Ballenberg, Baden, South Germany, and who came here while young, 
settling near Hanover, Penn., where they farmed, but later moved to Union 
Township, this county, and here died.  They had six children that attained 
maturity:  Jacob (deceased), Christine, William, Maria, Ishmael (deceased) and 
Mary Ann.  Our subject lived in Union Township till 1856, when he bought a farm 
in Germany Township, where he now resides.  He has engaged in farming (has 120 
acres of land), and operates a saw-mill.  He was married in May, 1851, to Miss 
Margaret Bittle, born in Adams County, Penn., daughter of Thomas and Lydia 
(Wikert) Bittle.  She died here February 9, 1881, the mother of nine children, 
all living:  William F., Adolphus, Emma, E. Nelson, Elmer H., Ella E., Lilly, 
Harvey, Minnie.  Our subject’s second marriage was with Clarissa Overder, nee 
Kitzmiller.  Mr. and Mrs. Rittase are members of the German Reformed Church.  
Politically he is a Democrat.  He has held nearly all the township offices such 
as assessor, supervisor, etc., which shows with what respect and esteem his 
fellow-men hold him.  Few men have lived in the township who are so well known 
for honesty or integrity as is Mr. Rittase.  He now does all his threshing by 
water-power on his farm.