BIO: Henry M. Ritter, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                            CHAPTER XXXVIII.

                          BOROUGH OF CARLISLE.

393  BOROUGH OF CARLISLE.

  HENRY M. RITTER, merchant tailor, Carlisle, was born in that place 
February 6, 1847.  He attended the public schools of Carlisle until 
thirteen years of age, and then entered Dickinson College, where he 
remained one year.  He next entered Eastman's Business College, at 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1863.  He then 
returned to Carlisle and embarked in his present business, succeeding 
his father.  He carries a full and complete stock of fine imported and 
domestic goods.  January 10, 1868, Mr. Ritter married Miss M. Maybury 
Hassler, of Carlisle, a native of Philadelphia, and a daughter of John 
P. and Amelia M. (Herr) Hassler.  Mr. Hassler was a native of Franklin 
County, Penn., and for many years was cashier of the Carlisle Deposit 
Bank.  Mrs. Hassler was a native of Franklin County, a sister of the 
Hon. A. J. Herr, U. State Senator, and a daughter of Daniel Herr, 
proprietor of the "Tremont," Philadelphia, and the "Lochiel," 
Harrisburg.  Mr. and Mrs. Ritter have two sons:  John E. and Harry G., 
both born in Carlisle.  The mother is identified with the Reformed 
Church.  The parents of our subject are Henry S. and Mary (Wonderlich) 
Ritter, natives, the former of Reading, Berks County, and the latter of 
Cumberland County.  Henry S. Ritter, a merchant tailor by occupation, 
opened, in 1837, the first merchant tailoring establishment in 
Carlisle.  He and his wife are members of the English Lutheran Church.  
To them were born three sons and five daughters, of whom two sons and 
two daughters are living:  Mary E. (wife of Robert McCartney, foreman 
of the printers in the office of the Mechanicsburg Journal), Fannie A. 
(wife of John H. Rheem, a piano and music dealer at Ottumwa, Iowa).  
Henry M., and Charles H. (tailor of Carlisle, who married Miss Anna 
Reep).  Benjamin Crane, great-grandfather of Henry M. Ritter, was a 
native of England, and in an early day settled in Cumberland County, 
and was engaged in farming.  Christiana Crane, his widow, a native of 
Berks County, died in Carlisle, at the advanced age of one hundred and 
four years, retaining her mind and being quite active to the last.  Her 
death was caused by a fall and from fright during the bombarding of 
Carlisle by the rebels in 1863, a shell bursting in her room.  The 
Ritters are of German descent.  Samuel, the grandfather of Henry M., 
was born in Reading, Penn., of which city he was a merchant and served 
as postmaster for a period of twenty years.  His wife was Katherine 
Kast, a native of Reading.