Click to enlarge & view. Take notice that John served in both the 24th PA and 15th NY regiments. I have the discharge papers for the 15th NY. His wife Elisabeth (Voigt) Keller received his pension on Nov 4th, 1897.Thursday, March 08, 2007
John G Keller Civil War Pension Record
Click to enlarge & view. Take notice that John served in both the 24th PA and 15th NY regiments. I have the discharge papers for the 15th NY. His wife Elisabeth (Voigt) Keller received his pension on Nov 4th, 1897.
Ship "British Prince"
Patrick Boland, brother of Martin and John Boland travelled to America from England after leaving Ireland. He arrived in Philadelphia on May 3, 1887. He was 21 yrs old and resided in the East Falls section of Philadelphia. 
Martin Boland, brother of Patrick and John Boland travelled to America from England after leaving Ireland. He arrived in Philadelphia on April 30, 1888 and resided in the East Falls section of Philadelphia. He was 35 yrs old.Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Thinking Spring While The Snow Is Falling
If you have not guessed by the title of today's post, it is snowing here again. Pretty as it may be I cannot help but wish for the warmer weather of Springtime. So much so that I placed an order this morning for a few things I wish to plant this Spring/Summer from an on-line nursery.
I am a gardener at heart. I love to plant a variety of things in my garden and sit back and watch them bloom. This past Fall, one hundred bulbs were planted in the front and side gardens of my house. It is sort of a hit or miss thing and I will not know my success until they begin to bloom sometime next month.
This morning I ordered three Lemon Grass Plants which I plan to plant in containers in the back yard. Lemon Grass is an excellent source of natural citronella which I hope helps repel some of the mosquitoes we get in abundance during the Summer months around here. They are great plants because they can be placed in either the sun or shade and survive. I can also bring them indoors during the Winter months.
Another thing I ordered was a Blueberry Plant complete with pot and soil which will be a project for my grandsons Shaun and Nikolas. I am going to teach them to plant and grow their own Blueberries this Summer. Shaun loves to eat Blueberries so what better way to eat them then to grow them yourself.
I ordered a Climbing Shell Plant for the shepherds hook in the front yard that proudly holds the Bird-house Shaun made two years ago. I thought the flowers would look pretty climbing up the pole and around the Bird-house.
Of course, I cannot forgot the Cascadia Petunias for the three hanging baskets that will be placed on the front porch. I decided this year I would try the magenta-red blossoms.
Finally, I ordered what it called an Arctic Flame Red Rose Bush to plant in honor of Bill's recently deceased mother because she loved Red Roses. I am not sure where we will plant it yet but I am sure we will find the perfect place. It is one of those Sub-Zero Rose Bushes that is suppose to be hardy in all types of weather and resists most Rose problems. I decided to go with this type because I have other Rose Bushes that seem to have a problem with spots/insects since we moved in this house last Summer. Needless to say, the Arctic Rose will not be planted near these Roses. Hopefully, I will be able to get a handle on these Rose problems this year or I will need to remove them.
I am a gardener at heart. I love to plant a variety of things in my garden and sit back and watch them bloom. This past Fall, one hundred bulbs were planted in the front and side gardens of my house. It is sort of a hit or miss thing and I will not know my success until they begin to bloom sometime next month.
This morning I ordered three Lemon Grass Plants which I plan to plant in containers in the back yard. Lemon Grass is an excellent source of natural citronella which I hope helps repel some of the mosquitoes we get in abundance during the Summer months around here. They are great plants because they can be placed in either the sun or shade and survive. I can also bring them indoors during the Winter months.
Another thing I ordered was a Blueberry Plant complete with pot and soil which will be a project for my grandsons Shaun and Nikolas. I am going to teach them to plant and grow their own Blueberries this Summer. Shaun loves to eat Blueberries so what better way to eat them then to grow them yourself.
I ordered a Climbing Shell Plant for the shepherds hook in the front yard that proudly holds the Bird-house Shaun made two years ago. I thought the flowers would look pretty climbing up the pole and around the Bird-house.
Of course, I cannot forgot the Cascadia Petunias for the three hanging baskets that will be placed on the front porch. I decided this year I would try the magenta-red blossoms.
Finally, I ordered what it called an Arctic Flame Red Rose Bush to plant in honor of Bill's recently deceased mother because she loved Red Roses. I am not sure where we will plant it yet but I am sure we will find the perfect place. It is one of those Sub-Zero Rose Bushes that is suppose to be hardy in all types of weather and resists most Rose problems. I decided to go with this type because I have other Rose Bushes that seem to have a problem with spots/insects since we moved in this house last Summer. Needless to say, the Arctic Rose will not be planted near these Roses. Hopefully, I will be able to get a handle on these Rose problems this year or I will need to remove them.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
December 13, 1934 - February 26, 2007
Marlene (Molly) Agnes Cannon lost her battle with Lung Cancer on Feb 26, 2007 at 12:15am.Saturday, February 24, 2007
Ship "Friesland" Departed Queentown August 27th, 1908, Arrived Philadelphia September 6th, 1908
The last recorded Bolands to arrive in Philadelphia from Ireland were John & Ellen Doherty Boland and their two youngest children, Ellen and John Jr. Also listed as arriving with them is their 3 yr old grandson Michael McCafferty, child of Bernard & Mary Cafferty who came to Philadelphia without their son in 1906. Click on to enlarge.Ship "Merion" Left Queenstown April 18th, 1907, Arrived Philadelphia April 30th, 1907
Katherine (Kate) Boland, sister of Bridget Boland came to Philadelphia from Ireland with another of Bernard Cafferty's sisters, Margaret Cafferty. Kate was listed as being born in Killala while Margaret was listed as being born in Ballina. Click to enlarge.
1930 Census Record "Boland"
John and Margaret Boland lived at 1 Laboratory Hill in the East Falls Section of Philadelphia. Laboratory Hill was a community built around a chemical plant where the residents worked. John was a laborer in the chemical plant. He was listed as being 34 yrs old. Also in residence was his wife Margaret (34 yrs old) and their three children, Anna (9 yrs old), Margaret (5 yrs old) and John (2 yrs old). John's father was also listed in the household. He was 65 yrs old.Please note that two of John & Margaret's children died in early childhood. Mary died in 1923 at age 3 yrs old. Theresa died in 1928 at age 18 months old.
Also of interest, Margaret Boland immigrated to Philadelphia from Ireland in 1914.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Ship "Merion" Left Queenstown August 16th, 1906, Arrived In Philadelphia August 25th, 1906
This is the ship's passenger list for Bridget Boland McCaffery (great grandmother) and Bridget Cafferty (sister of Bernard Cafferty). Bridget Boland is listed as being 20 yrs old and born in Killala while Bridget Cafferty is listed as being 22 yrs old and born in Ballina. Please note that the term Schuylkill was once used for the current name of East Falls Click on image to view details.Thursday, February 22, 2007
1981
Jerry Cannon, my grandmother, my mother, Mary McKiernan, Molly Cannon (black sleeveless dress), Molly's brother, Nancy, Uncle Gene, (unknown man), Uncle Bill, Helen, Aunt DoloresThose who are deceased; my grandmother, Molly's brother, Uncle Bill and Helen.
Open Letter To Molly
Today, you glide ever closer to death. My heart breaks with the thought. Truly.
I have known you all my life because you were my mother's closest friend since childhood. Forty-six years would pass before I had the good fortune to call you mother-in-law. How funny life can be with its twists and turns.
I remember when my mother took me to your house in Plymouth Valley after your fourth child and first daughter, Joanie was born. I clearly remember Joanie lying in her crib. I also remember the house full of boys. Funny that I would eventually marry one of them later though it was this particular son, I cannot remember as a child. But, I remember the one called Jerry all too well. He was born just four days before me in 1960 and we would be nursery-mates as well as you and my mother were room-mates in that same hospital.
That day in Plymouth Valley, Jerry got on my nerves with his nonstop talking and bragging not to mention his grandmother, your mother egging him on because he was 8 yrs old and could spell the word "aspirin". Strange how someone can remember something so silly.
Do you remember when my parents lived in Manahawkin, just outside of Long Beach Island right on the bay? You came to visit every summer and stayed with my parents so we shared numerous barbecues and beach-time. I clearly remember your husband making his (at the time) famous blue fish on the grill. It actually was not too bad. This was the fish that he, my Dad and sometimes my oldest son, Shaun caught while out on those fishing trips.
Then I remember sitting on the beach with you and my mother while you two discussed things that I probably should have never known. Sometimes during those conversations, I had the feeling you both had forgotten I was even there.
Remember, the couple on the beach who had one little girl named "Tara". When you overheard the mother of that child call out to her daughter your first reaction/comment was, "the parents must be yuppies to have named their daughter, Tara". Again, it is funny how one remembers such silly things. Then, there was always that white zinc cream you generously put on your nose to avoid a sun-burn on that area of your anatomy.
Then there was that hot August day when my brother Michael got married and all the bridesmaids including me wore pink satin in one hundred degree weather where the church lacked air-conditioning and where I nicely tore the seam to my very very pink satin gown just as I got out of the car. The entire wedding I spent worrying that the four safety pins holding that dress together would come undone rendering me naked up at the altar in front of all those guests many which were cops because at the time, my brother was a cop.
That night as I laid on the sofa at my parents' house in that stupid hot pink torn dress, I overheard you and my mother talking (probably after many glasses of wine) and the topic was me so naturally I continued to lay there pretending that I was asleep just so I could hear what the two of you had to say about "me".
I remember you telling my mother how beautiful I looked sleeping. I could not be more than 30 yrs old at the time. (an age where no one should be forced to wear pink satin in August)
I just cannot let that dress thing go, can I?
For as long as I have known you, you always drank Merlot. Though Merlot tends to give me a headache, I too like wine. However, my own children saw that I developed an ulcer and put an end to that little pleasure.
12:11pm
I just spoke to Bill. He said the Hospice Nurse tells him its only a matter of hours. He is one thousand miles away and I cannot do a damn thing but talk to him on the phone. To complicate matters even worse, is his father's health. It is my understanding that he too has spent a great deal of time in bed today sick with a fever and sore throat.
I have known you all my life because you were my mother's closest friend since childhood. Forty-six years would pass before I had the good fortune to call you mother-in-law. How funny life can be with its twists and turns.
I remember when my mother took me to your house in Plymouth Valley after your fourth child and first daughter, Joanie was born. I clearly remember Joanie lying in her crib. I also remember the house full of boys. Funny that I would eventually marry one of them later though it was this particular son, I cannot remember as a child. But, I remember the one called Jerry all too well. He was born just four days before me in 1960 and we would be nursery-mates as well as you and my mother were room-mates in that same hospital.
That day in Plymouth Valley, Jerry got on my nerves with his nonstop talking and bragging not to mention his grandmother, your mother egging him on because he was 8 yrs old and could spell the word "aspirin". Strange how someone can remember something so silly.
Do you remember when my parents lived in Manahawkin, just outside of Long Beach Island right on the bay? You came to visit every summer and stayed with my parents so we shared numerous barbecues and beach-time. I clearly remember your husband making his (at the time) famous blue fish on the grill. It actually was not too bad. This was the fish that he, my Dad and sometimes my oldest son, Shaun caught while out on those fishing trips.
Then I remember sitting on the beach with you and my mother while you two discussed things that I probably should have never known. Sometimes during those conversations, I had the feeling you both had forgotten I was even there.
Remember, the couple on the beach who had one little girl named "Tara". When you overheard the mother of that child call out to her daughter your first reaction/comment was, "the parents must be yuppies to have named their daughter, Tara". Again, it is funny how one remembers such silly things. Then, there was always that white zinc cream you generously put on your nose to avoid a sun-burn on that area of your anatomy.
Then there was that hot August day when my brother Michael got married and all the bridesmaids including me wore pink satin in one hundred degree weather where the church lacked air-conditioning and where I nicely tore the seam to my very very pink satin gown just as I got out of the car. The entire wedding I spent worrying that the four safety pins holding that dress together would come undone rendering me naked up at the altar in front of all those guests many which were cops because at the time, my brother was a cop.
That night as I laid on the sofa at my parents' house in that stupid hot pink torn dress, I overheard you and my mother talking (probably after many glasses of wine) and the topic was me so naturally I continued to lay there pretending that I was asleep just so I could hear what the two of you had to say about "me".
I remember you telling my mother how beautiful I looked sleeping. I could not be more than 30 yrs old at the time. (an age where no one should be forced to wear pink satin in August)
I just cannot let that dress thing go, can I?
For as long as I have known you, you always drank Merlot. Though Merlot tends to give me a headache, I too like wine. However, my own children saw that I developed an ulcer and put an end to that little pleasure.
12:11pm
I just spoke to Bill. He said the Hospice Nurse tells him its only a matter of hours. He is one thousand miles away and I cannot do a damn thing but talk to him on the phone. To complicate matters even worse, is his father's health. It is my understanding that he too has spent a great deal of time in bed today sick with a fever and sore throat.
1910 Census Records
John and his wife Ellen along with children Kate, John Jr. and Ellen lived on 137 River Road in Lower Merion Township in 1910. Click on to view larger image.Boland
I finally located the burial records of John and Ellen Doherty Boland, maternal grandparents of my grandmother Anna Marie McCaffery Gallagher.
Folk lore suggested that they were interred at St. John the Baptist's church grave-yard in Manayunk. However, after several trips over to St. John's and numerous hours searching through their records, I never found any records suggesting they even had a funeral mass at this church let alone were buried in their church-yard.
It also did not make sense to me that a plot was purchased by John Boland at Holy Sepulchre for his daughter, my great grandmother, Bridget McCaffery when she died in 1915. The question that always remained in my mind was why would the parents be buried upon their own deaths at St. John's when their child was interred at Holy Sepulchre.
Then I discovered another Boland sister, Aunt Kate was also interred at Holy Sepulchre along with her husband, Daniel.
Last week, I discovered two more Boland families at Holy Sepulchre, my great great grandparents and their son, wife and two young daughters.
I also discovered that Ellen Boland did not die as thought when my grandmother was 7 yrs old but when grandmom was 14 yrs old. So the question remains, how old was grandmom when she went to live with Aunt Kate? The answer is somewhere between 1920 (after the 1920 census were taken) and 1926. I may never really ever know.
On April 6th, 1923, John Boland Jr. purchased a family plot for 75 dollars when his 3 yr old daughter, Mary died. She was interred on April 7th, 1923 in Section Z, Range 2, Lot 33, Grave #1. Address at time of death was 1941 Bonitz Street. (Nicetown)
Ellen Boland (great great grandmother) was interred on June 26th, 1926 in Section Z, Range 2, Lot 33, Grave #4. Address at time of death was 4807 Ridge Avenue. Age at time of death was 65 yrs old. (East Falls) Funeral was probably from St. Bridget's Church.
Theresa Boland (another daughter od John Boland Jr.) was interred on March 28th, 1928 at age 18 months old. Section Z, Range 2, Lot 33, Grave #1. Address at time of death was 1 Laboratory Hill. (East Falls)
John Boland (great great grandfather) was interred on January 6th, 1934. Section Z, Range 2, Lot 33, Grave #4. He was listed as being 71 yrs old and address was 1 Laboratory Hill. (East Falls)
John Boland Jr. was interred on September 9th, 1964. Section Z, Range 2, Lot 33, Grave #2. He was listed as being 69 yrs old and lived at 723 E. Price Street. (Germantown)
Margaret Boland (John Boland Jr.'s wife) was interred on April 16th, 1970. Section Z, Range 2, Lot 33, Grave #2. She was listed as being 75 yrs old and lived at #6 River Birch Road in Turnerville, N.J.
Folk lore suggested that they were interred at St. John the Baptist's church grave-yard in Manayunk. However, after several trips over to St. John's and numerous hours searching through their records, I never found any records suggesting they even had a funeral mass at this church let alone were buried in their church-yard.
It also did not make sense to me that a plot was purchased by John Boland at Holy Sepulchre for his daughter, my great grandmother, Bridget McCaffery when she died in 1915. The question that always remained in my mind was why would the parents be buried upon their own deaths at St. John's when their child was interred at Holy Sepulchre.
Then I discovered another Boland sister, Aunt Kate was also interred at Holy Sepulchre along with her husband, Daniel.
Last week, I discovered two more Boland families at Holy Sepulchre, my great great grandparents and their son, wife and two young daughters.
I also discovered that Ellen Boland did not die as thought when my grandmother was 7 yrs old but when grandmom was 14 yrs old. So the question remains, how old was grandmom when she went to live with Aunt Kate? The answer is somewhere between 1920 (after the 1920 census were taken) and 1926. I may never really ever know.
On April 6th, 1923, John Boland Jr. purchased a family plot for 75 dollars when his 3 yr old daughter, Mary died. She was interred on April 7th, 1923 in Section Z, Range 2, Lot 33, Grave #1. Address at time of death was 1941 Bonitz Street. (Nicetown)
Ellen Boland (great great grandmother) was interred on June 26th, 1926 in Section Z, Range 2, Lot 33, Grave #4. Address at time of death was 4807 Ridge Avenue. Age at time of death was 65 yrs old. (East Falls) Funeral was probably from St. Bridget's Church.
Theresa Boland (another daughter od John Boland Jr.) was interred on March 28th, 1928 at age 18 months old. Section Z, Range 2, Lot 33, Grave #1. Address at time of death was 1 Laboratory Hill. (East Falls)
John Boland (great great grandfather) was interred on January 6th, 1934. Section Z, Range 2, Lot 33, Grave #4. He was listed as being 71 yrs old and address was 1 Laboratory Hill. (East Falls)
John Boland Jr. was interred on September 9th, 1964. Section Z, Range 2, Lot 33, Grave #2. He was listed as being 69 yrs old and lived at 723 E. Price Street. (Germantown)
Margaret Boland (John Boland Jr.'s wife) was interred on April 16th, 1970. Section Z, Range 2, Lot 33, Grave #2. She was listed as being 75 yrs old and lived at #6 River Birch Road in Turnerville, N.J.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Someone Is Either A Complete Moron Or They Forgot That They Actually Let Me Go
Today, I received a Confidential Exit Interview from my former employer of twenty-years. Let me just sum it up for you while I sit here in shock.
The form asked a number of questions which by the way I am suppose to fill out and send back to Human Resources. (I had to take a second look as to where I was suppose to actually send this form after completion because the two sentence termination letter dated January 5th, 2007 that I received did come from that same department) Oh if you prefer to read about that, please click on this previous post. http://ajourneyintothepast.blogspot.com/2007/01/when-down-just-kick-in-teeth.html
Anyway to make a very long story short, here are a few examples of the type of questions they want me to answer.
Why did you initially decide to join (name of hospital)?
What is your reason for leaving now? other employment? to attend school? no child care? moving out of the area?
Did you consider a transfer to another department prior to leaving?
Could anything have been done to prevent your leaving? Please comment.
Would you ever consider returning? Yes? No?
Please rate the following about your department. (which gave me the option to chose excellent, good, fair, poor or N/A.
Working conditions?
Staffing?
Opportunity for advancement?
Rate of pay?
Health insurance?
and various other-like questions.
Then it asked me to rate my supervisor? Too bad Back-Stabbing was not an option in which to choose from.
Then it asked me whether or not I would recommend this place to my friends as a place to work?
Finally, it asked me one last question. Do I have any suggestions that I felt would make this a better place to work?
I am just wondering if I should enclose that birthday card/free meal with my reply?
The form asked a number of questions which by the way I am suppose to fill out and send back to Human Resources. (I had to take a second look as to where I was suppose to actually send this form after completion because the two sentence termination letter dated January 5th, 2007 that I received did come from that same department) Oh if you prefer to read about that, please click on this previous post. http://ajourneyintothepast.blogspot.com/2007/01/when-down-just-kick-in-teeth.html
Anyway to make a very long story short, here are a few examples of the type of questions they want me to answer.
Why did you initially decide to join (name of hospital)?
What is your reason for leaving now? other employment? to attend school? no child care? moving out of the area?
Did you consider a transfer to another department prior to leaving?
Could anything have been done to prevent your leaving? Please comment.
Would you ever consider returning? Yes? No?
Please rate the following about your department. (which gave me the option to chose excellent, good, fair, poor or N/A.
Working conditions?
Staffing?
Opportunity for advancement?
Rate of pay?
Health insurance?
and various other-like questions.
Then it asked me to rate my supervisor? Too bad Back-Stabbing was not an option in which to choose from.
Then it asked me whether or not I would recommend this place to my friends as a place to work?
Finally, it asked me one last question. Do I have any suggestions that I felt would make this a better place to work?
I am just wondering if I should enclose that birthday card/free meal with my reply?
Heinrich (Henry) B Ritter
Henry B Ritter and his third wife (our descendant) Mary Voigt RitterHenry B Ritter was born September 17th, 1835 in Kirchheim an der eck, Germany and was the son of Christian and Philipina Oswald Ritter, brother to Jakob (July 1st, 1830), Christian (1832), Philip J (September 17th, 1837) and Elisabeth (January 8th, 1845), another brother (eldest) also named Heinrich died when he was four years old.
At the age of nineteen, Henry immigrated to the state of Ohio where two of his brothers (Jakob & Christian) immigrated at an earlier date. In Ohio, he worked for two years on his brother's farm before at the request of his cousin Philip J Ritter, he moved to Philadelphia. He worked just six months at his cousin's Philadelphian company before he resigned. After he left Philip's company, he worked as a driver then conductor on a street railroad before he decided to go in business for himself.
Henry opened a hotel and saloon in the Manayunk Section of Philadelphia.
The interesting thing about Henry is that he was married four times with all four wives dying before he met his own death in April of 1893. His first wife, Mary Meiers died April 3rd, 1862. They had no children together. His second wife, Wilhelmina Hasserrick died October 4th, 1871. They had three children. However, only two survived. They are Anna Mary born March 28th, 1868 and Charles born October 14th, 1870.
But it is Henry's third wife, Mary Voigt that makes the connection with our family. The Voigts were the cousins of the Kellers and John Keller ( my great great grandfather) was our direct ancestor.
Henry and Mary Voigt Ritter had five children together before Mary died on June 12th, 1884. They are John Gottlieb (February 18th, 1874), Josephina (September 8th, 1875), Dorethea Elizabeth (June 3rd, 1877), Philip J (September 14th, 1878) and Louisa (August 4th, 1882).
Henry's fourth and final wife, Elizabeth Mary Bichlein died May 31st, 1892. They had three children together, Frederick John (June 20th, 1886), William Washington (April 24th, 1887) and Hermina (August 17th, 1890).
When Henry died in 1893, his two children from his marriage to Mary Voigt, John Gottlieb ( age 19) and Dorethea Elizabeth (age 16) assumed responsibility of Henry's hotel and saloon business and all the younger children. However, in 1899 the business proved not to be successful so he gained employment at his cousin's place, The Philip J Ritter Conserve Company where he worked various positions before he landed the position of Salesman for the City of Philadelphia.
Some personal information about Henry B Ritter and his son John Gottlieb. Henry was of dark complexion with dark eyes and a moustache. He was 5 "9" tall and his first position in Germany was a wine, fruit and grain farmer. He was baptized in the Protestant church and was a member of the Masonic Order.
John Gottlieb was 6' tall, well built with dark hair and dark eyes. He was near sighted so he wore glasses.
In the 1800's Manayunk/Roxborough was often referred to as the suburbs of the city even though it was actually part of the city. In the 1800's, Frankford was often referred to as the city and after John and Dorethea closed the hotel and saloon in Manayunk in 1899, they are referred to as moving from the suburbs (Manayunk) to the city (Frankford) to be closer to the Philip J Ritter Conserve Company which of course was located in the Frankford Section of Philadelphia.
I have alot more information about the Ritter family which I will share at a later date. I also have a photograph of Henry and Mary Voigt Ritter (Mary was a very pretty woman) and two of their children John and Dorethea which I also will share at a later date.
I want to mention that all of the above information was taken from a book originally written in 1905 by Philip John Ritter in Philadelphia PA. The book is called the Family Register of George Christian Ritter of Leiningen, Rheinpfalz, Baiern, Germany and his descendants from 1735 to 1905. which was sent to me by one of our distant cousins Curtis Arnold Ritter who along with Robert West Ritter reprinted it in 1996. The original author of this book was the brother of Curtis's great great grandfather Christian. Curtis is currently an attorney at Dow, Lohnes & Albertson in Washington, D. C. However, he was born and raised right here in Roxborough.
At the age of nineteen, Henry immigrated to the state of Ohio where two of his brothers (Jakob & Christian) immigrated at an earlier date. In Ohio, he worked for two years on his brother's farm before at the request of his cousin Philip J Ritter, he moved to Philadelphia. He worked just six months at his cousin's Philadelphian company before he resigned. After he left Philip's company, he worked as a driver then conductor on a street railroad before he decided to go in business for himself.
Henry opened a hotel and saloon in the Manayunk Section of Philadelphia.
The interesting thing about Henry is that he was married four times with all four wives dying before he met his own death in April of 1893. His first wife, Mary Meiers died April 3rd, 1862. They had no children together. His second wife, Wilhelmina Hasserrick died October 4th, 1871. They had three children. However, only two survived. They are Anna Mary born March 28th, 1868 and Charles born October 14th, 1870.
But it is Henry's third wife, Mary Voigt that makes the connection with our family. The Voigts were the cousins of the Kellers and John Keller ( my great great grandfather) was our direct ancestor.
Henry and Mary Voigt Ritter had five children together before Mary died on June 12th, 1884. They are John Gottlieb (February 18th, 1874), Josephina (September 8th, 1875), Dorethea Elizabeth (June 3rd, 1877), Philip J (September 14th, 1878) and Louisa (August 4th, 1882).
Henry's fourth and final wife, Elizabeth Mary Bichlein died May 31st, 1892. They had three children together, Frederick John (June 20th, 1886), William Washington (April 24th, 1887) and Hermina (August 17th, 1890).
When Henry died in 1893, his two children from his marriage to Mary Voigt, John Gottlieb ( age 19) and Dorethea Elizabeth (age 16) assumed responsibility of Henry's hotel and saloon business and all the younger children. However, in 1899 the business proved not to be successful so he gained employment at his cousin's place, The Philip J Ritter Conserve Company where he worked various positions before he landed the position of Salesman for the City of Philadelphia.
Some personal information about Henry B Ritter and his son John Gottlieb. Henry was of dark complexion with dark eyes and a moustache. He was 5 "9" tall and his first position in Germany was a wine, fruit and grain farmer. He was baptized in the Protestant church and was a member of the Masonic Order.
John Gottlieb was 6' tall, well built with dark hair and dark eyes. He was near sighted so he wore glasses.
In the 1800's Manayunk/Roxborough was often referred to as the suburbs of the city even though it was actually part of the city. In the 1800's, Frankford was often referred to as the city and after John and Dorethea closed the hotel and saloon in Manayunk in 1899, they are referred to as moving from the suburbs (Manayunk) to the city (Frankford) to be closer to the Philip J Ritter Conserve Company which of course was located in the Frankford Section of Philadelphia.
I have alot more information about the Ritter family which I will share at a later date. I also have a photograph of Henry and Mary Voigt Ritter (Mary was a very pretty woman) and two of their children John and Dorethea which I also will share at a later date.
I want to mention that all of the above information was taken from a book originally written in 1905 by Philip John Ritter in Philadelphia PA. The book is called the Family Register of George Christian Ritter of Leiningen, Rheinpfalz, Baiern, Germany and his descendants from 1735 to 1905. which was sent to me by one of our distant cousins Curtis Arnold Ritter who along with Robert West Ritter reprinted it in 1996. The original author of this book was the brother of Curtis's great great grandfather Christian. Curtis is currently an attorney at Dow, Lohnes & Albertson in Washington, D. C. However, he was born and raised right here in Roxborough.
Monday, February 19, 2007
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