What is in this edition of the letter:
• New email address for the editor
• Some corrections from the last letter
• Regarding Jacob Ritter ( submitted by Antone Ritter)
• Pauline Elizabeth Ritter b. 1910 d. 1978
• Geneva Williamson of Robbins
• Everett Ritter's Wife
• Milestones of Note

     Please make note that we now have a new email address. Please send all future email for this publication to jrm2232@cs.com

     Ed. Note: All items submitted here will be published with the email address of the person creating the article. If you have comments or information regarding any articles you can send that information directly to the creator. Please send a copy to me also so that we can all share.

     Information for this letter has been very sparse for this edition. Please take time share some of that information that only you might possess.

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     Here are some corrections to the last letter,

     Elizabeth Nedham's dates are 08/14/1853 - 01/26/1933 (she was Molcie Anne Williamson Ritter's mother). Sara Anne Mark Ritter's date are 04/04/1820 to 03/18/1905 (that was Thomas Wesley's grandmother)

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George Shepard RITTER & Lucy Nellie HOOVER Ritter Wedding photo Oct. 10, 1898

     Searching for information on Jacob RITTER, b. circa 1808 in possibly PA or OH. He married a lady by the name of Eleanor (Ellen). Jacob and Eleanor had two known children, Clements Wilkins RITTER (my Ggrandfather) and Francis Marion RITTER, b. about 1846.

     Clements married Sarah Elizabeth SHAFFER, born January 19, 1849 in Jefferson County, KY. Clements and Sarah were married August 22, 1869 in Warren Co. IA (possibly Indianola, IA). They had four known children, Olan W., Jacob Arthur, Frank A., and George Shepard (my Grandfather).

     Francis Marion married James NUNAMAKER and have three known children. They were James Clements, Henry B. and Frederick W.

     I believe that Jacob may have had at least [one] brother [whose] name was William RITTER, b. c. 1808. William married Dorcas JONES, b. 1816 in Ross County, OH. William and Dorcas had at least one child by the name of William Joseph RITTER Jr. born Nov. 7 1841.

Rear - Two Unknowns Front (LtoR)- Frank RITTER & George RITTER

     Jacob and William were both living in Pittsburgh in 1833 as they both signed an 1833 Petition of Pittsburgh Butchers. I also believe that Jacob and William's father's name may have been George RITTER, b. circa 1775. George RITTER was also a butcher and is listed in the 1810 Pittsburgh City Directory.

     If you have any corrections or more information on the above lines please contact me at the address below. Happy Hunting!!!

Antone Ritter
7912 Tree Leaf Lane
Fort Worth, TX 76123-1382
Genealogy Page: http://www.netxroad.com/antone/genealo.htm

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     Pauline Elizabeth Ritter McDonald was the third daughter and fourth child born to Molcie Ann Williamson Ritter, and Thomas Wesley Ritter, b01/19/1910, d.03/22/1978. She was born at home as were many children of that era, at the family farmhouse in Pleasant Garden, North Carolina. I have very few details of her life before the school years, but I do know that she was enrolled at the Pleasant Garden School in 1916 and attended there for the next 12 years, graduating on May 15, 1929, with a diploma. I was told several stories of the very hard work on the family farm; of picking cotton in the fields, helping Thomas Wesley build Ritter's Lake and helping her mother around the house. She told me many times that life was not easy for the Ritter kids and they worked quite hard during her young years. This was something she credited for her success in life. A "hard work" ethic and the idea that one must work from sun up until sun down, stopping only for a short break now and then was a way of life for her throughout her life.

     After graduation from Pleasant Garden HS Pauline worked as a clerk in McLellan's Five and Dime Store in Greensboro while attending evenings at the Greensboro Commercial School. I have a picture of the workers at that store and will include it here. Pauline is the 5th from the left on the back row. The date hereon is February 21, 1931. We do not know names of any of the others are in the photo.

     She was awarded a Certificate for completion of a bookkeeping course on April 9, 1930. After graduation she worked as a Bookkeeper for McLellan's for a while, but decided that a career in beauty work suited her better. I am making an assumption that Pauline was living either at home or at Ritters Lake for many of those years. I know that she helped with work around the lake and while spending time there came into contact with many folks who visited there. At that time Ritters Lake was the "hot" spot and folks came there from many miles to the swimming, picnics, and dances held there. My Dad was one of those who came there with friends from his base at Ft. Bragg, in Fayetville where he was stationed in those days. I can't say when she met Curtis Lee McDonald, but I do know that they married in Martinsville, VA on June 15th, 1933.

     There were three children born to this couple, the first was Curtis Lee McDonald Jr., born February 19, 1934, then Norman Eugene, November 16, 1938, then Jerry Ritter on February 11, 1942.

     At some point in those early years she attended a beauticians school in town and after completion began working for the Hazel Anthony's Beauty Shop in downtown Greensboro. That would have been around 1940 or so, and afterwards she worked at another salon called the Permanent Wave Shop, located in the Guilford Bank Building. I was born in 1942 and can remember spending quite a bit of time there as a very young fellow. At some point, probably after 1950 she learned of someone who was retiring from beauty work who wanted to sell an existing beauty shop. After much deliberation Pauline bought that operation and changed the name to Pauline's Beauty Shop. That business was located at 210 North State Street in Greensboro. This shop was in continual operation for many, many years until she retired from beauty work about two years before her death in 1978. The memories I have of those years was that work took up most of her time, and while she usually worked from 7AM until 9PM six days every week she had a real love for her work and the people that she worked with and for.

     Pauline first attended the Buchanan Baptist church from around 1945 probably until 1949 or 50, then she began to attend the Christian Science Church and remained a member there for the rest of her life. Pauline was known and loved by many people that she came into contact with over her many years of doing beauty work, as well as at her church.

     She died March 22, 1978 at age 69. It isn't clear why she died at such an early age, since most people in our family live well into their 80s. Perhaps the type of work she choose might have shortened her life, or all that "hard" work might have contributed to her demise. What is known is that she contracted the flu, and decided not to seek medical attention. Shortly her condition worsened and within days she slipped into a coma with very high fever. There must have been some serious complications from what started as a common ailment because the death certificate reads death from blood poisoning. She is buried in The Guilford Memorial Cemetery, High Point Road in Greensboro.

     This picture of Pauline was likely taken when she was in her early twenties.

Visit these web sites for more information on our family.
• http://www.pflash.com/USERS/lwr
• http://www.netxroad.com/antone/RFN.htm
• http://www.myfamily.com/
• http://www.ourworld.com/jrm2232/

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     For over a year I have been corresponding with Geneva Williamson of Robbins, NC. Often we would exchange two letters a week, offering information about the Ritter family. Geneva is a walking encyclopedia of information about this family. She is distantly related to the Ritters, but probably knows more than I will ever know about them. In February her letters abruptly stopped and after sending several more letters and not receiving replies I tried calling without success. I emailed my cousin, Susan Queen in Charlotte, who checked with her mother and after a few more phone calls to someone in Robbins. I learned that Geneva was in an automobile accident and seriously injured. As I understand she was fully paralyzed and not expected to live. At that point she was in the ICU at Duke in Chapel Hill, NC. Information on her condition has been hard to get. I did phone her sister, Ms. Pearl Welch in Robbins in June, and was told that she was scheduled for some surgery that might help her condition. Otherwise I am totally at a loss as to how or where she is now. If any of you are in a position to get information on Geneva I would appreciate hearing whatever there is to know.

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Editor’s note: Email from RHAppleby - I could not get an email address for Ms/Mr Appleby and have none in my records. Should someone know the correct address please forward that to me so that this letter can be sent to them.

Jerry,
Just a note to say that Everett Ritter did not marry Jane Hornback. The information is apparently in a DAR report, but I believe that the following applications from his daughters should set the record straight. Still do not know if Mary Young and Phoebe Young were sisters or not.

SUMMARY OF APPLICATION FOR CITIZENSHIP IN THE CHEROKEE NATION
NANCY ANN BROYLES, CHARLOTTE BAYLESS

     The following information has been extracted from "Applications from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Five Civilized Tribes Enrollment Act of 1896" These records are available on microfilm, Microfilm Series M1650, Genealogy Section of the Dallas Public Library, and in Oklahoma City State Archives.

     NANCY ANN BROYLES (formerly Bayless, nee Ritter). On her application, Nancy Ann states her mother Jane Ritter was a Cherokee Indian whose maiden name was Jane Young. Nancy states her nephew, Major C. Loggins, and her niece, Delila E. Perse have both been enrolled as citizens of the Cherokee Nation through their lineage from Jane Young. Nancy Ann lists her address as Hartford, Arkansas, and signed the application on August 26, 1896. Witnesses: J. J. Louis, 50, and M. E. Louis, 48, both state they knew Jane Young, and knew Nancy Ann to be Jane Young's daughter. Witnessed in Sebastian County, Arkansas, August 31, 1896. J. D. Spaulding, J. P.

     CHARLOTTE BAYLESS (Formerly Cody, nee Ritter). On her application, Charlotte states she is 1/2 Cherokee Indian and 1/2 white. She states she inherited Indian Blood from her mother Jane (Young) Ritter who came from Middle Tennessee to Alabama at an early age and married a white man named Everitt Ritter. Jane Ritter died in Alabama in 1879, the same year Charlotte moved to Indian Territory. Charlotte states Elizabeth Loggins, mother of Major C. Loggins, 34, and Delila E. Perse, is her sister. Charlotte signed the application on September 3, 1896. Witnesses: Major C. Loggins, 34, and Delila E. Peirce, 38, both state Charlotte Bayless is the sister of their mother, Elizabeth Loggins, and daughter of Jane Young who married Everitt Ritter. Witnessed in Allisaw, I.T., September 3, 1896.

Transcribed by J. W. Bayless, P. O. Box 800126, Dallas, TX 753880-0126

SUMMARY OF APPLICATION FOR CITIZENSHIP IN THE CHEROKEE NATION
MAJOR C. LOGGINS

     The following information has been extracted from "Applications from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Five Civilized Tribes Enrollment Act of 1896". These records are available on microfilm, Microfilm Series M1650, Genealogy Section of the Dallas Public Library.

MAJOR C. LOGGINS. On his application, Major C. Loggins states he is one-quarter Cherokee, his mother was Elizabeth Loggins nee Ritter, daughter of Jane Ritter nee Young, who died in Alabama in 1879. his mother immigrated to Arkansas where she died. Major C. Loggins married Dora E. Lodd. Loggins lists his address as Sallisaw, I.T., and signed the application on September 2, 1896.

Witness: John Ross, 73, full blooded Cherokee, Wauhillau, I. T. Ross states he was well acquainted with Jane Young in the old Nation, now the state of Tennessee, she was a full blood Cherokee. She moved from Tennessee to Alabama and Ross also knew her there. Dated June 6, 1896.

Witness: A. J. Smith, 75, Talequah, I. T. Smith states he personally knew the Young family in middle Tennessee. William Young had a daughter named Jane Young. There was also a James Young, Joe Young (a preacher) and a Roach Young (horse racer) and a Jacob Young - all Cherokee Indians. A part of this family moved to Alabama in an early day. Dated Nov. 19, 1894.

Witness: William Young, 54, Sallisaw, I.T. Full blood Cherokee and member of the Executive Council of the Cherokee Nation. young states he is acquainted with Major C. Loggins and Delila C. Perce, they are his 3rd cousins. Their grandmother Jane Ritter nee Young was my first cousin, she was Cherokee born in middle Tennessee and died in Alabama. Her daughter Elizabeth Young married Charles Loggins. Elizabeth was my second cousin by blood.

All one-quarter Cherokee by blood. Dated August 31, 1896.

Witness: Lydia Matthews, 38, McKey, I.T. Matthews states she is a full blood Cherokee and is the daughter of Pagy. Young. She states Roach Young and Bill Young are her mother's brothers-Matthew's uncles. Major Loggins and Delila Perse are my cousins and one-quarter Cherokee.

Witness: J.J. Lewis, 53, Hartford, Sebastian County, Arkansas. Farmer, citizen of U.S. Affiant declares in relation to the above named application as follows to wit: This is to certify that I have know Major C. Loggins and Delila E. Purse from birth up to the present time. Also know their mother and grandmother and know them to be Cherokee by blood and I have never heard it disputed in my life. I lived in the neighborhood and was well acquainted with their relatives. That is the Young family and know them to be Cherokee by blood. The mother of the claimants is about a half breed Cherokee Indian to the best to my knowledge. We lived in Alabama and a great many of the Young families left and went West. Joe Young a Cherokee Indian and a preacher by profession he was their great uncle he went to the Cherokee Nation. Their grandmother Jane Ritter could not speak English plain and shown the Cherokee blood very plain. Big Jim Young and Bill Young are brothers and are Cherokee by blood and one of them is the father of Jane Ritter whose maiden name was Young and she is the grandmother of Major Loggins and Delila Purse. Now I have heard Jane Ritter's husband tell her several times that she was a Cherokee and have heard the Cherokee blood throwed up to the family quite a number of times and everybody in the County called them Cherokee Indians. Wilhe Young was a Cherokee by blood and was related to Loggins and Delila Purse. She married a man by the name of Miller he lives in Cherokee County, Alabama. Nancy Young was a Cherokee and blood kindred to Major Loggins and Delila Purse she married a man by the name of Bill Emberson he lives in Itwamba County, Mississippi. I was borned in Alabama in the same neighborhood of those people and lived with them 40 years and have always heard the Cherokee blood thrown up to the family. I have heard white people say that the Cherokee people ought to go to the Cherokee Nation where they belong and stay with their own people. I have also heard their grandfather say if he could sell his farm that he would take his Cherokee woman and go to the Cherokee Nation among her people. There has been a great many Youngs that are Cherokees and connected to the Loggins and Delila Purse that left Alabama and wet west. There was Roach Young who was know as a great horse racer and was very wealthy he was an old man when he left he was also a connection of this family. All of the old set of the Young family talk very broken English and all shown more or less Cherokee blood. Now I do this free of charge. I do this in behalf of the applicant to which this proof is made for as I am well acquainted with the applicants and know them to be respectable people and deserve their rights and it is justly do them and they should have it.

     Transcribed by J. W. Bayless, P. O. Box 800126, Dallas, TX 75380-0126, May 30, 1995.

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Editor’s Note: Please keep me informed of births and deaths of Ritter family members.

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©1999 by Jerry R. McDonald