Hamilton W. Rittenhouse
Hamilton W. Rittenhouse, a retired farmer of Scioto Township who has resided at Ostrander since 1903, still retains 122 acres of land in Delaware County and 120 acres in Union County, Ohio. He was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, January 24, 1834, and is a son of Henry and Martha (Turner) Rittenhouse.
Henry Rittenhouse was born in Pennsylvania and was taken in childhood to Virginia by his father, who settled in the rich lands of Albemarle County, where he acquired a large plantation and slaves to work it. He died on his Virginia land prior to the Civil War and during the great struggle about one-third of the estate was lost. It made no difference to Hamilton W., however, as he never claimed any part of it. Henry Rittenhouse married Martha Turner, who was a daughter of Terrence Turner, who was a wealthy Virginia planter and a strong supporter of President Andrew Jackson. Of the ten children born to this marriage, Hamilton W. was the youngest. His paternal grandfather probably was born in Germany and he took part in the Revolutionary War, while his father served in the War of 1812.
Hamilton W. Rittenhouse was reared and educated in Virginia. In 1855 he came to Scioto Township, Delaware County, and settled south of Ostrander, where he engaged in farming and raising cattle, horses, hogs and sheep. During his last years on the farm he gave a large acreage to hay. He was one of the organizers of the Ostrander Banking Company and has been one of its Board of Directors ever since, with the exception of the year 1902. He has always taken an interest in the progress and development of this section and has been a patron of school and church. His grandfather and his father were stanch Democrats, but he is an independent voter, selecting his candidate according to his own judgment. He is pronounced in his temperance views. He has never sought political office but served for 12 years as trustee of Scioto Township and always held himself ready to perform any act of good citizenship which would be for the general welfare of his community.
Mr. Rittenhouse was married (first) to Jane Liggett, who was a daughter of Joab and Mary (Carr) Liggett. They had one child, James H., who is deceased. Mr. Rittenhouse married for his second wife, Sarah J. Elsom, daughter of Nelson Elsom, of Albemarle County, Virginia, and their children who reached maturity were: Nelson, now deceased; Eva, who married Alexander Mosely, of Union County; Lulu, who married Thomas B. Newhouse, of Scioto Township; and Bernard H., residing at Ostrander. Mr. Rittenhouse was married (third) to Amanda J. Reed, who is a daughter of William Reed, of Union County, Ohio. Many years ago, in the infancy of the Marysville lodge, Mr. Rittenhouse was made a Mason and later, when a Masonic lodge was established at Ostrander, he secured a demit on account of convenience. He has never lost his deep interest in the fraternity. He is a deacon in the Baptist Church at Ostrander and one of its most liberal supporters.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908