Joseph H. Rittenhouse
Joseph H. Rittenhouse, of the firm of J. C. Mangans & Company, proprietors of the elevator at Ostrander, and dealers in all kinds of building material, also grain, flour, hay, feed and coal, was born in Ross County, Ohio, May 31, 1844, and is a son of Henry G. and Margaret (Latta) Rittenhouse.
Samuel Rittenhouse, the paternal grandfather, was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, and came to Ross County, Ohio, at an early day. He settled within seven miles of Chillicothe when a forest covered the whole distance. He died in October. 1872, when within a few months of being 100 years old.
Henry G. Rittenhouse, father of Joseph R., was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, in [812, and died in 1882. He was two years old when his parents moved to Ross County. He had but meager school advantages, his whole term of school attendance not exceeding three months, but he was gifted with a good intellect and became a well-informed man. He followed the trade of tanner until 1850, and engaged in farming until 1854, when he moved to Dover Township, Union County, where he followed farming until 1872. His last removal was to Henry County, Iowa, where he continued agricultural pursuits until his death. During the Mexican War he took part in militia drill, but his regiment was never called into action. He married a daughter of Moses Latta, of Ohio, and they had nine children, seven of whom reached maturity, namely: Thomas C, residing at Wintield. Iowa; Joseph H.; David, residing at Muscatine, Iowa; Clara, now deceased, was the wife of Frederick Swick, who is also deceased: Sarah, who is deceased; Emma, who married Samuel Connors, residing in Colorado; and John, residing at Muscatine, Iowa. The mother of the above mentioned family died in 1897, aged seventy-two years. Both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Joseph H. Rittenhouse was reared in Dover Township, Union County, where he enjoyed excellent school advantages. He was but eighteen years of age when he became a soldier in defence of the Union, enlisting August 8, 1862, in Company F, Ninety-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was later transferred to Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment, being one of nine extra men in the former regiment. He continued with this regiment without losing a day, participating in all its dangers until June 27, 1864, when he was wounded in the hip at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, the injury being of so serious a nature that he was disabled for further service and he received his honorable discharge on May 30, 1865, the day preceding his twenty-first birthday.
Mr. Rittenhouse then returned to Union County, and when he had sufficiently recuperated, he engaged in farming which he followed there until 1872, when he came to Ostrander. Here he has since resided, being closely identified with some of the most important interests of the place. For many years after coming here he was engaged in shipping stock and he then became a member of the present firm. In 1892, poor health caused his temporary retirement from business, but in 1906, with returning health came renewed interests in business affairs and since then he has been very active.
Mr. Rittenhouse married Amanda Carr, who died December 6, 1906, at the age of fifty-nine years. She was a daughter of Evan and Phcebe Carr, residents of Scioto Township. Seven children were born to Mr. Rittenhouse and wife, five of whom reached maturity, namely: Hugh C, a resident of Columbus; Henry E., who resides in Virginia; Iva Lou, who married I. N. Gardner, residing at Columbus ; Kerr, residing at New Streetsville. Ohio; and Bertha, who is a resident of Crestline. In politics, Mr. Rittenhouse is a Republican. He is a member and past commander of Tanner Post, No. 531, Grand Army of the Republic.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens by James R. Lytle