John C. Ritter
In Germany, on the 18th day of November, 1817, Mr. Ritter was born. October 18, 1858, he married Miss Elizabeth Stevens, a native of Germany, born March 13, 1832. They settled in Germany and remained one year, until 1859, when they immigrated to America. They sailed from Bremen October 19, and after a six weeks’ voyage on the water, they landed in New York City December 1, 1859. From thence they continued their journey southwestward until they reached Kentucky, where they located and remained six years, or until March, 1865, when they came to Shelby County, Ohio, purchased and moved on a farm of eighty acres of land in section 5, Turtle Creek Township, on which they now reside. They have a family of four children, viz., Conrad, Mary, Emma A., and Bessie. Mr. Ritter has made farming his vocation through life, and, by the general appearance of his farm and the improvements thereon, we would consider him one among the leading farmers in the township.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883