In 1930, Ernest P and Agnes E. Ritterbeck (both 31) rented a farm in Marion Twp., Noble County, Ohio. They lived there with their two children, Gilbert W. (6) and Kathleen M. (2 yrs 10 mos). Gilbert attended school. The family did not own a radio set. The Ritterbecks neighbors in the census were James Warner and Charles Farley. Ernest's sister Clara Sorg lived nearby.
Obituary:
SUMMERFIELD - Ernest Peter Ritterbeck, 88, of the Pine Valley Nursing Home,
Richfield, Ohio, formerly of Summerfield, died at 4:20 p.m. Monday Sept. 14, 1987,
in Grace Hospital, Cleveland.
A retired farmer, Mr. Ritterbeck had lived in the Summerfield area for many years
before moving to the Cuyahoga Falls area. He was a member of the St. Michael’s Catholic
Church in Carlisle.
He was born Nov. 10, 1898 near Summerfield, son of Louis and Mary Ann Yeagle
Ritterbeck. His wife, Agnes Snyder Ritterbeck, died in 1953.
Surviving are three sons, Gilbert of Monroe Falls, Ohio, Ralph of Woodland, Texas,
and Roger of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; one daughter, Mrs. Beecher (Kathleen) Tandy of
Cuyahoga Falls; 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.(clipping cut off)
Agnes Snyder Ritterbeck’s obituary was published in the Zanesville Times Recorder on 13 Apr 1953:
AGNES RITTERBECK IS SUMMONED
SUMMERFIELD, O., April 12 - Mrs. Agnes Ritterbeck, 54, died at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon at her home in Summerfield after an illness of almost four years.
Mrs. Ritterbeck, a daughter of Win and Isabelle Snider, was born in Monroe county. She resided most of her life near Summerfield.
Surviving are her husband, Ernest, her parents, a daughter, Mrs. Beecher Tandy of the home; three sons, Gilbert of Pleasant City, Ralph of Akron, and Roger of the home; a sister, Miss Anna Snider of Woodsfield, and a brother, Daniel of Woodsfield.
Funeral services will be conducted at 9:30 o’clock Tuesday morning at St. Michael’s Catholic church at Berne, with Rev. Father Joseph Garner officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The body will remain at the Brubach Funeral Home at Summerfield where friends may call.
A section of the The Zanesville Times Recorder devoted to news from Summerfield, Noble County, Ohio, page 5, on 22 Feb 1938, reported:
Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Ritterbeck, near here, announce the birth of
a son Monday morning.
In 1930, 29 year old William Ritterbeck lived and worked on his parents farm in Stock Twp., Noble County, Ohio. None of his siblings were still living at home.
Obituary:
CALDWELL AREA MAN IS KILLED IN CRASH
William Ritterbeck, 62, of Caldwell Route 4 was killed Tuesday morning [03 Sep
1963] when his pickup truck smashed into a tree on County Road 15 about two
miles east of South Olive, Sheriff Richard Fogle reported.
Noble County Coroner Dr. Fred Cox said Ritterbeck’s death resulted from a
crushed chest. He was dead at the scene, Dr. Cox said. Sheriff Fogle said brakes on
the truck failed as it was leaving a farm driveway to enter the county road. The truck
went across the road and struck the tree, demolishing the vehicle. The accident
occurred about 11:45 a.m. Ritterbeck’s death was the first traffic fatality in Noble
County this year.
Ritterbeck, a farmer, was born March 22, 1901 in Noble County, a son of Louis and
Mary Ann Yeagle Ritterbeck. Surviving are his widow, Maggie; two daughters, Mrs.
Bernadine Jennings of Cumberland, and Mrs. Marilyn Moore of Caldwell; three sons,
Francis Ritterbeck, Charles, and Eugene, all of the home; two grandchildren; a brother,
Ernest Ritterbeck of Akron; two sisters, Mrs. Nellie Yontz of near Lewisville and Mrs. Clara Sorg of near Summerville.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Brubach Funeral Home in
Summerfield. Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Requiem
mass will be sung at 9 a.m. Friday in St. Michael’s Catholic Church at Carlisle. Burial
will be in the church cemetery.
Possibly Magdeline Burkhart, daughter of Joseph Burkhart and Louisa Carpenter. Possibly born Feb. 1920.
Anna Snyder was unmarried, according to the 1953 obituary of her sister, Agnes.
Frank Schwallie raised sheep and grew tobacco on his Noble County farm.
In 1880, 25 yearw old farmer Frank Schwallie lived in Enoch Twp., Noble County, Ohio with his wife Gertrude (21) and daughter Olivia (9 mos.) Neighboring households in the census were those of Sebastian Dimmerling and Michael Schott. Sebastian Dimmerling was the uncle of Frank's wife, Gertrude Smith.
From the "Fulda" column of The Caldwell Citizens' Press, 8 Feb 1883:
John Bottinger has bought Frank Schwally's place, and the latter will go
to his father's farm near Carlisle.According to researcher Roger Schockling, Frank and Gertrude moved to Youngstown, Ohio after their marriage and returned to Fulda around 1890. Frank started a dry goods store and Saloon at Fulda (Enoch Twp.). According to Frank's niece, Julia Kinnen Archer, when Frank had the store, his wife Gertrude had more of the store goods at home than were in the store. For a time, the store was owned by both Frank and his brother Ambrose. The Fulda store owned by the Schwallie brothers burned to the ground in 1898.
Later, Frank moved to a farm on Duck Creek about 5 miles south of Carlisle (Stock Twp. ). Both of Frank's parents are believed to have died on this farm.
In 1900, 45 year old Frank lived in a rented house in Stock Twp., Noble County, Ohio with his 40 year old wife Gertrude and nine of their children: Philomena (17), Henry (15), William (13), Amelia (11), Lucy (8), Bertha (6), Mary (3), Clarence (2), and Frederick (6 months). Frank was born in Ohio to German-born parents. Frank's occupation in 1900 was "farm laborer."
At the time of the 1910 census, Frank Swalley (55) and his wife of 32 years Gertrude (58) owned a mortgaged farm in Stock Twp. Living with them were their children Henry A. (25), Birthy M. (16), Mary A. (14), Clarence F. (12), Emma E. (8), Clyde E. (4). Mary, Clarence, and Emma attended school. According to the census, Gertrude had given birth to 13 children, 10 of whom were still living in 1910. (The deceased children were Olivia, Mary Rose, and Fred.)
The cause of death on Frank's death certificate was "don't know."
On the death certificate of her son, William, Gertrude's maiden name is given as "Schmidt."
Following the death of her parents and two siblings from diptheria in 1862, Gertrude Smith and her brother August went to live with their maternal grandparents. August and Elizabeth Dimmerling. Gertrude was enumerated with her grandparents in the 1870 census, although she is identified in the census as 10 year old Catherine Smith. Family historian Roger Schockling states that Gertrude Smith was taken in by her mother's sister, Mary, after Mary's marriage to Philip Gerst. She was raided as their daughter. Roger Schockling obtained this information from conversations in the 1960s with Leo Jake Gerst, the youngest child of Philip and Mary Dimmerling Gerst.
The census states that all ten of Gertrude Smith Schwallie's children were still living in 1900. Church records, however, indicate that she had eleven children. Her daughter Mary Rose died in 1889 at age eight. The 1910 census is difficult to read, but it seems to state that 10 of Gertrude's 13 children are still living.
There are several Smith families listed near the home of Gertrude Smith Schwallie in the 1910 census. Harry and Sarah Smith, as well as George and Mary Smith and their daughter Bertha are each listed near (although not adjacent to) the Schwallie farm. It is not known what relationship, if any, these Smiths have to Gertrude Smith Schwallie.
Gertrude died at the home of daughter Emma, (Durant) on S. River Rd. in Zanesville, OH.
Tombstone inscription:
Olivia Schwallie Sept. 22, 1879 -- June 8, 1908
d/o Frank and Gertrude
Sources conflict on date of death:
03 Jan 1890 Schwallie, Gordon
1889 Farrow, Nelda
On September 18, 1918, 23 year old farmer Henry Ambrose Schwallie of Rt. 2, Summerfield, Noble County, Ohio registered for the US military draft. Henry gave his birthdate as April 12, 1885. His nearest relative was Frank Schwallie of the same address. Henry was described as being short and stout with blue eyes, brown hair and no obvious physical disabilities.
In 1930, unmarried farmer H.A. Schwallie (45) rented a farm in Stock Twp., Noble County, Ohio. He did not own a radio set. Adjacent farms in the census were owned by William J. Dimmerling and John Kinnen. John Kinnen's wife, Barbara Schwallie Kinnen, was Henry Schwallie's aunt.
Henry's mother filed a petition for a "Presumption of Death" certificate. According to the petition, "Henry Schwallie last resided in Noble County, Ohio and has not been heard from since 1931. That on account of his absence for fifteen years from the said place of his last domicile, is presumed to be dead." The petition stated that Henry owned personal property valued at $152.10.
Henry would have been about 46 years old at the time of his disappearance. The story told by family members is that Henry was going to"the city", Zanesville maybe, and had a large amount of money with him. There are two possible scenarios. One, that he was hijacked, robbed and killed, OR he just gave up living in the area and walked away from home. Since the amount of his estate was $150.00 he didn't miss much by leaving.
A note from the 15 Jan 1919 issue of the Republican Journal:
The following persons spent Sunday at Dora Warner's: Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kinnen, Catherine Sorg, Bernetta and Beulah Kinnen, Clement Smith, Clyde and Edward Schehl, Nicholas Sorg, Clarence Schwallie, George Kinnen, Clarence Thompson and Bede Crum.Clarence Schwallie never married. He died in the state hospital.
Fredrick Schwallie fell out of hay loft in barn and died a few days later from head injuries. His tombstone inscription reads: "Frederick J. Schwallie Nov. 16, 1907 s/o Frank & Gertrude A bud on earth, a bloom in heaven."
Sources conflict on date of death:
11 Nov 1907 Dolores Snider
16 Nov 1907 tombstone
11 Nov 1904 Gordon Schwallie
In 1850, 25 year old German-born farmer Joseph Yonce lived in District 107 of Seneca Twp., Monroe County, Ohio with his wife Mary Ann (24) and children Elizabeth (6), Barbara (4), George (2) and Belona (1). Only Elizabeth attended school. The children were all born in Ohio. The oldest three children were from Mary Ann's first marriage. Joseph's real estate was valued at $500.
In 1860, the family still lived in Seneca Twp. on a farm worth $4700. Members of the household were Joseph Yontz (36), Mary A. (34), Elizabeth (16), Barbary (14), George (12), Apalone (10), Mary A. (9), Margaret (6), Hannah (4), Clara (3), and Phermina (1). The census taker used a ditto mark (") for the surname of each person under Joseph Yontz, indicating that the last name of all the children was Yontz. (The oldest three children were from Mary Ann's first marriage to George Becker.)
At the time of the 1870 census, Bavarian-born farmer Joseph Yontz (45) still lived in Seneca Twp. He was fairly well off... his farm was worth $7000 and his personal possessions were valued at $1280. Joseph lived with his wife, Maryann (43), also born in Bavaria, and children Michael (17), Hannah (15), Clarissa (13), Philomena (11), Joseph (9), Chrisena (7), Catharine (5), Juliann (3), George (1), and Martin (1 month). None of the children attended school.
According to researcher Mark Haren, Joseph Yontz fathered 19 children, plus 3 step-children. At this time, the names of only 13 children, plus the three step-children are known. It should be noted that the child(ren) born in 1853 -- Margaret and Michael -- may be the same child... they do not appear in any census together. Joseph Yontz's funeral services were conducted by Reverend Ignatus Sagerer.
Mary Ann Weisend Becker Yontz gave birth to sixtieen children.
Michael Yontz does not appear in the 1860 census with his parents and siblings. He would have been about 7 years old at the time.
Buried Chapel Hill Cemetery.
Buried Chapel Hill Cemetery.
Buried Chapel Hill Cemetery.
Buried Chapel Hill Cemetery.
Lucy M. Ritterbeck (13) did not appear in the 1930 census with her father, step-mother, and brothers. She was enumerated in the home of her maternal grandparents, John (70) and Mary A. (80) Fisher in Stock Twp., Noble County, Ohio. Lucy attended school and, unlike her grandparents, she could read and write.
Lucy was a resident of Stark County at the time of her death
From The Zanesville Signal, 22 Mar 1943, pg 2:
ACCIDENT VICTIM IMPROVING AT HOSPITAL
Bernard Ritterbeck, one of two victims injured in [an] auto accident yesterday, was
reported to be in good condition at Bethesda hospital. The other victim, Carl Conglar,
was treated and dismissed.
When the car in which they were riding got out of control and turned over in a field
on the Adamsville road at Neal avenue, Bernard Ritterbeck was knocked unconscious and
Carl Congler was cut about the face, while Harold Wise was unhurt. The injured men were
taken to Bethesda hospital in the Bateman ambulance. Patrolemen Tate and Snelling
investigated.Obituary:
Bernard L. Ritterbeck, 69, of Route 1, Dexter City, died at 4 a.m. Monday June 20
[1988] at Marietta Memorial Hospital. Mr. Ritterbeck was employed as a truck driver
and was a Catholic by faith. He was born Jan 17, 1919 in Summerfield, the son of
Albert and Marie (Fisher) Ritterbeck.
Preceding him in death was his wife, the former Jane Ryan, and a brother, Paul Ritterbeck.
Surviving are two brothers, Clarence of Pleasant City and Roman of E. Canton; two sisters,
Mrs. Raymond (Lucy) Cale of Massillon and Mrs. Clem (Rita) Saling of Route 6, Caldwell.
Friends may call 4-9 p.m. today at Murphy-McCurdy Funeral Home with Rosary at 8
p.m. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 22, at the funeral home with Monsignor
Frank Gaudl (sic) officiating. Burial will follow in Dudley Cemetery.
Nickname: Jean
Obituary:
Mrs. Ruth Imogene Ryan Ritterbeck, 39, of Dexter City died at Good Samaritan
Hospital at 10:30 a.m. Saturday [6 Jun 1964] where she had been a patient the past
four months. She had been in failing health the past three years and had been seriously
ill since February 17.
Mrs. Ritterbeck was born in Newark Feb. 17 1925, a daughter of O. Edgar and Mary
Ryan. She had lived in Dexter City the past nine years, having moved there from Canton.
She was a member of East Main Methodist Church in Newark and Eagles Auxiliary in
Belle Valley.
Surviving are her husband, Bernard of the home; her mother of Newark; a sister, Mrs.
O. W. Hilleary of Newark; two brothers, Carl R. Ryan of Newark and Ralph E. Ryan of
Columbus; two nieces, Mrs. Eleanor Klein of Columbus and Miss Janet Hilleary of Newark.
Services will be held at Ross Henderson Funeral Home in Newark at 1 p.m. Tuesday
with Rev. Chester Newcomb of Zanesville officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery
in Newark. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Sunday.
The following notice appeared in the Zanesville Times Recorder on 13 May 1938:
INJURED IN EXPLOSION
CALDWELL, O. - Clarence Ritterbeck, Summerfield, is
improving from burns received about the hands and face
when a basin of gasoline in which he was washing paint
from his hands exploded, when a small boy threw a lighted
cigaret (sic) into the gasoline. He received medical attention
at the Thompson hospital.
Clarence Ritterbeck was crtically injured and his half-brother, Paul killed when their car was struck by another car in Cumberland, Ohio on 10 Feb 1950.Obituary:
Clarence G. Ritterbeck, age 87, of Pleasant City, Ohio, died
Sunday, November 2, 2008, at OSU Medical Center in Colum-
bus, Ohio. He was born October 2, 1921, in Summerfield, Ohio,
son of the late Albert and Marie Fisher Ritterbeck. He was a
World War II Army veteran, having served as a corporal in China,
Burma, and India. He retired in 1976 from Timken Roller Bearing
in Canton. He was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church
in Belle Valley, and he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and playing cards,
especially Rook. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by one sister,
Lucy Cale; and two brothers, Bernard and Paul Ritterbeck. Surviving are his wife, Alma Eileen Glidden Ritterbeck, whom
he married October 25, 1947; his children, Larry Stephen Ritterbeck
of Phoenix, Arizona, Michael George (Jennifer) Ritterbeck of Olive
Branch, Mississippi, Debra Ann (Ralph) Mead of Navarre, Gregory
Lee Ritterbeck of California, David Andrew Ritterbeck, John Anthony
(Patricia) Ritterbeck, and Kristine Marie (James) Schoeppner, all of
Caldwell; one sister, Rita Saling of Caldwell; one brother, Roman
(Betty) Ritterbeck of East Canton; 22 grandchildren; 8 great-grand-
children; 1 great-great-granddaughter; and several nieces, nephews,
and cousins. Friends may call Tuesday, November 4, 2008, from 3-5 and 7-9PM
at McVay-Perkins Funeral Home, 416 East Street, Caldwell, where a
Christian Scripture Serivce will be observed at 8:30PM. Funeral Liturgy
with Mass will be held Wednesday, November 5th at 11AM at Corpus
Christi Catholic Church in Belle Valley with Rev. Fr. Wayne Morris as
celebrant. A military graveside service will follow at Dudley Cemetery
conducted by the Noble County Veteran Services Organization.
The following article appeared in the Zanesville Signal on 11 Feb 1950:
MAN KILLED WHEN AUTO HITS TRAIN
Paul Ritterbeck, 22, of Canton, was killed last night and his brother, Clarence was critically injured when their automobile crashed into a freight train at Cumberland.
The brothers were brought to Bethesda hospital in a Tom ambulance and the younger Ritterbeck was pronounced dead. Death was believed to have been due to a fractured skull.
His brother sustained head injuries and possible internal injuries. Hospital attaches list his condition as critical.
Both went to Caldwell yesterday to visit the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rome Lori, parents of the dead man’s wife.
Surviving Ritterbeck are his widow, Virginia, his father Alfred of Summerfield.
The body has been removed to the Estadt Funeral Home at Caldwell.
Obituary:
Virginia M. Shafer, age 71, of Louisville, passed away March 3, 2004. Born in
Caldwell, OH April 26, 1932 to the late Roman and Mary (White) Lori. She loved to
quilt and was a member of the Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Harrisburg,
OH. Preceded in death by her husband, Alfred in 1998; a son, Dennis; 2 brothers, Clem
and Bernard Lori; and a sister, Barbara Sibilia. Survived by 3 daughters and sons-in-law,
Mary and Tim Norris, Debbie Boudler, Chris and Steve Copenhaver, of Louisville; 4 sons
and daughters-in-law, Jeff and Charrlotte Shafer of East Canton, Don and Mary Ann Shafer,
Ed and Kim Shafer, of Louisville, Tim and Linda Shafer of Dayton; 2 sisters, Irene Dillon
of Canton and Betty Ritterbeck of East Canton; brother, Bill Lori; 16 grandchildren, Kevin,
Eric, Lisa, Jennifer, Jill, Kari, Matt, and Erin Shafer, Michele Sanders, Michael, Brian and
Laura Norris, Justin, Adam and Daniel Boudler, Heather Copenhaver; 3 great-grandchildren,
Austin and Justin Shafer and Logan Sanders. Mass of Christian Burial held 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic
Church in Harrisburg. Friends may call 6-9 p.m. Friday in the Stier-Israel Funeral Home of
Louisville and 8:45-9:45 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Sacred Heart
of Mary Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sacred Heart
of Mary Catholic Church in Harrisburg.