GEORGE W. RITNOUR

RITNOUR

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/21/2020 at 17:11:20

GEORGE W. RITNOUR was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1834, son of George and Sally (Wipkey) Ritnour, natives of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Adam Ritnour, was born in Germany, and grandfather George Wipkey was of German extraction. George W. is one of a family of twelve children. His father was a farmer all his life; in politics, a Democrat, and in religion a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having served as a class leader for many years. He died at the age of fifty-nine. The mother lives in Page county, Iowa, and is now ninety years old.

Mr. Ritnour was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his native State. In October, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry Volunteers; participated in the battle of Gettysburg and other engagements of less importance, and served until July, 1863, when his term of enlistment expired, and he was honorably discharged at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

After the close of the war he went to Whiteside county, Illinois, where he spent one season. Returning East, he passed the following four years in his native county. He then came to Iowa, and in Page county improved two farms, which he subsequently sold at a good profit, and bought 160 acres of land in Douglas township, Adams county, where he now resides. This he purchased of Bob Houston. It is one of the best farms in the township; is well watered by a creek and springs, and has good fences and other improvements. Forty rods back from the road is situated the commodious residence, 24 x 36 feet, two stories high, and built on the southern style.

In Fayette county, Pennsylvania, Mr. Ritnour was married, at the age of twenty-three, to Margaret Ritnour, a native of that place and a daughter of Samuel and Caroline Ritnour. Thirteen children have been born to them, eleven of whom are living, viz.: Harriette, James McClellan, Hatty, Ellen, Etta, Susan, Sada, Jacob, Mena, Cary and George. John died at the age of two years, and Henry, in 1891, aged eighteen years and six months. Mr. Ritnour is a Democrat, and a member of the Meyerhoff Post, Nodaway. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church.