Riter, John Jacob 1835-1926

RITER, WALKER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/21/2010 at 13:14:48

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
October 12, 1926

JACOB RITER DEAD
Passed Away at Home in Rock Rapids Saturday

Jacob Riter died at his home in Rock Rapids Saturday morning. Had he lived until next March he would have been 92 years of age. Mr. Riter lived at Schaller for a number of years and then moved to Rock Rapids where he resided until he death, except for a few years he spent in the home of his, E. H. Riter, near Seney.

Mr. Riter is survived by six sons: John and Lester, in Rock Rapids; E. H. of Seney; J. P. of Ireton; Charles F. of Sioux Falls; and John, of Brookings, South Dakota; and one daughter, Mrs. John Kern, of Rock Rapids.

The funeral will be held Tuesday at the Methodist Episcopal church in Rock Rapids, of which he was a member and will be conducted by Rev. F. E. Burgess.
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LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
October 19, 1926

OBITUARY.
John Jacob Riter, aged 91, passed away at the home of his son, Lester A. Riter, in Rock Rapids, at 8:40 o’clock Saturday morning. He had been bedfast since February 28. He began to grow noticeably weaker Thursday, and it became apparent that the end was at hand. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at the Methodist church, Rev. F. E. Burgess, former pastor of the Methodist church, conducting the services. Six grandsons acted as pallbearers. Interment was in Riverview Cemetery.

John Jacob Riter was born in Koenrich-Reich Mittle Schonthal, Province of Wurtemburg, Germany, March 22, 1835, and so was 91 years, 6 months and 18 days old. He came to America in 1854 and lived at Warren, O., for two years. Thereafter he took up a residence at Guttenburg, Clayton county, Iowa, and remained a resident of the state continuously until his death.

On April 20, 1862, at Dubuque he was united in marriage to Maria Elizabeth Walker, who survives him. To this union eleven children were born. Four, Emma, Mary, Elizabeth and Alice preceded the father in death.

Besides his widow, he leaves one daughter, Louise (Mrs. Kerns), of Rock Rapids, and six sons, as follows: J. P., of Ireton, Ia.; G. J., of Brookings, S.D.; E. H., of LeMars, Ia; C. F., of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and John J. Jr., and L. A., of Rock Rapids. He had 29 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

In early manhood he was converted to the Methodist Episcopal faith, to which he adhered strictly and firmly until his death, having been a member of the church for about 70 years. Through his boyhood and early educational training, he was an ardent student of the Bible, and upon coming to America he utilized his first earning in attending a theological college at Quincy, Ill., for about one year. Thereafter, and until age and health prevented, he labored actively and diligently in the church, and for many years he officiated as local pastor in his church in various places of residence. He was a fine gentleman, admired by all who knew him. He was proud of the fact that he had cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln.

He had lived in Rock Rapids since 1911. Among those attending from out of town were: Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Wilson, Hartford, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. L. Oloff, Ireton, Ia.; Mrs. Pauline Detloff, LeMars, Ia.; Mr. and Mrs. Will Henrich, Seney, Ia.; Mrs. H. R. Dealy and son, Rob, Sioux City, Ia.; and Mrs. Sam Uthe, of LeMars, Ia. All the immediate relatives except one grandson, who was unable to attend, were present at the obsequies.