Riter, John Phillip 1864-1948 & Minnie Oloff Family

RITER, OLOFF, RICKERT, WACKER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 9/24/2023 at 10:37:45

Riter, J. Phillip 1864-1948 & Minnie Oloff Family

This story was taken from page 451 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). Exact author unknown. The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg

There may be variations in the spellings, dates and places in the various records. Information was listed as appeared in the sited source.

J. Phillip Riter, oldest child of J.J. and Elizabeth Riter, was born on July 26, 1864 near Carpenter, Ia. in Delaware Co. Around 1890 he moved to Struble, Ia. where he owned and operated an implement and grocery store with his brother, George. He was married in Struble to Minnie Oloff, on Jan. 29, 1893. He died in 1948.

Minnie Oloff was born in Plymouth County in 1873 and died in 1932.

Five children were born to the Riters: Orin, deceased in 1935; Lester now living in Algona, Ia.; Pearl, Mrs. T.M. Shawhan, now living in Lake Mills, Ia.; Lola, Mrs. Vernon Morey, lives in Craig, Ia.; and Inez, Mrs. Jackson, living in San Bruno, Ca.

Mr. Riter was a long time business man in Ireton. In 1904 he opened the Riter Implement Co. Branch stores were opened at Craig in 1918, Hawarden in 1921, and Akron in 1928. His sons, Orin and Lester and sons-in-law V.E. Morey and Merle Shawhan worked as managers of the four stores. Because of his son Orin’s death in 1935, the Riter Implement Co. closed in 1937. Mr. Riter served as President of the Iowa Implement Dealers Association in 1933.

Born into a Methodist home, he was a life long Christian and a devoted member of the Methodist Church. He was a firm believer in education and a strong supporter of our schools. His schooling was received in the country schools and additional training in High School courses were obtained during the winter months—walking four miles each day.

RESEARCH NOTES: From Births, Marriages, and Deaths, and a family report on Ancestry.com public member trees which were submitted by persons other than this submitter.

John Phillip Riter was born 26 July 1864 Collsburg, IA. died Dec 1848, (obit states Nov 1848) He was the son of John Jacob Reutter/Riter/Ritter 1835-1926 and Elizabeth Wacker 1845-1932. He married Minnie Olaf/Oloff 29 Jan 1893 at Struble Plymouth IA

Minnie Olof/Oloff born Dec 1872 PA died 4 Dec 1930 Ireton IA.
Death record has Minnie Oloff Riter age 58 born 24 Dec 1872 PA died 25 Oct 1931 IA, buried Ireton IA. Her parents were Louis Oloff born Dec 1845 Germany and Minnie Ridert/Rickert born Nov 1848 Germany . Find A Grave has Mina Maria Riter born Oloff born 24 Dec 1872 PA died 25 Oct 1931 Akron IA buried Ireton IA. Ancetry.com report has marriage of Minnie’s parents 23 Feb 1872 Carbon Co. PA.
Her parents Louis Oloff 1845 died 5 Mar 1934 Sioux County IA. His wife Minnie Rickert died Dec 4, 1930 Ireton IA.

Children of the Riters:
1. Oren Philip Riter born 27 May 1896 Struble IA died 12 Feb 1935 Hawarden IA He married Maude Blanche Hickmon 1898-1970

2. Lester Louis Riter born Dec 1899 IA died 3 Jul 1992 lived in Algona. He married Audra Sidwell 1904-1957 another spouse was Mary Houlton 1903-1996

3. Pearle Riter born 2 Jan 1901 Struble, IA died 23 Apr 1998 Columbia Heights MN. She married Thomas Merle Shawhan, Three children born to them.

4. Lola Louise Riter born 28 Sep 1904 Ireton IA died 5 Nov 1990. She married Vernon Morey of Craig IA

5. Inez Minnie Riter born 29 Nov 1906 Ireton IA Mrs.Ralph Jackson of San Bruno CA

OBITUARY OF J. PHILLIP RITER 1864-1948
Hawarden Independent of Nov 25, 1948
Services Held For J. P. Riter
Former President of Iowa Implement Dealers. Association Dies At Home Here After a Heart Attack
Funeral services for J. P. Riter were held last Friday afternoon at the Methodist church in Hawarden with Rev. B. Roy Brown officiating. Burial was in the Ireton cemetery. Mr. Riter died last Wednesday morning at his home following a heart attack.
J. Phillip Riter, oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Riter, was born July 26, 1864, at Girard, Clay county, Iowa. 1885 he came to Struble where he opened a grocery store. His brother George joined him in this business in 1890 and later they went in partnership in the implement business. Mr. Riter was president of the Iowa Implement dealers association several years ago.
In 1903 he went to Ireton where he was in the implement business and had branch stores in Craig, Akron and Hawarden. In 1932 he came to Hawarden and put up the Riter Implement building with his son Oren in charge of the business here. Later he disposed of his business and he retired in 1936.
He married Minnie Oloff January 29, 1893. She preceded him in death in 1931. A son Oren also preceded him ir. death. In 1933 he married Mollie Staben of Sioux City.
Survivors are his widow; four children, Mrs. Lola Morey of Craig, Mrs. Pearl Shawhan of Lake Mills, Iowa, Mrs. Inez Duroe of Roy, Wash., and Lester of Algona; four brothers, Ed of Seney, John of Austin, Minn., Lester of Rock Rapids and Charles of Sioux Falls, and one sister, Mrs. Louise Kerns of Rock Rapids, and five grandchildren.
Out-of-town relatives who attended the funeral included Roma Rae Riter of Vallejo, Calif.; Ed Riter of Seney; Charles Riter of Sioux Falls; Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Shawhan of Lake Mills; Mr. and Mrs. Lester Riter of Algona; Mrs. Brownie Walter and Mrs. Ronald Anderson of Sioux City and Mr. and Mrs. (William) Reyer of Hudson.

OBITUARY OF MINNIE RITER
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
October 30, 1931
IRETON WOMAN TAKEN BY DEATH
Mrs. J. P. Riter Was Wife of Well Known Sioux County Man
A special from Craig says: Mrs. J. P. Riter, of Ireton, died Sunday evening at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. M. Shawhan, in Akron. Mrs. Riter had been in failing health all summer. Last week she was taken to Akron for treatment. Infection of the lining of the heart was the cause of her death.
She leaves to mourn her departure her husband, J. P. Riter; two sons, Oren, of Hawarden, and Lester, of Ireton; three daughters, Mrs. J. M. Shawhan, of Akron; Mrs. Vernon Morey, of Craig; and Inez, who teaches school at Sioux Rapids; her aged father, L. Oloff, of Ireton; three grandchildren; two brothers, Fred and L. C. Oloff and one sister, Mrs. Arthur Kallsen, all of this vicinity, besides many other relatives and friends.
The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon at the Methodist church in Ireton, and interment made in the cemetery at that place.
Her parents' Louis Oloff and Minnie Rickert's obits are on this page under obits.

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