From Patriot Ancestor to President Hoover

One of the fun things you can do with WikiTree is find famous relatives. The WikiTree mission is to create an accurate, single family tree that makes genealogy free and accessible for everyone. Anyone can enter their family information linking to already existing family members. Now the fun begins.

 Amongst the famous relatives list is US Presidents; my closest relation is the 31st President.

Swiss born Gregor Jonas Huber is my linking ancestor to President Herbert Hoover. Gregor, my 8^th great grandfather was born in what is now the Canton of Aargau. In 1698 he immigrated to Germany due to religious persecution. Shortly after settling in Ellerstadt he married fellow Swiss immigrant Anna Kreutzer. They had eleven children including my direct ancestor Johannes Jacob and President Hoover’s direct ancestor Andreas. Both brothers immigrated to the American Colonies; one settling in the north, the other in the south. 

Johannes Jacob married Maria Magdalena shortly before boarding the Mortonhouse bound for Philadelphia; eventually they settled in Lancaster County. Now that, Covid fears are waning, I plan on making a trip to Lancaster to find out more about my ancestor’s history in that area.

Their son, my 6^th great grandfather, JacobHoover is recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution as a Revolutionary War Patriot. Simply put, Ritts Kids cousin’s, you are eligible to apply for membership with the DAR or Sons of the American Revolution.

Almost all of my direct ancestors came into America via Philadelphia, and in a generation or two settled in the Bedford - Blair - Cambria county area. Martin Hoover, my 5th great grandfather was an exception. About 1805, he along with his second wife Catherine Knee and several of his grown children decided to travel west settling in Ohio and Indiana. 

Martin's daughter Christina, my 4th great grandmother did not travel west with her father and siblings. She married  Dunkard Preacher John George Metzker, remaining in what became Blair County. They had 13 children in 19 years, including my ancestor Isaac who ran the family farm. His daughter Eliza moved back to farm with her younger children after both her mother and husband, Alexander Hudson passed away. Eliza, her parents and several children are buried in the Mennonite Cemetery which is down the street from the farm she grew up on.

Mennonite Cemetery by the Altoona Airport

Eliza’s eldest daughter Lizzie, married Harry Ritts. They had nine boys and my Nana, whom we affectionately refer to as the Ritts Kids. The “kids” were raised on a farm in Antis Township, which is now the Pine Grove exit on Rt 99. Only a few Ritts Kids descendants still reside in the area. Most moved west to Pittsburgh and beyond.

Betty White Connections

Last week we lost the beloved Betty White. Known to make people laugh through her work on Golden Girls and Mary Tyler Moore, most people don’t realize she was a pioneer in TV. She and the late great Irma Phillips laid the foundation of TV’s daytime landscape; Betty White helped found daytime talk shows, while Irma Phillips is the mother of daytime soaps creating Guiding Light ranks as the longest running scripted show. GL aired for 72 years before going off the air in 2009. To celebrate our feat, the Daytime Emmy’s asked Betty White to introduce the Guiding Light tribute at the 36th Emmy Awards. This week I began reading When Women Invented Television: The Untold Story of the Female Powerhouses Who Pioneered the Way We Watch Today by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong which profiles both of these great women. Granted I’m only a couple of chapters in, but it is a fascinating read.

WikiTree believes we are all connected so of course I had to check out how I might be connected to Betty White. According to their calculation I am 19 degrees from her connecting through my mom’s brother’s wife’s line to Allen Lunden, Betty White’s husband.

The 10th President of the United States has a Grandson Still Living in 2020!

Cool Historical Fact Learned Today

10th US President John Tyler

The 10^th President of the United States has a grandson still living in 2020! President John Tyler [1790-1862] served as President from 1841-1845. Vice President John Tyler became President after William Henry Harrison’s death only one month into his presidency. While President, John married for the second time at age 54 to twenty four year old Julia Gardiner. President Tyler only served on term then moved he and Julia moved back to Virginia.¹ John and Julia had seven children:

David Gardiner Tyler [12 Jul 1846 - 5 Sep 1927]
John Alexander Tyler Jr [7 Apr 1848 - 1 Sep 1883]
Julia Tyler [25 Dec 1849 - 8 May 1871]
Lachlan Tyler [2 Dec 1851 - 26 Jan 1902]
Lyon Gardiner Tyler [24 Aug 1853 -12 Feb 1935]
Robert Fitzwalter Tyler [12 Mar 1856 - 31 Dec 1927]
Margaret Pearl Tyler [20 Jun 1860 -30 Jun 1947]²

President Tyler died in 1862 when Lyon was only eight. Like his father Lyon married twice. First to Anne Tucker, then at age 70, to Sue Ruffin. Lyon and Sue had three children:

Lyon Gardiner Jr. [3 Jan 1925 – 26 Sep 2020]
Harrison Ruffin Tyler [ 1928 - ]
Henry Tyler [18 Jan 1930 - 26 Jan 1930]³

Little Harrison was only seven when his father Lyon Sr died, his mother passed away when he was 25. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and great-grandfather, Harrison graduated from William and Mary in 1949 with an engineering degree. Cool side note, Harrison’s great-grandfather Virginia Governor John Tyler⁴ was college roommates with Thomas Jefferson. Father, Lyon Sr did not attend William and Mary however was the college’s President for 34 years from 1888 to1919. Back to current day, Harrison’s brother Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr recently passed away in September 2020⁵, leaving Harrison, at age 91, the last of President Tyler’s grandchildren still living.

Sources:

1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/john-tyler/ 

2] https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Tyler-150

3] https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Tyler-149

4] https://www.wm.edu/as/history/news/news-archive/2001-2005_archive/harrison-ruffin-tyler-49-pledges-5-million-to-lyon-gardiner-tyler-department-of-history.php

5] https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/lyon-g-tyler-jr-grandson-of-president-john-tyler-dies-at-95/2020/10/10/6c5825c8-0a60-11eb-859b-f9c27abe638d_story.html

Relative Finder Says I'm Related to George Washington!

While playing around with FamilySearch.org I found a new toy - Relative Finder, which I suppose is their answer to the now defunct We're Related app by Ancestry. Relative Finder has found connections to 180 famous, infamous and otherwise notable people including 13 US Presidents. I was aware of distant connections to two presidents, Herbert Hoover & Richard Nixon through my own research. Today I verified my connector ancestors to George Washington. 

Curious thing as I look at this chart, my patriot ancestor Bancroft Woodcock and George Washington are 6th cousins. Contemporaries, the two corresponded with at least one letter from Bancroft to the General still in existence. At one point when Wilmington, Delaware was under consideration to become the US capitol, Bancroft's beloved Bellveau set upon a hill overlooking the city was a candidate for the presidential residence. 

Laundry, errands and reports beckon, more discoveries will have to wait until another day. 

100th Anniversary of Women's Right to Vote

Ritts Family Reunion Circa 1927

This photo popped up on my Facebook timeline today. As we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Ratification of the 19th Amendment, I reflect on what a difference the suffrage movement had on the women in this picture. My Great Grandma, Lizzie Hudson Ritts [1866-1947] was a grandmother many times over before casting her first ballot. While my Nana, Mary Ritts Burket [1893-1981] was married and had a daughter before gaining the right to vote. My Aunt Maybelle Burket Gillespie [1917-1992] age three 100 years ago was part of the first generation of women to grow up with the right to vote. #WomensVote100

Mary Ritts Burket and Lizzie Hudson Ritts

Maybelle Burket Gillespie with her parents and childern

The Sewing Machine

Today I started "The Sewing Machine" by Natalie Fergie. It is a story spanning four generations

Charting My Migration Pedigree

The 2nd biggest hobby in America latest craze that is popping up all over Facebook, is migration pedigrees. What the heck is that? It's a different way to view your family tree; rather than seeing mom, dad and grandpa, it charts of where family came from. 

My chart is pretty boring; as I've said in my classes, my family, most prior to my 2nd great grands, came into the port of Philadelphia migrated to "western" Pennsylvania and never left. Wanting a some more color, I decided to chart my mom and dad.

Well mom's chart doesn't add much color but at least there is a new state. Her 2nd great grandpa (my 3rd gg) was born in Maryland.

Dad's chart on the other hand not only adds color but surprises and mystery. Dad's Campbell family immigrated to Pennsylvania. The family spent a few years in Virginia after the Civil War where dad's grandpa ACJC was born, before moving back to Pennsylvania. 

I was told by my parents that our heritage was English, Scotch, Dutch and Welsh. England is accounted for up there on my chart with my 2nd great grandfather Hudson. Check off Welsh, there is 2nd great grandma Woodward from Monmouthshire on dad's chart. Ireland, at first glance that doesn't fit into the family "story". Upon closer inspection the "Irish" were Forbes hence really Scots-Irish. Next up German, hmm nothing in the family story from my parents; in fact grandma seemed to forget about her German grandma's lineage when dad was applying to the Naval Academy. Grandma's sister Great Aunt Betty revealer of family secrets clued me into the German connection during a European vacation. Oh, so for the "Dutch" we have to go back to a crazy story from mm's side of the family in the 1600s. 

Lastly is my brick wall, the Armstrongs. While ultimately I know the line goes back to Scotland as all Armstrongs trace back to a warrior in the 1200s. For now however, I'm stuck in Pennsylvania searching for the correct John Armstrong circa 1830s who could be from PA, NJ or England.

Have some fun and create your own migration pedigree chart. 

Review: The Fifth Assassin

The Fifth Assassin by Brad Meltzer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Fifth Assassin is the second book in Brad Metzler's Culper Ring series. I highly recommend reading the series in order starting with The Inner Circle. Archivist Beecher White and the Culper Ring continue their mission to protect the presidency of the United States. For fans of AMC's TURN, it is a kick to know the spy ring has survived and is still active.

In this installment we meet another one of Beecher's childhood friends, Marshall Lusk, wondering is he now a friend or foe. The author switches from present day to childhood throughout the book telling parallel stories. Towards the end of the book this jumping around gets distracting. The murders of the priests storyline is tied up at the end of the book. The ongoing struggle between Beecher and the President and why the residents and actions of a small town in Wisconsin 20-30 years ago play such a pivotal role in that struggle is still a mystery. I'm looking forward to reading The President's Shadow to find out.


View all my reviews

The Life and Times of Isaac Metzker

Isaac Metzker lived his entire life in what is now North Woodbury, Pennsylvania. He was born on January 24, 1809 to Christina Hoover, age 30, and John George Metzker, age 38. The Metzker/Metzger family were early settlers of Bedford County, coming to the area from the Old World in the mid-1700s.

Isaac grew up on a farm learning what would become his trade in then Woodbury, Bedford County. Woodbury became a part of Blair County in 1846 when it was formed from parts of Bedford and Huntingdon counties. Isaac’s farm at that time included 80 acres of farmed land producing: 250 bushels of wheat, 150 bushels of corn and oats each, 100 bushels of rye, 15 bushels of potatoes and 10 tons of hay. On October 1, 2015 the Metzker family was added to the First Families of Blair County recognizing them as original residents of the new county.

By 1879 with son Samuel, the Metzker farm had improved another 20 acres adding an apple orchard sweet potatoes and clove seeds to the mix. Corn became the predominate crop selling 700 bushels. 1879 was also a pivotal year for the family as matriarch Anna Lantz Metzger died of catarrh fever, a disease affecting the respiratory organs in November.                  

Anna Lantz Metzker
incorrect headstone

Not much is known about Anna Lantz and what is known is not set in stone. The US Mortality Schedule gives us the information on her death above, while her headstone lists her death as 26 Feb 1881. As she does not appear on the 1880 census and Isaac is listed as a widower, it appears the headstone is incorrect. Anna was born 8 Aug 1814 in Pennsylvania; who her people were are currently a mystery. She married Isaac about 1832. The couple had 10 children: William, Rebecca, Catherine, Nancy, John, Virginia, Eliza, Samuel, Anna, and Elizabeth in 21 years. Anna was a homemaker and a member of the German Baptist Brethren Church. After her death, widowed daughter Eliza Hudson moved home with her children to help care for Isaac.

Isaac Metzker(Metzger) Farm
Mennonite Cemetery is between 147 and 141

Isaac led a productive life for another twelve years with a prosperous farm which while having passed out of the family, is still in existence today. Two of his children; Virginia Metzker Stoner and Samuel passed before Isaac. He spent his last days at the home of his grand-daughter Charlotte Ebersole McGraw and his great-grandsons Earl & Herbert. He died on September 18, 1891, in his hometown, having lived a long life of 82 years, 7 months and 24 days. Isaac, Anna and much of their family are buried down the road from the farm in the Mennonite Cemetery in Martinsburg.

Note: If you have any information on Anna Lantz Metzker’s ancestors please comment below.

Sources:

1. Non-population Census Schedules for Pennsylvania, 1850-1880: Agriculture (62 rolls); Roll 2: 1850 Agriculture: Blair-Carbon counties; Roll 34: 1880 Agriculture: Blair-Bedford counties

2. U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880; http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=usmortality&h=2420442&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt

3. Year: 1880; Census Place: North Woodbury, Blair, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1103; Family History Film: 1255103; Page: 445B; Enumeration District: 174; Image: 0449

4. Isaac Metzker Obituary; Altoona Tribune, 22 Sep 1891 pg 4

5. Findagrave.com; http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=MET&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=40&GScntry=4&GSsr=4481&GRid=27263514&

Newest Blair County Founders Recognized

Jacob Shoenfelt II was born 9 Sep 1792, near Hagerstown, Maryland and died in his 91^st year on 14 Apr 1884. His parents, Jacob the 1^st and Elizabeth Baker Shoenfelt settled on land given them by Jacob I’s father William Shanefelt, near Woodberry, Bedford County in the spring of 1796. According to a 1946 Altoona Mirror article, the land William purchased has remained in family hands for 166 years.  Jacob I with the help of Jacob II built the family home there (now known as Taylor Twp, Blair County) in 1812. The family of eight were of the German Reformed faith and although Jacob I became a Dunkard preacher later in life, Jacob II remained with the German Reformed. Of hardy German stock, Jacob II did not learn to read or speak English until he was an adult.

Jacob and Elizabeth Marks celebrated the arrival of daughter Elizabeth in 1802. Betsy grew up in Huntingdon Boro. She married Jacob II at an early age. They raised their family of thirteen (Henry, Joseph, Elizabeth, George, Sarah, Jacob, Andrew, Isaac, Mary, Susan, John, Harriet and James) on the Plum Creek farm.  The family resided in Woodbury in 1846 when Blair county was formed and in 1856 when their section of Woodbury became Taylor Twp. Jacob II out lived his wife Elizabeth and his children: daughters Elizabeth, Sarah, Harriet and sons Issac and James. 

While Jacob was primarily a farmer in his later years. As a young man he was a wagoner transporting pig iron from Maria Forge to Pittsburgh before the construction of highways.

Jacob Shoenfelt voted for our 4th President James Madison thru the 20th President James Garfield

In the last few years of his life he became a favorite subject of the Altoona Tribune. In a profile celebrating his 90^th birthday, the interviewer reports that Jacob II “voted for James Madison for President and voted at every presidential election since casting his vote for General Garfield for president in 1880. He only missed voting at two elections ever since he voted. He was a Federalist, Whig, American and Republican, always true to his party. He is a hale old man, and bids fair to be a centenarian. The lustre of his eyes is not bedimmed and he reads and writes without the use of glasses. He never used a pair of spectacles in his life. His memory is remarkably good and it is pleasing to hear him relate incidents and occurrences of long ago, speaking of the kind and charitable disposition of some of the early settlers of the Cove.” The Shoenfelts are purportedly buried in the Snowberger Cemetery in East Sharpsburg, PA.

Details from Isaac Metzker Farm Censuses of 1850 and 1880

Isaac Metzker's Farm was located in North Woodbury in Blair County, Pennsylvania. The following information came from the Agriculture Censuses in 1850 and 1880 with calculation for today's dollars.

1880 Isaac Metzker Farm

Son Samuel farming land for cut of profit

1879 stats: Total Income $716 which equals $17,047.62 in 2014

Livestock –    Cows: 2 calves born, 1 cow sold, 2 slaughtered, 1 lost; 208lbs of butter sold

                        Sheep: 3 lambs born

                        Chicken: 208 eggs produced

Crops-           Corn: 25 acres of corn produced 700 bushels

                        Oat: 5 acres oats produced 80lbs

                        Rye: 4 acres of rye produced 20lbs

                        Wheat: 24 acres of wheat produced 275lbs

                        Potato: 3/4 acres Irish potatoes produced 50 bushels; 2 bushels sweet potato

                        Orchard: 8 acres with 100 apple trees produced 250 bushels sold for $75

                        Forestry: 25 cords of wood cut and sold for $50

                        Hay: 1 Ton harvested

                        Clover Seed: 3 bushels

Expenses:

                        Building Repair: $15

                        Labor costs: 16 weeks $15

*******************************************************************************************

Value in 1880 = $7732 Farmland $7200, Farm Equipment $75, Livestock $457

Value in 2014 dollars = $179,813.95

Acres: 108 acres improved land, 20 acres of forest and 1 acre of grassland not mowed

Livestock on hand 1 Jun 1880: 6 horses, 4 milk cows, 10 other cows, 9 sheep, 15 pigs, 50 chickens

1880 spring sheering = 9 fleeces weighing 40lbs      

1850 Isaac Metzker Farm

1849 stats:

Livestock –    Cows: 150lbs of butter sold

                        Animals Slaughtered for $85

Crops-           Corn: 150 bushels

                        Oat: 150 bushels

                        Rye: 100 bushels

                        Wheat: 250 bushels

                        Potato: 15 bushels

                        Hay: 10 Ton harvested

********************************************************************************************

Value in 1850 = $6451 Farmland $6000, Farm Equipment $100, Livestock $351

Value in 2014 dollars = $195,727.27

120 Acres = 80 Improved, 40 Unimproved

Livestock on hand 1 Jun 1850: 5 horses, 4 milk cows, 5 other cows, 10 sheep, 8 pigs

1850 spring sheering = 20lbs

Source:

Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Pennsylvania, 1850-1880: Agriculture(62 rolls);.

Roll 2: 1850 Agriculture: Blair-Carbon counties; Roll 34: 1880 Agriculture: Blair-Bedford counties

New Friends and Old Getting Together to Celebrate their Revolutionary Ancestors

Is there a Patriot waiting to be discovered in your family tree?

Our October meeting is a wonderful time to meet new friends, catch-up with old friends and learn about our Revolutionary Patriot Ancestors. If you have an interest in learning about your family tree, we can help you; maybe we can even find a Patriot among your leaves. Prospective members are always welcome.

The Ferro-Monte Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, will hold its New Member Social Saturday, October 10 at Roxbury Township Free Public Library 103 Main St, Succasunna, NJ at 10:15am. For information, email: NJDARFerroMonte@aol.com.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote patriotism, preserve American history, and support better education for our nation's children. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 165,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world's largest and most active service organizations. To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.DAR.org.

Trace Your Family History

Inspired by her family’s Christmas ravioli tradition, author Laura Schenone traces her family’s roots from Italy to New Jersey in The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken. During her search to find the original recipe she discovers much more about herself, her family and the place they used to call home. Like Ms Schenone, you can discover much about your family’s history with a bit of research. 

The Roxbury Library provides free access to historical records, censuses and family histories online from Ancestry.com. The Library will be holding class for Roxbury cardholders on July 28, 6pm. During which you will be shown how to find your records so that you can begin to create your family history story. Patrons will be provided with a blank family tree which should be completed and brought to the class.

The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken by Laura Schenone is this year’s One Community, One Book selection by the Morristown Festival of Books. Ms Schenone will be appearing at the 2015 Morristown Festival of Books on October 2. For more information about the One Community, One Book initiative and the Morristown Festival of Books like the Facebook page and follow the Twitter feed.

Ancestry for Free

At least it is free for six months... if you enter and win the Geneblogger contest. Oh how I'd love to win since the email in my inbox right after the contest announcement, was Ancestry.com announcing it is time for my subscription renewal. So if not me, why not you? Deadline to enter is May Day. 

Are you curious who is in your family tree?

We can help you. A Lineage Workshop, sponsored by the Ferro Monte Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, will be held on Saturday April 11 from 10:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Roxbury Library located at 103 Main St., Succasunna, NJ. This drop in workshop is for anyone interested learning how to trace their family history. Attendees will have the opportunity to work with the lineage research team in starting their quest or aiding in breaking down a brick wall. We will have reference books available for your use and the Roxbury Library has computers with access to Ancestry.com to further your research.

Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal decent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution.  The DAR recognizes "Patriots: as not only soldiers but also anyone who contributed to the cause of American freedom." For those interested in membership, please bring your records and information and receive assistance with application papers.  Current Daughters can also get support from NJ State Registrar Diane Oliver and the lineage research team on completing supplemental applications. If you have any questions regarding this Workshop, please contact us at NJDARFerroMonte@aol.com for further details.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote patriotism, preserve American history, and support better education for our nation's children. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 165,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations. To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.DAR.org.

Revolutionary Ancestor Leonard Litzinger Family

My 5th great-grandfather was recently proven to be a Revolutionary War Patriot by the Daughters of the American Revolution. We currently have an application into the Sons of the American Revolution to establish the same for their organization. In prepping documentation for both organizations, I created a chart of Leonard's family that I'd like to share with any of his decendents.

Children of Magdalen Kupser and Leonard Litzinger

Names	Date of Birth/Place	Spouse(s)	Source
Simon Litzinger	29 May 1767 Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA	Mary Ann Meyers	Goshenhoppen Registers pg 32 1
Catharine Litzinger	29 Mar 1769 Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA	Henry Kuhn	Goshenhoppen Registers pg 371
Magdalen Litzinger	05 Mar 1771 Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA	John Raille	Goshenhoppen Registers pg 421
John James Litzinger	29 Mar 1773 Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA	Sarah Plott	Goshenhoppen Registers pg 491
John Litzinger	16 Mar 1775 Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA	Appolonia Adams Ms Pierce	Goshenhoppen Registers pg 541
John Leonard Litzinger	20 Sep 1777 Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA	Elizabeth Miller Elizabeth Leas	Goshenhoppen Registers pg 651
Anna Maria Litzinger	08 Sep 1779 Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA	John Stockton	Goshenhoppen Registers pg 721
Anthony Litzinger	03 Feb 1782 Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA	Susanah Burley	Goshenhoppen Registers pg 821
Eve Litzinger	Abt 1785 PA	John Meyers	Conewago Chapel2 and Leonard Litzinger will3

* Eve Litzinger birth year of 1785 is estimated from 1800 census. Family relocated from Berks County to York/Adams County between 1784 and 1785 according to tax records. Theories:

          A) Eve’s baptism is not recorded in Goshenhoppen Registers due to failing health of Father Ritter’s failing health “registers kept by him during the last two years of his life from 1785-1787 are missing.” [Goshenhoppen Resisters pg 122]

          B) The surviving records from Conewago Chapel seem to begin in 1791, long after Eve’s birth, hence no record of her baptism.

Sources:

¹ Goshenhoppen Registers 1741-1819; Reprinted from American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia by Clearfield Inc, Baltimore, MD 2002

² Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 695

³ Leonard Litzinger will; PA Archives PA-31-2-223

History of the Woodcock Family from 1692 to Sept. 1, 1912

History of the Woodcock family from 1692 to Sept. 1 by William L Woodcock
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Resource used to prove silversmith Bancroft Woodcock a Patriot in the American Revolution. Ancestry tree from Robert Bancoft to Clinton Lee Burket.

View all my reviews

Sketch of Alexander Alexander, Who Emigrated from County Down, Ireland, in the Year 1770 and Settled in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania: Together with ... Chart and Record of His Descendants by Walter Scott Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The life and decendants of immigrant patriot Alexander Alexander. Alexander came from Ireland and fought in the American Revolution. He is a Patriot in the rolls of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This book was used as proof for Alexander Alexander and Bancroft Woodcock applications. Ancestry charts include my grand-father Clinton Lee Burket.

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First Families

"I believe the dead rely on us to tell their stories and that leave is up to you and me." ~ Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote

My 2nd great-grandfather has been inducted into the First Families of Blair County, Blair County in Pennsylvania was formed in 1846 from parts of Hunterdon and Bedford County. The county seat is Hollidaysburg, but the largest most recognized town is Altoona, originally home to the Pennsylvania Railroad. John saw the birth of that railway, the nation torn apart by civil war and the the introduction of automobiles making his saddlery business obsolete.

Blair County Townships Map

Below is my mini-biography submitted to the First Families of Blair County:

John L Ritts was born 30 Mar 1833 to Thomas and Catherine Lower Ritts in North Woodbury, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The Thomas Ritts family which included son John and daughters, Catherine, Elizabeth, Martha, Mary and Lydia all resided in what became Blair County in 1846. John married Mary Shoenfelt in 1856 shortly after Taylor Township formed. John who followed in his father’s footsteps as a saddle and harness maker settled with his bride a few doors down from his parents in the new township. 

John and Mary had six children:

Catherine Jane (11 Sep 1857 - 28 Nov 1937) m. Peter Grove
Sarah Anne (27 Mar 1859 - 28 Apr 1943)
Albert S (27 Mar 1861 - 09 Jul 1951) m. Janet Butler
Harry Samuel (Apr 1863 - 04 Jul 1949) m. Elizabeth Hudson
Luria (1869 – bef 1880)
John Elmer (03 May 1871 – bef 1949) m. Rose Hardman

John served briefly in the Civil War as a Private. John and Mary were married for 48 years. While on the way to visit her sister, Susan Tipton, wife Mary was tragically killed as the trolley she was riding jumped the tracks plunging into the Juniata River. In a subsequent trial against Altoona and Logan Valley Railroad, John was awarded $1200. 

A lifelong resident of Blair County, John L Ritts passed away at age 78 of heart disease on 6 Jul 1911. He is buried in Antis Cemetery along with his son Harry’s family.

Mystery Solved!

This Western Union Telegram has been in a Ritts scrapbook for years. 

Original Text Messaging

The message sent to my Nana has been a mystery for over 20 years. Who was this Aunt that passed away? Nana had eight Aunts, but none of their death dates matched up. There is also a hand written note we think was written by my Aunt Maybelle identifying the deceased as her great-great Aunt. This didn't seem right since that generation seemed to have died in the mid 1800s. The key to solving this puzzle came from the recent release from the Pennsylvania Archives to Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania Death Certificates for up to 1944 were added in June. Those green leaves from the TV ads have been popping up on my tree. Today a leaf popped up on my Nana's grand aunt Elizabeth Metzger Paul. The hint was her death certificate and guess when she passed away... Aug 22, 1934. Finally we had our answer! Thank you Great-Great Aunt Elizabeth (she really is my 2nd Great Aunt) for solving this mystery. May you rest in peace.