JOSEPH E. AND ELLA RICHARDSON RITTENOUR

Joseph E. Rittenour was born on March 9, 1852 in Ontario County, Canada to George W. and Clarissa Buchner Rittenour. He married Ella Richardson on October 13, 1877 in Vassar, Tuscola County, Michigan. Ella was born August 22, 1854 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

Joseph and Ella had the following children:

1. James Rittenour was born September 6, 1878 in Reese, Tuscola County, Michigan. He married Emma Tester in October 1905. James died on March 5, 1915 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan. He died due to an automobile accident.

2. George E. Rittenour was born in 1889 and died on September 12, 1893 in Lakefield Township. He was 4 years old when he died.

3. Willie Rittenour was born and died in 1895. He is buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery.

In 1890, the Badgero and Galloway Drain Map shows that Joseph and Ella owned 40 acres of land in Section 15 on the west side of Merrill Road between Roosevelt and Lakefield Roads. He was a farmer and also worked in a Stove Mill.

Joseph was appointed to the following Lakefield Township offices.

1. Justice of the Peace on April 4, 1892

2. Inspector of Elections on April 2, 1894

3. Building Committee for Lakefield Township Hall on April 13, 1895.

By 1910, Joseph and Ella are living in Ward 17, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan.

Ella died on October 28, 1926 and Joseph on July 13, 1935. They are both buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery.

SOURCES: 1890 Badgero and Galloway Drain Map, 1896 Lakefield Township Plat Map, Lakefield Township Records; Joseph and Ella Rittenour's marriage record; Henry Errol and Mary Rittenour's marriage record; James Rittenour's death record; George Rittenour's death record; Find-A-Grave Website; James Rittenour's obituary; Henry and Mary Rittenours's obituaries; Ella Rittenour's obituary; and Joseph Rittenour's obituary.