Reunion! 1899 Ritter Family Reunion, PA; Old Homestead

Summertime is a wonderful time for families to come together. Picnics and Bar-b-ques are fun. It is a terrific time for Family Reunions! In Pennsylvania, my Ritter family began gathering in August, 1898. I will post newspaper articles about several of those events here. I hope you enjoy these glimpses into the past. Maybe you will even find a name you know.  

The Ritter family began holding reunions in 1898. The oldest reunion I have found in the newspapers is this one, in 1899. These gatherings focus on the descendants of the four Ritter brothers: Paul, Heinrich, Martin and Caspar who were born in Germany. There were also two sisters: Barbara Ritter, wife of Hans Jacob Hertzel and Anna Ritter. I have seen no reference to the sisters in any of the reunion newspaper reports. Of the four brothers, Caspar is most mentioned in the reunion's records, most likely because he had lived closest to the location of the reunions.

The reunions were well organized, with music and speeches. The family’s history is sometimes included in the programs of the gatherings. Those histories, over the years, included varying degrees of accurate facts. It would be nice to know who originally lived in the "Old Homestead" mentioned in this news article. 

 

Ritter Family Reunion

 

It was Held on Saturday at the Old Homestead Near Egypt.

 

The reunion of the Ritter family was held on Saturday on the old Ritter homestead, near Egypt, when the 101^st anniversary of the founding on the home was observed. A bountiful dinner was served on the lawn. David Esch, the oldest of the gathering, made an address. Those present were:

 

Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Ritter,

Miss Viola Ritter,

Phaon Ritter,

Mr. and Mrs. William Schneck

And Mrs. August Kelchner, Egypt;

Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Frantz,

Jay Frantz,

Mr. and Mrs. Milton Oswald, North Coplay;

Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Millers, sons Ephraim and Aaron and daughter Lottie, of the homestead;

Mr. and Mrs. David Schneck and daughter Miriam, of Allentown;

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Ritter and daughter Ruth, Siegfried’s;

Mr. and Mrs. John Bear,

Miss Lydia Bear, Earl Bear and Mr. and Mrs. Phaon Bear, Weldasville;

Mrs. A. Shaadt,

Rev. Morris Shaadt, Rucheville;

Mr. and Mrs. David Esch,

Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Diefenderfer and daughters Lizzie, Mame, and Irene,

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Leickel and daughters Emily and Annie, Catasauque;

Mrs. Alvin Eckert, Bethlehem;

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hoffman and daughters Percy, Lesley and Esther;

Mr.  and Mrs. Charles Diehl, Saucon;

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hoffman and daughter Ethel, Neff’s;

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Fenstermacher and sons Harry and Earl,

Mr. and Mrs. Milton Ritter and daughter Helen, North Whitehall;

Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Delbert and sons Homer and Warren, Coplay, and many others.

 

Music was furnished by John Bear and Edwin Diefenderfer.

 

The Morning Call, Allentown, PA

27 September 1899, page 1

Newspapers.com

I am related to the Ritter Family through my paternal grandmother,

Ivy R. Mark Brown.