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Below is a family biography included in the book,  Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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THOMAS RITTER, deceased. Perhaps there is no name more familiarly or favorably known in Lehigh County than the one above mentioned. This is not alone due to the fact that its owners have been residents of the county for years, but is also true for the reason that the name has been very intimately associated with the moral, social and financial growth of the county.

Thomas Ritter was born in this county May 9, 1808, and was a son of Hon. Michael and Margaret (Orner) Ritter, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was the founder of the village of Rittersville, where he was a prominent business man and kept a hotel for many years. He led a busy and useful life, and was a self-made man, who through his own efforts achieved success. He died March 17, 1854, greatly mourned by all who knew him.

The subject of this sketch passed his entire life in Rittersville, and for many years was a prominent farmer in that locality. In 1881 he abandoned the life of an agriculturist, and two years later was called hence. He was preceded to the better land by his good wife, who died in 1881.

The latter prior to her marriage was Miss Anna Maria, daughter of Christian Queer. By her union with our subject she became the mother of three children, of whom Sarah M. is the only survivor. Those deceased are Amelia and Asher T. The elder daughter was born November 25, 1833, in this county, and received a good education for that early day.

When the father of our subject first located in the village which afterward bore his name the country round about was thinly settled and Indians were very numerous in the neighborhood. He bore his share in the upbuilding and development of the county, and was ever found in the front rank of those enterprises calculated to promote the general welfare. In 1828 he was elected to the Legislature on the Democratic ticket. His many excellences of character won for him high regard, and his friends throughout the community were very many.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the book, Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company. 

View additional Lehigh County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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