My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES C. RIGHTER. The Righter family are of German origin, tracing their ancestry to three brothers who, with two sisters, came to America in colonial times. John Righter, great-great-grandfather of Charles C. Righter, the subject of this sketch, settled on Mill Creek, in Lower Merion township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he owned a grist mill. The sisters were ministers in the Society of Friends, to which the Righters belonged.

John Righter, great-grandfather, reared a family of children, of whom one was Anthony. He married Catharine Taylor, by whom he had nine children-John, Morris T., Isaac, Joseph, Anthony, Richard, Mrs. Mary Pintzler, Catharine and Mrs. Elizabeth Nuss. He resided the latter part of his life in Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county, on the property purchased by his son John, and died at the age of eighty-nine years.

John Righter, father, born in Lower Merion, first engaged in farming, and was later employed in burning and hauling lime to Philadelphia. Still later he shipped it by canal, burning as high as 300,000 bushels a year. He devoted himself to farming the latter part of his life at Spring Mill, in which occupation he was also very successful. He was prominent in connection with the “Underground Railroad,” as it was called, the object being to forward runaway slaves from the south to Canada. He died in 1869, at the age of eighty-three years, his remains being interred in Barren Hill churchyard.

John Righter married Elizabeth, daughter of Peter LeGaux, and had the following children: Peter L., Joseph, Anthony and John, all now deceased; Charles C., subject of this sketch; Lindley V., deceased; George W., of Upper Merion township (see sketch elsewhere in this work); and Lucressa R. Mrs. Righter died in 1867, in the seventieth year of her age.

Peter LeGaux was a native of the province of Lorraine, then in France, from which he came to America in 1785. He was an attorney-at-law in his native country, and was also a member of the National Academy of Sciences. After coming to this country he was engaged in the practice of medicine. He was a learned man, and was a member of several academies in the United States and America. He was a contributor to the “Columbian Magazine,” chiefly on meteorologica1 observations. He died at Spring Mill on September 27, 1827, leaving a large family of children. He was a prominent citizen of the county, and entertained Washington at his residence at Spring Mill during the time he was president of the United States. He was an extensive vine grower, and greatly interested in the production of wine.

Charles C. Righter was born on the homestead at Spring Mill, March 22, 1823. He was educated in neighboring schools. He was employed as a farmer for many years, but has long lived a retired life. He married in 1863 Miss Elizabeth Streeper, daughter of Charles and Catharine (Lake) Streeper, farmers at Spring Mill. Mrs. Righter has been dead for some years. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Righter: Sarah, married Harry Seville, who was killed by a train; Florence, married Dr. Cressman, they having four children; Charles F., unmarried; Albert, who married Gertrude Streeper, and has three children.

Charles C. Righter is a Republican in politics, and has frequently been mentioned in connection with holding township offices, but has always declined to accept them. He lives with his daughter Sarah. He is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Righter enjoys the esteem and respect of the community in which he lives.