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From: "Ella Coleman" <>
Subject: Hon. Frank Miller RITER son of Geroge REITER and Elizabeth CALDWELL Phila., PA
Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2005 22:29:14 -0500



This comes from copies of a few pages from a book that were sent to me by another researcher. I do not know the name of the book and if anyone out there does please be so kind as to post it to the list.

Hon. Frank Miller RITER

Frank Miller RITER was born in Philadelphia, May 20, 1855, and is the son of Michael MILLER and Elizabeth Georgiana (CALDWELL) RITER. On the paternal side he is of German origin, a descendant of George REITER (RITER). On the maternal side he is of Scotch Irish ancestry and a descendant of James CALDWELL.

George REITER (or RITTER) and his wife Elizabeth, are buried at St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Mt. Airy, Philadelphia. The inscription on their tombstones are as follows:"George REITER, born Jan 22, 1727, died October 22, 1794," and his wife, "Elizabeth REITER, born February 25, 1733, died December 26, 1792." The will of George REITER is dated August 29, 1794 and was probated November 22, 1794. His name is there spelled REITER. The transition in the spelling from REITER to RITER is perfectly traceable in the will of George REITER. The body of the will is written in English and in a very legible hand, distinctly that of a scrivener. It begins with the statement: "Be it known that I, George RITER of Germantown * * * do make this my last will and testament", but the signature of the testator is in German characters and is "Gorg REITER" (my note...there are 2 dots over the o in Gorg). This accounts for the change in the spelling of the name from REITER to RITER. His !
sons adopted the English form of spelling the name. George REITER (or RITER) was a large landholder, bequeathing a tract of 30 acres in Germantown to his son George, and a tract of land over 100 acres in Marlborough Township, Montgomery County, to his son Michael. As he was born in 1727, he was beyond the age of active service in the Revolutionary War. He was, however, enrolled as a private in 1778, in Captain James Irvine's company of the Upper District of Germantown township, Second Battalion of Philadelphia County Militia. He doubtless was a member of the "Associated Company" of this district in 1775 and 1776, but the rolls of these early companies are not known to be in existence. Being over 50 years of age in 1778, his name appears in the 8th Class, but he probably saw active service of a local nature, as all the classes of militia were called out on special occasions. Associated with him in the Germantown company were several members of the REX family, who were h!
is neighbors, and into which family two of his daughters married. His other children were Margaret, Eve, Elizabeth, Susanna, Catherine and Hannah, all of whose baptisms appear of record at St. Michael's Lutheran Church at Mt. Airy between 1760 and 1775. Many of these facts were obtained from his will on file in Philadelphia, and probated November 22, 1794.

Michael RITER, son of the above named George REITER (or RITER), named in the will above referred to, was born June 7, 1772, baptized at St. Michael's, May 4, 1775 and died June 25, 1845. He married Catherine E. WUNDER, who died March 11, 1844, in her seventieth year, consequently must have been born in 1774 or 1775. They both lie buried in Leverington Cemetery, Roxborough. He took an active interest in the affairs of his locality, owned the stage route from Germantown to Philadelphia for some time, and also was at different times the proprietor of both the Indian Queen and the King of Prussia Taverns. He was regarded most highly by all who knew him.

George W. RITER, son of Michael and Catherine E. (WUNDER) RITER, was born March 8, 1795, baptised September 4, 1795, at St. Michael's, Mt. Airy, and married Susanna LEVERING. She died aged 27 years, 9 months and 8 days, which would make the date of her birth May 6, 1797. She was a descendant of Wigard LEVERING, and her genealogy is fully set forth in several editions of "The Levering Family."

George W. RITER was a man of very considerable prominence. He was a practicing physician for a number of years in Philadelphia, and a member of the Constitutional Convention of the State of Pennsylvania in 1837. He was Recorder of Deeds for Philadelphia County from 1824 to 1830. President Van Buren appointed him Surveyor for the District and Collector of Revenue of the Port of Philadelphia for four years from 1838. He died May 4, 1841. He was a man of attractive personality. He was married twice, the second wife being Matilda GILBERT. By each marriage he had a large number of children. Those by his first marriage were: William, who died in early youth; George and Nathan who died unmarried; Michael Miller, mentioned below; Catherine, who married John Sidney Jones; and Sarah, who married Thomas FITZGERALD. By his second marrriage his children were ; Frederick, who married Sallie PEACOCK ; Henry, who married Harriet DAVIS; Gilbert, who married Fannie YARROW; Emily!
, who married George HENDERSON; Mary, who married John DURBURROW; Matilda, who married Jacob E. KNORR; and Ellen, who married Henry NASSAU.

Michael Miller RITER, one of the children of George W. RITER, by his first wife, was born February 5, 1823. He was married January 14, 1846, by the Rev. P. F. MEYER, in Philadelphia, to Elizabeth Georgiana CALDWELL, who was born January 2, 1825. She was a daughter of Dr. James St. Clair CALDWELL and his wife Maria HOWELL, herein mentioned. The said Michael M. RITER was a man of marked power and of influence among his friends. He entered business when he was a lad of sixteen years of age, amassing a fair competency for his time, inspiring the confidence of those who knew him and the deepest affection of all his family. He died at his residence, 127 North Tenth Street, Philadelphia, December 23, 1904, in the eighty-second year of his age, and was buried in Monument Cemetery, Philadelphia.

Michael M. RITER and his wife Elizabeth Georgiana (CALDWELL) RITER had seven children, all born in Philadelphia, viz: James Caldwell RITER, born October 29, 1846, died January 15, 18--; William G. RITER, born July 20, 1850; Annie Elkinton RITER, born December 5, 1852, who married David RUPP, of York, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1882. There have been born to Annie Elkinton (RITER) RUPP and David RUPP, two children: Michael Riter RUPP born February 5, 1883, and David RUPP, born January 28, 1884. Michael Riter RUPP was married to Sophia Fry EISENHART ; Frank M RITER ; Elizabeth
Georgiana RITER, born November 5, 1858, and died May 13, 1859; Charles Jones RITER, born December 29, 1859, who married Clara M. HOVEY, December 6, 1888; they have one son Michael Miller RITER, born October 3, 1889; Michael Miller RITER Jr., born August 5, 1864, who married Elizabeth Harrison BAINS, February 10, 1909.

Frank Miller RITER, fourth child of MIchael Miller and Elizabeth Georgiana (CALDWELL) RITER, was born at Philadelphia, May 20, 1855. He attented the Friends Central School, Philadelphia and graduated from the Law Department of the University of Pennsylvania class of 1878. He was admited to the Philadelphia Bar in the same year and has since been a practicing attorney in that city. He early became actively interested in public affairs, and has rendered much efficient service to his native city and state. He was elected to Common Council in February, 1883, and served for two years; was appointed Assistant City Solicitor in April, 1884; was elected to Pennsylvania Legislature in November, 1888. and was re-elected in 1890-1892 and 1894, serving four consecutive terms, for a portion of which time he was chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. He was appointed Director of the Public Safety of Philadelphia by Mayor WARWICK in February, 1896, holding his office for over t!
hree years. He had under his care all the city property, and the restoration of Independence Hall took place while he held the ofice of the director, and was under his immediate and active supervision. He was the first to recommend officially to councils the introduction of the High Pressure Fire Main System. In March, 1906, Mr. RITER became president of the Philadelphia Civil Service Commission, filling that position for one year. He is a member of the Union League, University and Rittenhouse Clubs, and of the Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution.

Would these be connections?

BOWER, CHARLES. Roxborough, Co. of Phila.
December 26, 1799. January 24, 1807. 2.60.
To wife Barbary Bower, my tenement in Roxborough wherein I live. After
her decease to my dau. Elizabeth Righter and to my son-in-law Michael Righter.
To heirs of my dau. Elizabeth Righter, namely Charles, Michael and Catherine Righter.
Son-in-law: Michael Righter to have remainder of lands.
Exec: Michael and Charles Righter.
Wit: David Merkle, Christopher Wunder.

Michael RIGHTER, Township of Roxborough. Phila. Co.
Farmer.
April 4, 1812. August 3, 1819.
Book 7, Page 50.

Estate to my wife, and to my children: Charles, Catharine, Michael,
Samuel, Ann and Jonathan Righter.
Execs: Sons, Charles and Michael Righter.
Witnesses: John K. Duy, John Smith. Jacob B. Smith, of Roxborough,
Phila. Co., teacher, son of said John Smith, affirmed.

as well as...

RIGHTER, GEORGE. Roxborough, Phila. Co. Farmer.
March 29, 1810. August 13, 1810. 3.226.
Wife Christina to have free use, occupancy &c. of all his property during
widowhood, at her death or marriage, estate to be divided between his
two sons George and John.
Execs: Sd. wife and sons George and John.
Wit: John K. Day, Stephen Davis.

Peter RIGHTER, Roxborough Township. Phila. Co.
Yeoman.
October 2, 1817. June 26, 1819.
Book 7, Page.30.

To my wife, Elizabeth Righter, and after her decease, estate to be sold
and proceeds to my nine grandchildren, the children of my son, John
Righter, deceased, son, Joseph Righter, granddaughter, Hannah Jones,
daughter of my daughter, Mary Jones, deceased, granddaughter, Elizabeth
Righter, daughter of son, Anthony Righter, deceased, daughter-in-law,
Rebecca Righter, widow of son, Anthony, daughter-in-law, ____, widow of
son John Righter. Exec: Friend, John Livezey of Roxborough Township,
Phila. Co., miller. Witnesses: Joseph Livezey, Thomas Livezey.

Good luck!
Ella



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