VAN BUREN RITTER

 

     Van Buren Ritter, b July 17,1839 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, d September 26,1916 in Tom Green County, Texas - was a son of Lewis and Eliza-

beth (Coltrain) Ritter. After Elizabeth (Coltrain) Ritter died, prior to 1850, Lewis Ritter was married second on November 18, 1850 to Martha Carr, and the family moved to Sevier County, Arkansas in 1856. Van Buren Ritter made an excursion into Texas in 1858- returning to Arkansas in early 1860; and on April 28, 1861 in Sevier County, he was married to Laura Louise Anderson, b February 4, 1840, d in August 1864.

     In the Fall of 1861, Van Buren Ritter enlisted in the Confederate States Army, serving first in Company G. which was called the "Red River Rifles."After this unit was destroyed, he enlisted March 29, 1862 in Company K, First Texas Legion of Cavalry (also called "Whitfield's Legion"). This company met defeat and was reorganized at Corinth on May 8,1862. Van Buren again enlisted, and was in the battles of Iuka, Elk Horn, Wilson Creek, Shilo, and the Battle of Davis' Bridge on the Big Hatchie River on October 5, 1862  where, with 42 others, he was taken prisoner. At that time he was Second Corporal under Captain David Snodgrass; and was paroled in an exchange of prisoners on October 15, 1862. He also served as a scout for General Ross through the Georgia campaign.

     Laura Louise (Anderson) Ritter died while Van Buren was in the service, leaving one daughter:

     Elizabeth Caroline Ritter, b February 21, 1862, who married John A. Williams on October 9, 1879 in Falls County, Texas.

     On August 6,1865, Van Buren Ritter was married second to Martha Jane Daugherty, b March 5, 1847, d March 18, 1885. They were the parents of nine children -five dying as infants:

     Martha E. Ritter, b November 24, 1866-married February 2, 1887 to John T. Martin.

     Lewis Frank Ritter, b November 3, 1869 - married March 11,1893 to Florence Kie Reed.

     Mary Edna Ritter, b March 19, 1872, d June 13, 1872.

     Kittie Pascal Ritter, b July 31, 1873, d May 21, 1878.

     Lillie Hester Ritter, b April 12, 1876 - married Robert Edgar Pyland on May 10, 1896.

     Jimmie Henry Ritter, b April 12, 1876, d October 22, 1876.

     Josephine Ritter, b November 17, 1878, d December 17, 1878.

     Harry VanDorn Ritter, b July 29, 1880, d August 5, 1881.

     Crissee Coke Ritter, b December 29, 1882 - married Minnie Taylor.

     Van Buren Ritter moved his family to the Brushy Creek Community (near present-day McClanahan) in 1871. The family had first united with the Blue Ridge Baptist Church, from which he was excluded in February 1883 on a charge of "joining the Methodist Society." Two years later, the Blue Ridge Baptist Church Records noted in February 1885 that Mr. Ritter had made application at Center Baptist Church (later McClanahan) for membership, and having "given satisfactory evidence of penitence," he was restored into full fellowship of the church and a new letter was granted him. He transferred to Center Church; and subsequently united with Hope Baptist Church.

     On July 1, 1885, Van Buren Ritter was married third to Sarah Josephine Shaunfield, b June 26, 1858, d June 21, 1934 in Tom Green County, Texas - a daughter of Charles and Leah Frances (Carter) Shaun- field. They were the parents of six children:

     Charles Ritter, b March 17, 1886, d October 1889.

     Donnie Ritter, b January 22, 1888-married William Hall.

     Van Olin Ritter, b February 22, 1891- married Ada Mae Johnson.

     Myrtle Agnes Ritter, b October 31, 1893 - married August 14, 1916 to Luther Tate.

     Viva Estelle Ritter, b March 20, 1896 - married August 14, 1916 to Harvey W. Matthews.

     Levi Nicholas Ritter, b March 7, 1900 - married December 25, 1929 to Mary E. Howell.

     Van Buren Ritter served as Falls County Commissioner of Precinct 6 in 1890, and was elected to the Finance Committee of Falls County Baptist Association when it was organized in 1891. He was appointed in 1892 as Overseer of the Falls County Poor House; and in 1895 was elected to the Texas House of Representatives for District 61, as a Populist, for the Twenty- Fourth Texas Legislature. The Populist Party was in its "hey-day" at that time, using the slogan, "men should not seek office - the party should seek the men." A Populist Convention had been called, and was held in the old Opera House in Marlin, with a large attendance and no candidates for offices. After many speeches, a ticket was endorsed; J. H. Bickett for District Judge, Van Buren Ritter for State Representative; Willis Lang Falconer for County Clerk; William Shelton for County Judge; John Ward for County Sheriff; John Sylvester for Tax Collector; a Mr. Hamilton for Assessor; C. L. Cavell for District Attorney.

     While campaigning for office, or soon after his election, Mr. Ritter hosted a barbecue for a great crowd. A Marlin newspaper later reported that "the boys" were getting hungry, and a little impatient, when suddenly from down the lane appeared a half dozen cowboys with boots and spurs, riding hard, yelling, shooting in the air, and charging the picnic at full speed. As the surprised crowd spread to give them room, the cowboys made straight for the barbecue pits - each snatching a hunk of meat (with one taking an entire hindquarter of beef), and disappearing in the woods - still whooping, yelling, and shooting. It dawned upon the "Brushy Creek boys" that the raiders came from over about Rocky Crossing, in the vicinity of the Odds Community - with whom there was a great deal of rivalry. Tempers flared, but Host Ritter calmed the crowd; and about ten minutes later, the "barbecue thieves" returned with the meat, and joined in the crowd's fun. The report of this picnic was given by Professor A. W. Eddins, of San Antonio, who had attended the picnic.

     The Ritter family members who were buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery included his second wife, Martha, and children, Josephine, Harry, Kittie, Jimmie, and Charles Ritter. Three of the children by his third wife, Sarah, moved to California.

 

 

Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 389 column 1 and 2and page 390 column 1.  
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.