Saturday, February 7, 2015

Ancestry Saturday: The Right Reitenauer?


I found a copy of the book "Genealogy of the Ridenour Family" at the Ohio Genealogical Society library yesterday. This book has been a source for information/references on my fourth great grandparents David Reitenauer and Catherine Fiscus in the book "Ancestors are Forever." Pages 131 and 132 had a great find!

Part 5 of the five-part book has a 1910 letter from John Spratt Wrightnour who wrote a book titled "The Ritenour Family: It is of German Origin" and who has a great deal of information on David and Catherine.  Much of JS's book came out, though,  before his 1910 letter.

You'll note that his 1910 letter seems to correct his error in the book about David descending from Henry (son of the oft-cited Nicholas who came to America in 1739). Instead, he cites a cousin who had first-hand contact with David Reitenauer and indicates he came from Germany. He cites 1763+/- as a birth year, which matches others' research too.

The piece is not rock solid proof, but it sure is compelling evidence.

If this is correct, then it makes it that much more likely that my 4GG David was either a brother or son of Michael Reitenauer, father of Pennsylvania Governor Ritner, solving another mystery.

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