Kit Carson County, Colorado
Photographs |
 |
Kit Carson County Pioneers:
Eslia E. and Sarah E. (Ellis) Ritz, 7 South 51 West
Eslia's parents Joseph Ritz and Malinda J. Kirtley married on May 14, 1865 in Guthrie County, Iowa.
In 1880 Nuckolls County, Nebraska, Eslia E. is 4,
with Joseph 39 and Marinda J. 35 Ritz. Rosa L. is 12, Zela O. 10, Laura A. 5, Eslia E. 4, and Gideon C. 3.
Mary Arbogast and Washington Kirtley married in Logan County
Iowa on April 4, 1842.
In 1860 Guthrie County, Iowa, Washington Kirtley is 41,
Mary 39, John 18, William 17, Malinda 14, Jacob 13, Alfred 12,
Mary A. 9, and Hettie E. 6.
"William Kirtley,
was born in Logan county, Ohio, April 22,
1844, being one of the seven children of W.
J. and Mary (Arbegast) Kirtley. The father was born in Kentucky and in his boy-
hood days went with his parents to Clinton
county, Ohio, where he was married. Subsequently he removed
to Logan county, that
state, and in the fall of 1856 journeyed westward with teams and wagons, into which
were loaded all of his possessions. He was
thirty days upon the way and after spending the winter in Panora settled upon a farm
in Cass township in the following spring.
There he lived until his death, at the age of
fifty-nine years. His wife was born in Pennsylvania and died in Panora about six years
ago, at the advanced age of eighty-one years.
Their children were as follows: John, who
wedded Mary Ritz and resided on a farm in
Guthrie county but is now deceased; William, of this review ;
MELINDA, the deceased
wife of Joseph Ritz, who lived in Cass township, this county;
Jacob, who was a resident
of Missouri but is now deceased; Alfred,
who passed away in Idaho, leaving a family;
Mary Ann, the wife of George Brumbaugh,
a resident of Panora, and Hester, the wife
of Adam Hobbs and now residing near Des Moines."
Malinda Jane Ritz, 36, died Dec 10, 1881, and was buried in Guthrie East
Cemetery- FindaGrave # 194617992.
(Joseph 69 and Mary J. 57 Ritz are in Furnas County, Nebraska in 1910, and Mary's father David Thompson, 81 born in Ohio is with them.)
Rosa L. Meader 1866-1926 is buried in Furnas County # 156206941, with John W. Meader 1848-1919.
Zelah Oscar Ritz, 33, married Kate Francis on June 18, 1901 in Wilsonville,
Nebraska.
Laura A. Ritz, 22, married E.D. Millard
at John Meador's house, on Sept 15, 1896, recorded in Furnas County
Gideon Ritz 1877-1965 is buried in Furnas County # 63523711.
Eslia is a farm hand in 1900 Furnas County,
Nebraska, born Nov 1875 in Iowa, working for Franklin 63 and Margaret 60 Francis.
Sarah Ella Ritz was born July 11, 1884 at Norton, Kansas to John Ellis of Iowa and Sarah Eddy of Kansas.
In 1900 Norton County, John W. Ellis is farming,
born Feb 1863 in Indiana, widowed. Sarah July 1884,
Walter April 1886, and John E. Aug 1894
were all born in Kansas.
John W. Ellis 1863-1939 is buried in Norton # 39583687,
with Elsie Jeanette (Eddy) Ellis 1865-1898 # 38583652,
John E. Ellis is in Cope precinct, Washington County, Colorado in 1940, farming. He's 45, ith Velma 41, Lucille 19, Lyle 18, and Charles 14, all born in Kansas. This is just a few miles from Sarah Ritz's claim....
John Elmer Ellis 1894-1958 is buried in Berthoud, Colorado # 33495658.
So is Mary Velma Kniese 1898-1989 # 33772277.
September 8, 1977 Greeley.
He married Velma Ellis married Albert Paul Kniese, Sept.
24 1951 (either they were married at Laramie, Wyo. or he died there )
Kniese had homesteaded and farmed in Washington County from 1911-1944.
1949 
He had retired eight years. He is survived by two sons, at least one daughter,
two stepsons, Lyle and Chester Ellis, both of Loveland.
So is Chester W. Ellis 1926-1987 # 19362021.
Eslia claimed a quarter in section 25, 7S 51W in 1908.
In 1910 Furnas County, Nebraska, Eslia is a farm
laborer, 34, born in Iowa, married four years to
Ella S. 25 Kansas. Ellis J. 2 was born in Kansas, Inez P. 1 in Nebraska.
Eslia Elmer Ritz 1875-1943 is buried in Bonners Ferry, Idaho # 16445853,
with Sarah Ella (Ellis) Ritz 1884-1940 # 16445844.
AVIS
"Avis was born on April 3, 1913 to Eslia Ritz and Sarah (Ellis) Ritz in Wilsonville, Nebraska, one of 9 children. She passed away at the age of 97 on October 27, 2010 at the Yuma District Hospital in Yuma, Colorado. She created a loving home in Anton, Colorado for husband Jim and son Jimmy. She is survived by son Jimmy, brother Cliff, grandsons Stuwart, Brian, Nick and eight grandchildren Sierra, Brock, Jace, Drew, Jackson, Mason, Seth and Hannah. Avis was loved by family and friends.
Always striving to display attributes of a true Christian life, Avis emulated Fruits of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
The funeral service was held on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cope Community Church in Cope, Colorado with Pastor Terry Covert officiating. Interment followed at the Cope Cemetery. Baucke Funeral Home of Yuma, Colorado directed the service. "
Return to Biography Index.
This page is maintained by Steve Stein.