The George William Ritz Family

George William Ritz was born in Huron County, Jan. 10, 1854, and came to Henry County in 1867. He married Mary Ada Dils on Jan. 10, 1877.

George Ritz and his wife lived in south Marion Township and he was called one of its most promising and worthy citizens. He was one of the pio neers of south Marion and helped to dig that section out of the wilderness and mire.

By their marriage were born three children - Wesley, Fred, and Ada.

His first wife died April 5, 1889, and then on April 4, 1891, he was married to Hettie C. Wiseley. One child, Wilbert William, was born.

Just as George Ritz was about to enjoy the fruits of his hard labors, he passed away at the age of 45 on May 3,

1899.

Wesley, the oldest son of George and Mary Ritz, was born in South Marion Township on Oct. 26, 1879. In 1901, he married Emma Turner whose home was along the Ridge Road near the Ridgeland Cemetery. Emma was the daughter of Ellis and Mary Rayle Turner. Her birthday was June 27, 1880. They bought a farm across from the Hashbarger School and their son, Orla, was born there on Feb. 23, 1902. Wesley engaged in farming until 1909, and at that time, he and his family moved to Hamler. They rented a home until their new home on First Street was built. Wesley and his brother Fred started in the construction business, building streets, sewers, etc. After several years of this kind of work, Wesley became a partner in the Hamler Hardware, selling machinery, setting up machinery and repairing it. He remained in the hardware business until 1931, and from that time until the first part of 1935, he sold stock feed and did other odd jobs. During these years in town, he served on the village council, but when he was appointed postmaster in 1935, it was necessary that he relinquish his council position. He remained postmaster until the time of his death, April 26, 1943. His wife died on Dec. 11, 1974. They were members of Hamler United Methodist Church.

Besides son Orla, they also had a daughter Marjorie, born Aug. 1, 1913. She married George Heinrichs who is an auto mechanic and they live in Hamler. They have no children.

Orla married Ruth Poley and they live on a farm near Sylvania. Orla raises Tennessee Walker horses, more or less as a hobby since his retirement. They have four children: Jack, Doris, Bud, and Bettie.

Jack married Norma Downing and they are the parents of three sons and one daughter. Jack is an electrician and they reside in Toledo.

Doris, who married Dale Brown, is an LOF secretary. They reside in Perrysburg and they have one son.

Bud, a mechanic, married Ramona Gardner and they are the parents of one son and one daughter. They live in Sylvania.

Bettie and her husband, Ray Kinyon, reside in Spokane, Washington. She is an accountant and they are the parents of two sons and a daughter.

Orla and Ruth have three great grandchildren.

Fred, second child of George and Mary Ritz, was born in Marion Township on May 24, 1883.

In 1913, Fred moved to Napoleon, and with John Johnson, formed a construction company, Johnson and Ritz. They paved many streets in Napoleon, Defiance, and surrounding areas.

Fred married Caroline Busch in 1916 and established their home in Napoleon. Caroline was the daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Knipp Busch and was born Nov. 12, 1885.

In 1920, Otto Tietjen and Fred purchased the Heller-Aller Co. from the Aller family and continued this operation until Fred's retirement in 1940. He died in Napoleon on July 6, 1965.

Fred and Caroline had one daughter, Elizabeth, born April 12, 1917, in Napoleon. In 1946, she married August Honeck, a Monroe Township farmer. They have two sons, Mark and John.

Ada, the only daughter of George and Mary Ritz, was born in south Marion Township on Jan. 22, 1887. She owned and operated a millinery store in Hamler. On Oct. 1, 1920, she married Henry Guelde.

They lived on a rented farm a half mile west of Hamler.

Bud, the oldest son, was born Feb. 9, 1922. In 1928, they bought the "old Jaquay farm" 21/2 miles northeast of Hamler.

Also in 1928, their second son, Jack, was born. The resided on this farm all their lives. Ada died Feb. 9, 1956. Henry still resides on the farm with his son Jack, and wife, Marvelle Fuhrhop. They have two children, Ted and Cathy, both students at Ohio Northern University.

Bud and his wife, Julie Meyer, live in Monroe, Mich., and have one daughter, Gretchen, who is a student at Kalamazoo College.

Submitted by Marjorie Heinrichs, Betty Honeck, and Jack Guelde.