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LOUIS B. RITTER
Vol. 3, p. 1212-1213

One of the pioneers of Lawton, Louis B. RITTER, has for the past
fifteen years been engaged in business in that city, chiefly as a
furniture dealer and undertaker. His career is an exemplification of
what industry and persistent ambition can effect in spite of
discouraging circumstances and with nothing as a beginning. He has
made a commendable business success, has countless friendships in
various localities, is one of the most prominent Masons of Oklahoma,
and has been frequently honored with those positions which indicate
popular esteem.

Louis B. Ritter was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, October 5, 1865.
His grandfather Ritter was a German who emigrated to America and
settled in New Jersey. The father was John Ritter who was born May 1,
1830, in Brunswick, New Jersey, moved to Newark, and thence to
Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he was foreman in the car shops. In
1873 he removed to Little Rock, Arkansas, became a contractor and
builder, and then went upon a farm between Atkins and Marlton,
Arkansas. In 1888 he located in Rogers, Arkansas, engaged in the
grocery business for a time, and finally retired and died there April
24, 1906. During the Civil war he had been a Union soldier, and
afterwards drew a pension. John Ritter married Elizabeth PLACE, who
was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, August 29, 1840, and is still
living at Rogers, Arkansas. Their children were: Louis B.; Laura, who
was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1867, and died June
13, 1897, as the wife of Ed HAINES, who is a silversmith, living in
Kansas; Ida, born at Scranton June 20, 1869 and died March 24, 1872
at Scranton; Hattie, born in Scranton December 20, 1870, and died in
childhood; William Henry, born in Scranton July 16, 1873, has for the
past twenty-five years been a switchman in the employ of the Frisco
Railway, with home at Springfield, Missouri; Edith May, born June 3,
1877, in Little Rock, died October 15, 1878; and Lillie, born
February 21, 1881, in Little Rock, is the widow of William BOWMAN,
lives with her mother in Rogers, and has a daughter Jewel, attending
school there.

Louis B. Ritter was about eight years of age when the family removed
to Arkansas, and most of his education was attained at Little Rock.
His work as a practical wage earner began at the age of twelve years,
as a helper in a general store at Atkins, Arkansas. He subsequently
was employed in the lumber yards at Marlton, Arkansas, until 1892,
and was then in the grocery business there for about one year, until
selling out. Following this came about three years of experience as a
railroad man, at Little Rock and other places in that state. Mr.
Ritter removed to Springfield, Missouri, in 1896, and a few months
later, in 1897, to West Plains, Missouri, where he was employed for
about a year in a clothing house. He then learned the furniture and
undertaking business, and from Missouri came to Oklahoma to
participate in the opening of the Kiowa and Comanche Reservation in
1901. He arrived at Lawton September 13th of that year, and four days
later, on September 17th, found employment with E. W. WILLIAMS &
Sons, furniture dealers and undertakers. He remained with that firm
until January, 1902, then was employed in the same business by Hall
P. STREET until May, 1902, when Mr. Street sold out. He had no
regular employment until September of that year, when he became
connected with G. W. DUNN in the same line of business, and in
October, 1903, engaged in business for himself at 325 C Avenue. Mr.
Ritter's present place of business is at 511 C Avenue, and he now
concentrates all his energies upon undertaking.

Politically his affiliations have always been with the democratic
party. For two years he served on the city council. He is member of
the First Baptist Church in Lawton. His Masonic record is of special
interest. He has local affiliations with Lawton Lodge, No. 183,
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; with Lawton Chapter, No. 44, Royal
Arch Masons, of which he is past high priest; with Lawton Council No.
21, Royal and Select Masters, of which he is thrice illustrious
master; with Lawton Commandery No. 18, Knights Templar, of which he
is past eminent commander. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite
Mason, affiliating with Oklahoma Consistory No. 1 in the Valley of
Guthrie. He belongs to India Temple Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of
the Mystic Shrine at Oklahoma City, and also belongs to the Grand
Chapter, the Grand Commandery and the Grand Council of Masonry. He is
past chancellor commander of Lawton Lodge No. 41, Knights of Pythias,
and was its first representative to the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. He
affiliates with Lawton Lodge No. 71, Independent Order Odd Fellows,
and also with Lawton Encampment No. 27 of the same order. Another
fraternal relation is with Lawton Camp No. 94, Woodmen of the World.
Both he and his wife belong to Lawton Chapter No. 290 of the Order of
the Eastern Star, and he is a former member of the Lawton Lodge of
Elks. Mr. RITTER is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Lawton.

On June 23, 1888, in Forest City, Arkansas, Mr. Ritter married Mrs.
Mollie E. (CLIFTON) MONROE. Her father, the late W. T. Clifton, was a
carpenter at Forest City. Mr. and Mrs. RITTER have no children of
their own, but there is a son by her former marriage, P. C. Monroe,
now assistant cashier of the First National Bank at Lawton.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Jacque Hopkins Wolski on November 4, 1998.