Show DEATH OF JOHN BITTER member of the mormon battalion passes to the great beyond elder john ritter was born in withe county on the ath day ot of december 1820 he lie was the son of michael and phoebe ritter la in 1819 the family moved t to 0 burks gardens va in 1843 john ritter in company with william I 1 E higginbotham and family moved west to nauvoo ills and in 1841 1844 he joined the church of jesus christ of latter day saints he remained in nauvoo until the tall fall of 1844 when he returned to virginia on a short visit and in 1845 again returned to nauvoo there he remained till 1846 when in february of that year he participated with the saints in their expulsion from their hard earn ed homes in that beloved city he lie was a member of bishop george Nl millers illers company and with it in july of the same year he arrived at council bluffs on july 16 1846 john ritter responded to the call of the government and enlisted in the famous mormon battalion and with the now historical five hundred picked men took up his march to participate in the war with mexico of that period from mexico he be continued the march over the sandy deserts with his comrades in arms under tinder capt jefferson hunt they reached the coast of california january 1847 where oa on july 16 of the same se year be was honorably discharged there being no further need of the services of the battalion but john ritter shortly after alter his discharge from the battalion enlisted in the united states army and served faithfully under capt davis until march 1848 when he be was again honorably discharged from further service of the government john ritter shortly afterwards went to mining he its was iras among those who first discovered the gold on the american river he lie continued in the mines for a number of years in 1872 he came to utah and finally located in eden in weber county prior to his demise he lie had been sick several months he lie buffered suffered from diabetes he ile died at the residence of thompson ritter dec 23 25 1898 john ritter was a peaceable law abiding citizen generous hearted kind to bis his neighbors and to all the needy he lie lived a quiet life and died with good will to all mankind he leaves not any enemy behind that we know of the funeral services were held at eden on tuesday dec 27 1898 |