Joseph Ritner Guild, Senior

Photo found on Ancestry.com linked to Joseph R. Guild

Joseph Ritner Guild is another great-grandparent of my good friend... so here's another Ancestry Story. 

​Joseph Ritner Guild was born on 28 Dec 1891 in Smithfield, Fayette, Pennsylvania, USA as the third child of John Albert Guild and Clara Belle Phelps. He had three siblings, namely: Grace Belle, Edith Ellen, and Albert Fenton. When he was 20, he married Florence Adelia Havens, daughter of Jabez Beriah Havens and Anna Belle Field, on 19 Jun 1912 in Bradford, Pennsylvania.  ​

WW I Draft Registration Card

​The above image is of his WW I draft registration card, completed on June 8, 1916 on which he is described as tall, with a stout build with blue eyes and brown hair. 

Joseph Ritner Guild and Florence Adelia Havens Marriage Application

We have records of him from the Census records from 1900-1930.  On the 1900 Census he's listed as being 8 years old living in West Burlington, Bradford County, Pennsylvania with his parents John Albert and Clara Belle. In 1910 he's in Athens, PA working as a farmer on the home farm of his father, John Albert Guild.

In 1920, he's 28 years old and married to Florence Adelia Havens, who is 26. They are living in South Waverly, PA; they own their own home. They have 4 children living at home; Ina Belle, Joseph Ritner Jr, Warren Albert and Doris. Joseph Sr is working as a Warehouse manager for Quaker Oats.

1930 Federal Census

In 1930, still in South Waverly, Joseph Ritner (mostly known as just Ritner) was 39 years old with 5 children living at home, the same 4 as in 1920 plus Fenton Wesley (age 5). Ritner is working as a Manager at Quaker Oats.

He died on 19 Oct 1930 at the age of 39 years old of Typhoid fever. He is buried at Tioga Point Cemetery in Athens, PA. His wife went on to remarry and lived until she was ​90 years old.

Joseph Ritner, Sr. was the father of Joseph Ritner Guild, Jr. who was the father of Susan B. Guild.