Biography of F. H. Ritter, pages 608/609.  History of 
DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., 
Indianapolis, 1914.



That life is the most useful and desirable that results in 
the greatest good to the greatest number and, though all do 
not reach the heights to which they aspire, yet in some 
measure each can win success and make life a blessing to 
his fellow men; it is not necessary for one to occupy 
eminent public positions to do so, for in the humbler walks 
of life there remains much good to be accomplished and many 
opportunities for one to exercise one’s talents and 
influence which is some ways will touch the lives of those 
with whom we come in contact, making them better or 
brighter. In the list of DeKalb county’s successful 
citizens, the subject of this review  occupies a prominent 
place. In his career there is much that is commendable and 
his record forcibly illustrates what life of energy can 
accomplish when one’s plans are wisely laid and one’s 
actions governed by right principles, noble aims and high 
ideals.  F. H. Ritter was born February 25, 1885, at 
Hawpath, now Topeka, Lagrange county, Indiana,, and is the 
son of James H. and Mary A. (Hall) Ritter, both of whom 
were also natives of Indiana, the father born in Lagrange 
county and the mother in Nobles county. Both are 
descendants of early settlers in their respective counties.  
The subject’s father, who followed farming throughout his 
active life, is a man of strong character and stands high 
in his community. To him and his wife were born three 
children, Ashley, Icy and F. H., all of whom are living. 
Ashley has charge of the home farm and Icy is the wife of 
U. E. Mast, of Shipshewana, Indiana.  F. H. Ritter secured 
his elementary education in the common schools of Lagrange 
county, completing his preliminary studies in the high 
school at Topeka and then engaged in teaching school for 

three years. Having determined to make the practice of law 
his life work, he then entered the State University at 
Bloomington, Indiana, but a year later became a student at 
Notre Dame University, where he completed his professional 
studies and  received the degrees of Bachelor of Law. He at 
once located at Albion and entered upon the practice of his 
profession, but a year later located at Butler, where he 
has since remained and where he has attained to a 
gratifying degree of success in the practice of law. Well 
qualifies by natural ability and training, Mr. Ritter has 
successfully handled many difficult cases in the local 
courts of the county and has earned the warm regard of his 
professional colleagues. He is careful and painstaking in 
the preparation of his cases, never going into court with a 
case until thoroughly prepared and, judging from his record 
thus far, the future holds promise of still greater 
successes.  On June 25, 1908, Mr. Ritter was married to 
Flora GT. Holcomb, the daughter of John W. and Amanda 
(Wert) Holcomb, both of whom were natives of Lagrange 
county, this state, their respective families having been 
early settlers of the eastern part of that county. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Ritter has been born one son, Harold, who is at 
home with his parents. Aside from his professional 
interest, Mr. Ritter had taken an active part in various 
civic activities of the community, having served one year 
as president of the Butler Commercial Club, and is at 
present city attorney for the corporation. Politically, he 
is affiliated with the Republican party, taking a deep 
interest in political campaigns, while fraternally he is a 
member of the Knights of Pythias, belonging to the 
subordinate lodge at Butler, and is also a member of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellow lodge at Lagrange, Indiana. 
His religious membership is with the Methodist Episcopal 
church, in the prosperity of which he is deeply interested 
and to the support of which he contributes liberally, Mr. 
Ritter has hosts of friends in DeKalb county owing to his 
honesty in business, his success in his profession and his 
upright social and private life and he enjoys a marked 
popularity in the circles in which he moves.

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com