Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
E. DEWITT REITER, a widely known
attorney of Davenport, Washington, comes of old and historic Knickerbocker
stock; and he can number among his ancestry men prominent during the formation
period of this country, in the Revolutionary and in the 1812 wars.
He was born at Green Springs, Ohio, October 22, 1877. His father,
Peter E. Reiter, also born at Green Springs, is a descendant from the old
De Ruyter family of Knickerbocker fame in New York, distinguished as soldiers,
jurists and barristers. Mr. De Reiter's mother in maiden life was
Harriet Close, a native of Pennsylvania, of Pennsylvania Dutch descent,
and comes of a family prominent in commercial and financial affairs of
the Keystone state. Her father was a capitalist, owning immense tracts
of land, and a pioneer settler of Ohio. Her brother, Daniel Close,
was a graduate from the Heidleburg University, Germany, a noted preacher
and president of the Reformed church in Ohio. Both parents of the
subject still live on the old homestead near Tiffin, Ohio.
E. De Witt Reiter began his education in the
district school, and at the age of fourteen began to teach. He taught
for three years, during which time he attended at intervals the normal
school at Valparaiso, Indiana, also taking the scientific course there.
Later he took an elective course at Tiffin, Ohio, reading law at the same
time. In 1899 he came to Davenport and resumed the study of law under
H. A. P. Myers, being admitted to practice May 19, 1900. He opened
an office June 1st of the same year. An ardent Republican in politics,
he has done some campaign speaking, but disclaims any political aspirations.
He is a prominent and active man in fraternity circles, being senior deacon
of Accacia Lodge, No. 58, A. F. & A. M.; a member of the Maccabees,
the Royal Highlanders and of the Fraternal Order of America.
Mr. Reiter has one brother, Burton L., born
at Tiffin, Ohio, and now a student at Heidelburg University.
At Bloomville, Ohio, August 15, 1899, Mr.
Reiter was married to Marion Fry, daughter of John W. and Martha (Lane)
Fry, both of whom are now living in Lincoln county. Mr. Fry was born
in Seneca county, Ohio, and was an extensive farmer and land owner in that
state. He was also a contractor and builder, came to California in
1850 and built the famous Palace hotel in San Francisco. His wife
is a native of California.
Mrs. Reiter has five brothers: John, William,
Arthur, Cecil and David, all living with their parents; and two sisters:
Grace, wife of William Colman, a Lincoln county farmer; and Rhoda, a high
school student of Davenport.
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