A teacher, reporter, editor, salesman and public servant, Orson N. Ritzmen led an active life until very shortly before his death.
A Berks Co. native, he taught school for four terms in Upper Tulpelhocken. Then in 1909 became an instructor at the Ovens School in Pottsville, where he remained for two years.
Orson's next 10 years were spent as a newspaperman. In 1917, at the start of the Great War he became a member of Company M, Pennsylvania Reserves. Throughout the war he toured Berks Co. as one of the war's "four minute" speakers, delivering 146 wartime addresses.
While still Registrar, Orson became Secretary for the William S. Rhode Co. of Kutztown. When the organization began publication of a weekly Democratic newspaper, "Public Service," he became its Editor.
An active party member, in 1924 Orson was sent as a Pennsylvania delegate to the Democratic National Convention in New York City. There, in the longest battle for the party's presidential nomination, he loyally supported William Gibbs McAdoo for the first 100 ballots.
In the autumn of that year he left his longtime residence on Summit Ave. in Reading for a home in Kutztown. Soon thereafter he began working in radio.
During the 1930s, he served as Executive Secretary for the Pennsylvania Scenic and Historic Commission. "Pennsylvania Has Everything!" was one of the publications issued during his tenure.
Though retired, he was ever active, and had several part-time careers. At different times he sold time for a West Chester radio station, was a security guard at the Chester Co. Courthouse, represented a line of office products and wrote numerous freelance newspaper articles.
In the fall of 1973, following his wife's death, Orson moved to his daughter's home in North Carolina. He remained there until his own death a few months later. He is buried near Charlotte.
Following World War I, he was elected Berks Co. Registrar of Wills in 1919, serving four years.
Eventually he moved to Kittanning, acquiring the failing local American Automobile Association (AAA) club. Within two years he had boosted membership from 56 to over 5,000. In 1946 he married Carol Reagan Mitchell. He and his new family first resided on Arch St. and then later in the Kittanning Highlands. Orson retired in the late 1950s and moved to West Chester in 1961.
An ardent walker he prided himself on the number of miles he walked each day, tallying every step with a pedometer. He took great pride in his reputation as Chester Co.'s unofficial weatherman. His monthly reports offered "Daily Local News" readers a detailed forecast for the coming month. His forecasts were unerringly accurate.
He had a lifelong interest in history, a passion he passed along to his step-grandson.
2. Levi Wagner Ritzman b. 29 Mar 1854, Jefferson Township, PA, Occupation: Merchant, m. Kate S. Burkhart. Levi died ? ___ 1920. Levi Ritzman was a clerk for S.W. Lesher in Shaefferstown for two years, then for S.B. Kantner in Strausstown until Levi bought the establishment in 1878. He still owned the business in 1909. (from "Historical & Biographical Annals of Berks County," Morton L. Montgomery, 1909) Levi was a faithful Democrat. At times he served as auditor of his township, a school director, and as tax assessor. Levi belonged to many fraternal organizations and considered himself a Lutheran. Four of his children (birth order unknown) died in infancy.
3. Kate S. Burkhart b. CIR 1860, d. ? ___ 1925. Kate Ritzman is known to have moved into her daughter's home in Reading following Levi's death.
4. Jacob Ritzman b. 4 Feb 1825, Upper Tulpehocken, Berks Co., PA, m. Sarah Wagner. Jacob died 14 Nov 1873, Buried: Zion's Blue Mountain Christian Church. Jacob Ritzman is buried next to his wife, Sarah.
5. Sarah Wagner b. 18 May 1823, d. 1 Oct 1889, Buried: Zion's Blue Mountain Christian Church.
8. Jacob Ritzman b. CIR 1790, Occupation: Farmer, m. Barbara Shaeffer. Jacob died ? ___ 1850, Rehrersburg, Berks Co., PA.
9. Barbara Shaeffer b. CIR 1780, d. ? ___ 1840.
16. Michael Ritzman b. CIR 1760, Occupation: Farmer / Business, d. ? ___ 1820, Rehrersburg, Berks Co., PA. Michael Ritzman was a farmer and businessman of Bernville. He resided in Rehresburg. Michael farmed and operated a distillery on his property. It is believed he died in Rehrersburg.