Recently I found a photograph online of Fred Ritterhouse that reminded me of a picture I had of his brother, Charles. They're a little older than in the tintypes discussed previously, but are still fairly young men. I'd judge they are in their twenties when these two photos were taken. My guess is that they were taken between 1890 and 1895, probably after they moved to northern Kansas from Illinois, which was around 1890.
Both young men are dressed in fairly typical late Victorian clothing. In this era, three-piece suits ("ditto suits") consisting of a sack coat with matching waistcoat/vest and trousers were worn, as were matching coat and waistcoat with contrasting trousers. The centerpiece of men's dress at that time was the waistcoat or vest. According to one source I read, it was typical for men to own several vests to change the look of their main suit. These vests usually had collars or lapels and were single-breasted, which is the style worn by both Charles and Fred. Also according to the above-mentioned online source: "In the Victorian era, daily dress was much more formal than it is today. Unless they were a workman or laborer, every gentleman was expected to wear a coat, vest, and hat. To walk around in shirtsleeves without vest or coat would be the modern-day equivalent of traipsing about in one’s underwear. Very unseemly, and most ungentlemanly!" In these two pictures, Fred is looking particularly dapper!
Both men are also wearing the most basic accessory for every Victorian gentleman which was the cravat. Charles' ensemble also includes the nearly universal pocket watch and fob, which were prominently displayed hanging from the front vest pockets. Their shoes are probably the square-toed style of the turn of the century. Both men sport the short hair cuts of the times and the ubiquitous moustache.
I would guess these pictures were taken several years apart since the brothers look to be a similar age. Charles was eight years older than Fred, so his picture was most likely taken earlier in the decade, probably before his marriage in 1893. Fred's may have been taken in the latter half of the decade, sometime before his marriage in 1898.
The stylin' brothers look very similar and one can certainly tell they are related.
I have been looking over your site and I am quite amazed :) The Fred Ritterhouse picture above I believe is my great great great grandfather. My great great great grandmother was Rosena Kramer the one you have posted on another blog. :) Thanks for all this information!
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