I apologize to Rosina and to anybody who is following my blog for my procrastination in continuing Rosina's story. In the process of writing Part 1, I realized, once again, how many questions there are about Rosina's life, and especially about her early life. I became determined to learn something more and spent my time researching her online. I've even written to the Tazewell County (IL) Genealogical Society for help in researching her life in Tazewell County. Alas, I have not learned anything new yet. So, first, here in Part 2, I'm going to list the "facts" I "know" about Rosina and where I learned about them.
1. The first I heard about Rosina was from my Great Aunt Edna. Edna lived with her Grandmother Rosina in 1914 and 1915 when she was a freshman and sophomore in high school (since the little town her family lived in didn't have a school past ninth grade). Aunt Edna did not know (or remember) Rosina's maiden name, but she said that "Rosina. . . came to New York City from Germany when she was 20 yrs. old. She worked as a maid."
2. Next I found the record of the marriage of "Rosa Cramer" to William Rittershouse in Tazewell County, Illinois on October 18, 1857. (Note: No ages were given in the record.)
3. In the 1860 census, William and Rosina are listed as living in Tremont Township, Tazewell County, Illinois. Rosina's age is given as 26 which would mean she was born about 1834.
4. Although I'm sure the Ritterhouses were living in Tazewell County in 1870, I have not been able to find them in the 1870 federal census. So, the next time Rosina appears in the census is 1880. By this time, she is married to Joseph Vandorn. The record of the marriage of "Rosa Ritterhouse" (or maybe Rittenhouse) and Joseph Vandorn is available at the Tazewell County Court Records. They were married on November 13, 1877. The Elm Grove Township, Tazewell County, Illinois, 1880 census lists "Rosina Vandorn" as being 45 years old which would mean she was born about 1835.
5.
In the probate records, Rosina was referred to and signed her name as "Rosa Ritterhouse" (or sometimes Rittershouse). Later, for the court papers after her marriage to Joseph VanDorn, she was referred to as either Rosa Van Dorn or Rosina Van Dorn.
6. Marshall County, Kansas, land records show that "Rosina Van Dorn" bought land in October 1890, and that she sold that land in March 1898.
7. In the 1900 census, Rosina is listed as "Clara Ritterhouse" with her age at 70, her year of birth as 1830 and her place of birth "unknown". Then, in the 1905 Kansas census, she is recorded as "Rosina Van Dorn" at the age of 72. The 1910 census calls her "Racina Ritterhouse". It lists her age at 77 and states that she had 9 children, 8 of whom are still living. The 1915 Kansas census is really confused, calling her "Vandorn Ritterhouse" and listing her age as 78.
8. According to the 1920 federal census, "Rose Riterhouse" [sic] immigrated in 1852 and received her naturalized citizenship in 1860. And the 1925 Kansas census said "Rosina Vandorn" was 92 years old.
9. Her Colorado death certificate states her name as "Rozena Van Dorn" which is also how it appears on her tombstone. Her daughter Anna gave the information that's on the death certificate. Rosina was living with Anna at 1011 N. Corona, Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the time of her death. The house still stands. Her birthdate is given as April 8th, 1931 on the death certificate, but they mean 1831. Her death date is given as January 31st, 1931. And it gives her age as 99 years, 9 months and 23 days. She died of bronchial pneumonia, after a six day illness. Anna gave her birthplace as "Germany". She gave the name of Rosina's father as "______ Cramer" but didn't know the maiden name of her mother. Rosina is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs.
That's the "facts" as I know them. Anyone have anything else to add to the facts or any Rosina stories to tell?
