My Genealogy Hound

THEODORE GROVE TRITT. The earliest American ancestor of the Tritt family is believed to have come from Spain, but there is nothing at hand, either in tradition or the records, regarding the date at which he came. Peter Tritt, the founder of the family in Cumberland county, came from Lancaster county about the year 1775. He settled in the part of West Pennsboro township that is now included within the bounds of Penn township and there carried on the business of wagonmaking to the end of his active career. He married Elizabeth Le Fever, whose grandparents were of French nationality and came to America in 1710. They landed at Boston and settled at Newburgh, N. Y., and subsequently came from there to Lancaster county, Pa. Elizabeth (Le Fever) Tritt was born Dec. 8, 1751. and died Feb. 9, 1835. Peter Tritt died in February, 1839. and the following notice of his death appeared in the Carlisle newspaper at the time:

“Died on Sunday Feb. 24, 1839, at the advanced age of eighty-four years, Mr. Peter Tritt, Sen., of West Pennsboro township. The deceased was a soldier of the Revolution, having served his country faithfully in that memorable struggle, both as an enlisted soldier and as a militia man. He was honored and respected by all who knew him as an honest and industrious man and exemplary citizen. Shortly before his death he made a clear deed of a farm to each of his sons (eight in number), the earnings of a long life of industry and frugality.”

Peter and Elizabeth (LeFever) Tritt had the following children: Barbara, born May 10, 1778, died young; Jacob, born Jan. 18, 1780, died Dec. 17, 1856; Peter, born Jan. 28, 1782, died Jan. 24, 1860; Elizabeth, born Jan. 18, 1784, died Oct. 17, 1831; Joseph, born Jan. 16, 1787, died May 30, 1873; Barbara, born March 19, 1789, died young; George, born Nov. 3, 1791, died Oct. 4, 1882; Catharine, born July 5, 1794, died Jan. 9, 1871; Christian, born July 25, 1796, died Jan. 10, 1871; Anne, born Nov. 21, 1798, died Jan. 1, 1837; John, born Jan. 18, 1801, died in September, 1884; Samuel, born Sept. 14, 1803, died Feb. 22, 1873; and William, born May 26, 1807, died Feb. 7, 1855.

Christian Tritt, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Le Fever) Tritt, married Lydia Stough, and by her had six sons and six daughters. The sons were Peter N., Jacob Miller, John S., David P., Samuel A. and Christian; and the daughters were, Elizabeth, Catharine. Ann, Tabitha, Agnes and Jennie.

Samuel A. Tritt, son of Christian and Lydia (Stough) Tritt, was born Aug. 5, 1834, in Dickinson (now Penn) township, where he grew to manhood and always lived. He married Elizabeth Bishop, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Goodhart) Bishop. He died April 19, 1882, and his remains are buried in the graveyard of the Lutheran Church at Centerville. He was a farmer by occupation and owned a fine farm, which descended to him from his father and which is still in the possession of his estate. He was a progressive, public-spirited citizen, took a deep interest in educational matters and attended the Lutheran Church.

Samuel A. and Elizabeth (Bishop) Tritt had children as follows: Theodore Grove, Elder L., John B., James, Ira, Fannie E., Ida Myrtle and Josephine. Elder L. is in the employ of an electric Railway company in St. Louis, Mo.; John B. is engaged at farming on the homestead; James Ira is a stenographer and typewriter for the United States government with the Midvale Steel Company; Fannie E. is the wife of Brady Ernst, of Carlisle; Ida Myrtle is a stenographer, and at present is auditor of the New York and Queen’s County Railway, of Long Island, N. Y., and Josephine is a trained nurse and at present employed in Philadelphia.

T. Grove Tritt, the oldest child of Samuel A. and Elizabeth (Bishop) Tritt, and the special subject of this sketch, was born in Dickinson (now Penn) township, on Dec. 3, 1858. He was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools of his native district until he reached his eighteenth year when he began teaching. He taught in the public schools until in May, 1887, when he was elected to the position of bookkeeper with the Carlisle Manufacturing Company and removed to Carlisle. He continued with, the Carlisle Manufacturing Company until in September, 1890, when he became superintendent of the Carlisle Chain Works, which position he held until December, 1894, when he resigned it to accept that of treasurer to the Carlisle Shoe Company, which he has held ever since. The Carlisle Shoe Company is Carlisle’s oldest shoe manufacturing enterprise, being the successor of G. W. Neidich & Co. Under its present organization it is capitalized at $125,000, and affords employment for 250 people. The Company manufactures women’s, misses’ and children’s shoes and sells all over the United States. It is in a flourishing condition and each year shows a steady increase in the volume of business. At present its officers are as follows: George M. Bosler, president; Harry G. Beetem, vice-president; J. Kirk Bosler, secretary; T. Grove Tritt, treasurer, and E. J. Wilks, superintendent. Mr. Tritt is a stockholder and director in the Carlisle Shoe Company; a stockholder and director in the Carlisle Paper Box Company and also its treasurer. He retains his interest in the public schools and has for a number of years been a member of the Carlisle school board and at this writing is treasurer to that body. Fraternally he belongs to Lodge No. 91, I. O. O. F., and is a worthy citizen as well as an influential business factor in the community.

In 1881 Mr. Tritt was married to Miss Clara Coover, of Penn township, and their union has been blessed with the following children: Maggie D., born Sept. 24, 1884; and Helen, born April 30, 1894. They reside in a pleasant home at No. 134 South Pitt street, are regular attendants at the Second Presbyterian Church and much esteemed by all who know them.