The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-01-27
WILLIAM v. RITTER
IS CALLED BEYOND
PRESIDENT OF SALT LAKE BANK
AND PIONEER OF UTAH ENDS
LONG USEFUL CAREER
One Of Great lntermountain FInancIer,
Railroad Builder and Progressive
Citizen Answer Call at
Age OF Eighty-three

age OF Eiqnty-tnrce
Salt Lake-William Wollerton Ritter
Is years OF age, president of the Des
eret Savings bank and vice president
of the Desert National bank, died a
the l.. d. S. hospital at Salt Lake, a
sos o'clock Tuesday morning, follow
Ing a severe Illness of almost three
months. Death was due to a compli
cation of diseases resulting from ole
age.
His life was closely interviewer witt
the early history of Utah and It's In
versatile in his career TO a great de.
gree and was by turns, soldier, pioneer
construction engineer, merchant, inves
tor and banker
He was one of the founders and
owners of Ritter Brothers Drug Com
pany with branches in Utah and Ida.
no. He was at various times vice
president of the Ogden Savings bank,
the First National bank Of Rexburg,
Ida. the Oregon Lumber company, the
Utah Hotel company and director In
many other corporations.
He was born In Chester county,
Pennsylvania, on September 4, 1888
He came to Utah with his parents at
8 years of age, in the second pioneer
<1ar xrhi
September, 1917. He was educated In
the public schools and the University
OF Deseret, and was said to have been
the only surviving student of that In
stitution at the time OF his death.
He served as a cavalryman in militia
expeditions against the Indians in 1888
He went on two missions to Europe
spending most of his time In Germany
and Switzerland. He was twice speak.
or of the Utah house of representatives
He served in the Utah territorial leg.
islature from 1886 to 1888.
He was one of the founders of tho
present streetcar system and one time
general superintendent Of the Utah di
vision of the Union Pacific railway
He was q director Of what was then
known as the Rocky Mountain Bell
Telephone company. He was a mem
Der of the Salt Lake City council fol
eight years.
Mr.. Ritter ives one Of the builders OF
the Salt Lake & Western railway; the
Utah & Nevada railroad and the road
to Stockton and Tooee.l He founded
and constructed the Garfield Bench
and Amusement company in 1885.
The Union Pacific folders still curry
small town named In his honor II
was originally the site OF postoffict
erected for his construction camp. The
Utah & Nevada roadbed Is still used
as part Of the Salt Lake Route track
He was chairman OF the board of re
gents of the University of Utah at the
time OF his death.
His first marriage took place in New
York March, 1871. when he was welded
to Miss Susan Denton. Her death oc.
cured In 1880. He was married in Salt
Lake in April 1888, to Miss Priscills
Jennings. There We're three children
Of the first marriage and six from thu
second.
He Is survived by his widow, Mrs
Priscilla Jennings Ritter. and the fol
lowing children: William d. Ritter, az
sistant attorney general at Washing
ton, D. c.; Levi ]. Ritter, Mrs. SusaK
r. Wells, Mrs Maud r. Cannon, Mrs
May Garm and Miss Glare ]. Ritter
He is also survived by the following
brothers and sister: John Ritter OF
Butte, Mont; b. r. Ritter Of Logan.
Joseph Ritter and Mrs. Seymour
Young of Salt Lake. He resided al
$40 East First South street.
Mr.. Ritter was an active worker Ia
the Mormon church and president Oh
the Utah division of the archaeological
society. He was also one of the CHIEF
financial advisors of the church foI
many years.