1850 Joseph Rittner (age 58, born in Pennsylvania) lived in Reading North West Ward, Berks County, Pennsylvania, in a household with Catharine Rittner (age 56), Barbara Rittner (age 27), Sarah Rittner (age 24), Mary A Rittner (age 21), Joseph Rittner (age 17), and Charles Rittner (age 13). Joseph Rittner's occupation was weaver, Yarn, thread, and fabric mills. [1]
1885 An obituary for Mrs. Barbara Smith reports [2]:
Mrs. Barbara Smith, wife of Joseph T. Smith, No 313 North Ninth street, died at half past eight o'clock yeaterday morning, of apoplexy of the heart. The husband and six children survive.
1891 An obituary for Joseph Smith reports [3]:
Joseph A. Smith died at 5 a.m, at his home, 318 North 9th st., in his 65th year. He had been ill with typhoid pneumonia but had recovered partly and ventured out on Monday, when he had a relapse which ended in his death. Mr. Smith was born in Adams county and was a bricklayer. When a young man he removed to this city and was married to a daughter of the late Jacob Ritner, and located in Phila., returning to Reading after an absence of 7 years. Mr. Smith was many years engaged in contract work and built squares of buildings. He did considerable work for Rehr & Fricker and had just completed a row of houses for the Provident building association, on North 11th st. Deceased was a very successful man in his business and was an excellent builder, doing the brick work for St. Joseph's hospital and numerous other large buildings. For a number of years he was assisted by his sons, who will continue the business. Mr. Smith was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, St. Peter's and St. Paul's society and the Bricklayer's union. Six children survive - Mrs. George Ribble, Francis J., Charles A., John A., Vincent A., and William A., Smith - together with brothers and sisters. …
[1] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[2] Newspaper, Reading Times January 7, 1885.
[3] Newspaper, Reading Eagle August 6, 1891.