RITTENHOUSE CRISS was born September 17, 1817. He was a son of Jacob Criss, whose father, John Criss, emigrated from Germany and settled on a tract of land containing 349 acres called "Hermitage," situated on Harmon's creek, in Washington Co., Penn., at what is now Hanlin Station, which became his permanent home. He had a family of six sons: William, Jacob, Henry, John, Nicholas, and George, also a daughter Sarah, who became the wife of Samuel Wright. The father of these passed away at an advanced age. He was one of the first pioneers, and a highly respected citizen. He was buried in the Bethel M. E. Churchyard. Jacob Criss, son of John, was born May 15, 1778, and on November 25, 1799, was married to Hannah Rittenhouse, who was born April 6, 1781. Thirteen children were born to this union, all of whom (except one) grew to manhood and womanhood and married. Eight of these children were sons and five daughters. After his marriage Mr. Criss bought and settled on a part of the home farm which his father had owned. This farm is now owned by the heirs of his son, Rittenhouse Criss. He died in 1845 aged about sixty-eight years, and was buried beside his wife in the Bethel graveyard. Of the thirteen children of Jacob Criss, but one is living at the date of this writing, February, 1893, the youngest son, Mr. Jacob Criss, of Colliers, W. Va., aged about seventy-three. Eliza J. Criss, widow of Rittenhouse Criss, was born in Brooke county, W. Va., August 10, 1835. She was a daughter of Robert Stewart, whose father, Samuel Stewart, emigrated from Scotland and located on Robison's run, Washington Co., Penn., and there was united in marriage to Elizabeth McCarty, a lady of Irish ancestry. Of the children born to them six lived to maturity, namely: Charles, George, John, Robert, Sarah and Mary, all now deceased, leaving numerous descendants scattered through different parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Robert Stewart was born September 10, 1810, and received his education in the common schools which he improved by a course of general reading. He was married to Miss Margaret Wilson, a resident of Washington county, born in November, 1812. Of the eight children born to them, seven are living, Mrs. Criss being the eldest. Robert Stewart died in September, 1876, his wife in 1855.

Text taken from page 229 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed April 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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