Christopher Rittenhouse was born on the farm of his father in Norriton Township in 1806. He had a limited education while growing up. At the beginning of his career, Rittenhouse was a wheelwright and a coach maker in Jeffersonville and then moved to Roxborough where he was employed as such for eight years. He married Catharine Markle in 1835. A year later, he moved to Norristown and began the manufacture of threshing machines and winnowing machines under the name of C. Rittenhouse and Sons. In 1861, his business was doing so well he erected a large set of shops in town. The business was located at the intersection of Main & Arch Streets. He was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Norristown and died in 1896.

Location: V-23-26