William Rittenhouse

William Rittenhouse (1644-1708) was born in Germany with the name Wilhelm Rittenhausen. William was a papermaking apprentice in Germany where he worked at a mill in the city of Mülheim. Later he learned the Dutch ways of papermaking while living with his brother in Holland before emigrating to the United States in 1688. Two years later he founded the first paper mill to be established in the United States, which became the family business for the next century. After founding the Rittenhouse Mill he was also the first minister of the Germantown Mennonite Meetinghouse, which he continued to preach until his death in 1708. His legacy continued to his descendant David Rittenhouse, who had the Rittenhouse name immortalized in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Notes and references

"William Rittenhouse." Historic Germantown. Independence Hall Association. 12 Dec 2007 <http://www.ushistory.org/germantown/people/rittenhouse.htm>.

"William Rittenhouse." Paper Industry Hall of Fame. Paper Industry Hall of Fame. 12 Dec 2007 <http://www.paperhall.org/inductees/bios/1996/william_rittenhouse.php>.