On 1 June 1870 Benjamin F. Rittenhouse was a 64 year old Clerk in the Treasury Department who had been born in Pennsylvania. His real estate was valued at $20,000 and personal estate at $1,000. He lived with Henrietta W., 53, David, 24, James D., 24, James H., 19, Helen M., 18, Charles E., 17 and his widowed eldest daughter, Elizabeth Gurley, 40. ®11382 Benjamin and Henrietta lived in Georgetown, Washington, District of Columbia on the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 US Census.
Benjamin F. Rittenhouse and his brother Charles E. Rittenhouse were partners with Hugh B. Sweeney and Hamilton G. Fant in the firm of Sweeney, Rittenhouse and Fant, 350 -352 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington and the Bank of Commerce located in 1856 in Georgetown, Washington, District of Columbia. They lent money to Territorial Delegate Henry M. Rice of St. Paul who purchased the land that was to become Bayfield, Wisconsin from Vincent Roy for $700. On 24 March 1856 the platting of what would become the City of Bayfield commenced, and the Avenues named and streets numbered. Washington was then the main commercial street, and the other avenues then existent were named Rittenhouse, Sweeny, Fant and Rice. None of these men ever lived in Bayfield, and only Henry Rice and Charles Rittenhouse are known to have visited. According to newspaper accounts, Fant Avenue went by that name to at least 1916, and since has been known as Manypenny.
“The First Presbyterian Church, Bayfield, Wisconsin. In the month of August 1858 an agreement was made to erect a house of worship. It was deemed best not to elect a Board of Trustees to take charge of building of this house.....A copy of the agreement and specifications is preserved. The house is to be finished at the first of July 1859. The size is 30 ft X 45 ft and a lecture room in the basement 30 ft X 20 ft. The house stands on lot 2nd block 75 on Broad Street, fronting the East. This lot was secured to the church by the donation of b f Rittenhouse, Esq. Georgetown, D.C. He is a Presbyterian and one of the proprietors of the town. This gentleman by his personal efforts has secured about one thousand dollars to aid in the erection of this house. Through the personal efforts of the present missionary a few hundred dollars have been secured.Nearly one thousand dollars have already been paid out on the building. The church is only about one hundred dollars now in arrears. God has wonderfully smiled upon the effort of a feeble church to build Him a house. Prayer has been answered in its erection. A profound gratitude is manifested to God for this favor.” Taken from the First Record Book of Bayfield Presbyterian Church 1858-1861