The Shults, or as often spelled Shultz, family were settlers of the town of Palatine, Montgomery county, New York. The first of the family of record is John H. Shults, who married Marie Saltzman.
(II) Levis S., son of John H. and Marie (Saltzman) Shults, married Harriet Guy.
(III) Byron G., son of Levis S. and Harriet (Guy) Shults, was born in the town of Palatine, September 16, 1832. His parents removed to Johnstown when he was an infant. He was educated in the city schools, and became one of the prominent business men of that city. He was a glove manufacturer, and interested in other of Johnstown's activities. He was a director of the Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville railroad, and one of the organizers of the company. He married (first) June 30, 1855, Gertrude C., daughter of Edward Walker, of Palatine. She died May 1, 1870. He married (second) May 7, 1873, Mary, daughter of George Henry.
(IV) Charles S., son of Byron G. and Gertrude C. (Walker) Shults, was born in Johnstown, New York, December 26, 1858, died October, 1884. He was educated in the public schools, completing his studies at the Johnstown Academy. He began his business career as a clerk in the store of John C. Holmes, where he was employed several years. He was then admitted to the firm of Wade, Shults & Company, glove manufacturers, where he continued until his death. He was a good business man and highly regarded by his associates and acquaintances. He was a Democrat in politics, a member of the Episcopal church, and a charter member of the Lotus Club. He married Esther Ricketts, who survives her husband, and resides in Johnstown (see Ricketts III). They had one child, Ethel, married Frank L. Rogers.
(The Ricketts Line)
The Ricketts family are of English ancestry. Thomas Ricketts, father of the founder of the Johnstown family, had children: George, Jonathan, David, Edmund, Harriet Eliza and Amelia.
(II) Jonathan, son of Thomas and Melinda Ricketts, was born in the village of Yeovel, Somersetshire, England, February 11, 1819. He came to the United States in 1837, and settled at Aurora, Erie county, New York, where he was employed for a year. In 1838 he removed to Rochester, New York, and in 1839 settled permanently in Johnstown, New York, where he was employed in the glove factories for two years. In 1841 he embarked in the manufacture of gloves under the firm name of Jonathan Ricketts, continuing in successful business until 1889, when he closed out and retired. He lived to enjoy the fruits of his industry for ten years, dying August 24, 1899. It is claimed that he was the first to dress sheep skins in the county, and employ them in the glove business, as early as 1841, these skins having been supplied by foreign tanners who controlled the market. He was a director of the Johnstown, Gloversville and Kingsboro Horse Railroad Company after it passed under the control of the Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville Railroad Company, December 15, 1890. He was also a director of the People's Bank of Johnstown. He was a Democrat in politics, and was president of the village corporation. He was a member of the vestry of St. John's Episcopal Church, and interested in the charitable work of the church. He was a good citizen and always arrayed with the progressive, enterprising element of the village. He married, November 14, 1847, Mary, daughter of James and Isabella (McClellan) Pierson, and granddaughter of James and Mary (Veghte) Pierson. Isabella McClellan was a daughter of Donald and Isabella McClellan. Children:
- Mary Elizabeth, born February, 13, 1848; married William Van Voast, May 25, 1870; children:
- William, born July 17, 1871, died July 10, 1882;
- Herbert, born May 1, 1874, married Luella Anibel, and has
- William Herbert, born May 28, 1906, and
- Maria Frances, born August 15, 1909;
- Mary, born April 1, 1876, died November, 1878;
- James, born November 10, 1880;
- Katherine Adams, born January 13, 1883;
- Isabella, born April 24, 1886.
- Isabella, born January 27, 1850; married Horace Greeley, of Syracuse, New York; children:
- Earl, married Bertha Hanson, and has a daughter Helen May;
- Florence, married Daniel Cheney.
- George, born April 24, 1852, deceased; married Celia Steele; children: Jonathan, Edmund, Nannie, Josephine.
- Emma, born April 9, 1854; married Willis E. Diefendorf.
- Katherine, born July 11, 1857.
- Esther, see forward.
- James Pierson, born October 13, 1862, deceased.
(III) Esther, daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Pierson) Ricketts, was born in Johnstown, New York, December 26, 1859. She married Charles S. Shults (see Shults IV), and has a daughter Ethel, married Frank L. Rogers.