When Sophia Mercy Ruswinkle was born on 26 February 1882, in Riga Township, Lenawee, Michigan, United States, her father, Christoph Heinrich Ruswinkle, was 45 and her mother, Maria Elenora Freund, was 42. She married Charles Henry Rittner on 18 April 1906, in Riga, Lenawee, Michigan, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 8 daughters. She lived in Summerfield Township, Monroe, Michigan, United States in 1920 and Milan Township, Monroe, Michigan, United States in 1930. She died on 21 November 1969, in Milan, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States, at the age of 87, and was buried in Milan, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States.