According to an article in The Watchman and Southron, Russian immigrant Joseph Ryttenberg (1820-1896) and his sons, Marcus G. Ryttenberg (1846-1906), Harry Ryttenberg (1843-1901), and Abe Ryttenberg (1861-1927), ran an agricultural and mercantile operation at Rose Hill Plantation in Sumter County, South Carolina (not to be confused with Rose Hill Plantation in Union County, South Carolina). The article states, “In addition to their business of general merchandise (J. Ryttenberg & Sons) they are largely interested in planting, owning and farming the finest plantation in the county, known as the Rose Hill Plantation, containing 2,800 acres of the best cotton land, where they raise about 500 bales of cotton a year, besides other produce. On this plantation they also conduct a mercantile business and have a steam gin and grist mill.”1
1 “Some of Sumter’s Successful Sons.” The Watchman and Southron, November 20, 1889.