Jun 17

Tombstone Tuesday–Pauline Grabner Bausser Andress Bollenbacher

Pauline Bausser, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Pauline Bausser, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Pauline Bausser, located in row one of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

PAULINE BAUSSER
1856-1929

Last week I featured the tombstone of Marie Bausser (1887-1905), daughter of Pauline and John Bausser. These three Baussers are buried in Zion’s cemetery, but only Pauline’s death and burial were recorded in Zion’s records.

Although her tombstone simply reads Pauline Bausser, Pauline’s surname was actually Bollenbacher when she passed away, not Bausser. The church records show her name as Pauline Grabner Bausser Andress Bollenbacher at the time of her death.

Who was Pauline Bausser, aka Pauline Grabner Bausser Andress Bollenbacher? This is Pauline’s story. [1]

Pauline was born just a few miles from Chatt. She was born Pauline Grabner on 18 December 1854 in Liberty Township, the daughter of John and Magdalene “Lena” (Maurer) Grabner. Pauline’s parents were both born in Germany and they immigrated in 1847. The Grabners lived in Section 11 of Liberty Township, about 1 ½ miles east of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Liberty Township. They attended church at St. Paul Lutheran and Pauline was baptized there. [2]

Pauline Grabner married John Bausser on 22 March 1877 in Auglaize County, Ohio. [3] In 1880 John and Pauline were living near Wapakoneta, in Pusheta Township, Auglaize County, Ohio. John was enumerated as age 33, born in Württemberg, and Pauline was 25, born in Ohio. They had one child at that time, their son Edward, who was six months old. [4]

During their marriage John and Pauline had four children:
Johann “Edward” (1879- ?) married Belle Rockwood
Maggie L. (c1886-1992) married Gust W. Bollenbacher
Marie (1887-1905)
William “Willie” (1891-1956) married Minnie Foor

The John Bausser family moved to the Chattanooga area by 1887. They may have lived across the state line in Adams County, Indiana. They first attended St. Paul Lutheran Church in Liberty Township, Pauline’s home church, and later attended Zion Lutheran in Chatt. Daughter Marie was baptized (in 1887) and confirmed (in 1900)  at St. Paul Liberty. Two of their children were confirmed at Zion, Johann Edward in 1893 and Margaretha in 1896.

Pauline’s husband John died 11 April 1898, according to his tombstone in Zion Chatt’s cemetery. His tombstone also indicates that he was the husband of Polly Bausser.

Pauline, with four young children to care for and support, did not stay single long. According to Zion’s records Pauline Bausser married William Andress on 27 August 1899. Pauline was 45 and William was 46 at the time of their marriage. The record indicates that Pauline was from Adams County, Indiana, which is only a mile from Chattanooga. [5]

In 1900 William and Pauline “Andrews” were living in Liberty Township with their children from their first marriages. The Andress/Andrews children: Freddie, 22; David, 15; Frona, 13, and Clara, 9. The Bausser children: Edward, 20; Maggie, 16; Mary 14; and Willie, 9. Pauline’s four children were listed as William’s step-children. William was a tile maker at that time. [6]

The Andress family moved within the next ten years and in 1910 they were living on Celina-Mendon Pike, near Celina. William was 56 and Pauline 55. They had been married for ten years and the census indicates it was the second marriage for both. Pauline had given birth to four children and three were still living. William was a farmer. [7]

William Andress died sometime between 1910 and 1920 and in 1920 Pauline, at age 65, was a widow once again. In 1920 Pauline “Andrews” was living in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with her son William Bausser and daughter-in-law Minnie. Pauline was enumerated as “mother” and she was a widow. Her son William was a plumber at a knitting mill. [8]

Pauline’s only living daughter Maggie Bausser still resided near Chattanooga. She had married August “Gust” W. Bollenbacher on 16 March 1902 in Mercer County. [9] Gust W. Bollenbacher was the son of Jacob Bollenbacher (1848-1929), a German immigrant who lived across the state line in Adams County, Indiana. Jacob Bollenbacher was the son of Abraham and Kate (Kuhn) Bollenbacher [10] and was married to Margaret Huffman. [11]

Jacob’s wife, Margaret (Huffman) Bollenbacher, died 7 July 1921. [12] Perhaps Jacob lived with his son Gust and daughter-in-law Maggie after Margaret’s death. Perhaps that was when the widowed in-laws Jacob Bollenbacher and Pauline Bausser Andress formed a relationship and decided to get married.

Pauline Grabner Bausser Andress married Jacob Bollenbacher on 16 December 1926 in Mercer County. He was 78 years of age and she was 74. Their marriage record included a lot of valuable genealogical information: that Jacob had been married once and Pauline had been married twice; that Jacob was born in Germany and Pauline in Liberty Township, Mercer County; that Jacob was the son of Abraham and Kate (Kuhn) Bollenbacher and Pauline was the daughter of John and Laura (Lange) [sic] Grabner; and their birth dates: he on 28 October 1848, she on 8 December 1852. Witnesses to their marriage were their children, who were married to each other, G.W. and Maggie (Bausser) Bollenbacher! [10]

Mercer County marriage record of Jacob Bollenbacher and Polly Andress.

Mercer County marriage record of Jacob Bollenbacher and Polly Andress.

According to Zion Chatt’s records”Pauline Bowser Andres Bollenbacher” died of cancer on 29 December 1928, at the age of 74 years and 12 days. Survivors included two sons and one daughter. Pauline was buried on 1 January 1929 in Zion’s cemetery, in the same row as her daughter Marie, and a just few rows away from her first husband and father of her children, John Bausser. Her tombstone bears the Bausser name and does not mention her other two marriages.

Pauline Bollenbacher's death certificate, FamilySearch.org.

Pauline Bollenbacher’s death certificate, FamilySearch.org.

Jacob Bollenbacher died less than six months later, in late April or early May of 1929. [13] He is buried in Kessler Cemetery, alongside his first wife Margaret (Huffman). They share the same tombstone.

 

[1] Pauline’s surname was spelled several ways in the various records: Graebner, Grabner, and Grapner. In the German alphabet the letters “b” and “p” were often interchanged. For the sake of uniformity I am using the spelling of Grabner in this post.

[2] Familienbuch, St. Paul Liberty Lutheran Church, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. Note: The church record gives her date of birth as 18 December 1852, which differs from the date on some of the other records and her grave marker. Most records indicate she was born on the 8th. The name was spelled Graebner in the early church records.

[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 8 June 2014), John Bausser and Polena Grebner, 11 Mar 1877; citing Auglaize, Ohio, Vol. 4, p. 418; from FHL microfilm 963057.

[4] 1880 U.S. Census, Pusheta, Auglaize County, Ohio, ED 10, p. 478C (stamped), dwelling 50, family 52, John Bowsher; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 June 2014); from FHL film 1254993, from NARA microfilm T9, roll 993.

[5] The surname was spelled Andress as well as Andrews in various records. I am using Andress as the spelling in this post for uniformity.

[6] 1900 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer County, Ohio, ED 85, p. 15B, dwelling 290, family 196, William Andrews; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 June 2014); from FHL microfilm 1241304, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1304.

[7] 1910 U.S. Census, Center, Mercer County, Ohio, ED 109, p. 9B, visited no. 205, family 206, William Andrews; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com) (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 June 2014); from FHL film 1375227, from NARA microfilm T624 Roll 1214.

[8] 1920 U.S. Census, Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, ward 7, ED 64, p. 23B, house 505, dwelling 529, William Bausser; digital images by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 June 2014), from NARA microfilm T625, roll 421.

[9] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994,” index and images, FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org : accessed 15 June 2014), Jacob Bollenbacher in entry for Gust W. Bollenbacher and Maggie L. Bausser, 16 Mar 1902; citing Mercer, Ohio, United States, reference p. 332; FHL microfilm 914957.

[10] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994,” index and images, FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org : accessed 15 June 2014), Jacob Bollenbacher and Polly Grapner Andress, 16 December 1926; citing Mercer, Ohio, United States, Vol. 13: 85; FHL microfilm 002366955. Note: Pauline’s mother was actually Magdaline “Lena” (Maurer), per the church records.

[11] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994,” index and images, FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org : accessed 15 June 2014), Jacob Bollenbaugh and Margaretta Hoffman, 21 February 1878; citing Mercer, Ohio,, Vol. 4:99; FHL microfilm 914956.

[12] “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” index and images, FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org : accessed 15 June 2014), Margaretta Bollenbacher, 7 July 1921; citing Liberty Twp., Mercer, Ohio; from FHL microfilm 1991749.

[13] Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center Obituary Index, 1810s-2013, Ancestry.com.

 

Jun 13

Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Chattanooga, Ohio

A few weeks ago I showed some photos of the old Chattanooga Bank building, as seen on Google Earth.

Chatt Bank/Grocery & Chatt Bar. Google Earth, October 2008 photo.

Former Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Chattanooga, Ohio. Google Earth, October 2008 photo.

Yes, among other businesses typical to a thriving small town in the early 20th Century, Chattanooga also had a bank. The Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Chattanooga, Ohio, was located in a brick building, the second building south of the current Chatt Bar. In the 1920s Semon Egger’s Grocery and mortuary was immediately north of the bank, between the bank and the bar.

Part of Chatt Plat Map, c1920s, showing Chatt Bank.

Chattanooga Plat Map, c1920s, showing Chatt Bank.

The old bank  building later housed Heffner’s Grocery, but I remember when it was Bollenbacher’s Grocery in the 1960s. The brick structure was torn down sometime between 2009 and 2010.

I have some old documents from the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Chattanooga, documents that my grandfather Carl Miller and his family had. Somehow the papers managed to survive all these years and they indicate that Chatt’s bank was in operation in 1917.

My grandfather owned stock in the bank at Chatt, as shown in the certificate below.

Five shares of Capital Stock of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Chattanooga, Ohio, issued to Carl Miller, dated 7 May 1917.

Five shares of Capital Stock of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Chattanooga, Ohio, issued to Carl Miller, dated 7 May 1917.

Stock certificate No. 23 indicates that Carl Miller was the owner of five shares of Capital Stock of the Farmers & Merchants Sate Bank of Chattanooga, Ohio, dated 7 May 1917. Shares were $100 each.

Carl Miller stock certificate, five shares of Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Chattanooga, Ohio, dated 7 May 1917.

Carl Miller stock certificate, five shares of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Chattanooga, Ohio, dated 7 May 1917.

Below is a five month promissory note for $50, dated 1 March 1917, due 1 August 1917, at 6% interest. The note was signed by Clara Miller, Christina Miller, and Jakob Müller, R.R. 1, Willshire, Ohio. Jakob and Christina were Carl’s parents and Clara was Carl’s sister.

The stamp indicates the loan was paid off the end of July.

Promissory note dated 1 March 1917, from the Chattanooga Bank.

Promissory note dated 1 March 1917, from the Chattanooga Bank.

The bank at Chatt closed about 1930.

Jun 10

Tombstone Tuesday–Marie Bausser

Marie Bausser, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

Marie Bausser, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Marie Bausser, located in row 1 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

MARIE BAUSSER
1887-1905

Marie Catharina Bausser was born 29 September of 1887 in Ohio, the daughter of John and Pauline (Grabner/Grapner) Basser.

According to the records of St. Paul Lutheran, Liberty Township, Marie Catharina Bausser was baptized by Rev. Oelkers on 16 October 1887. Her baptismal sponsors were Adam Fender, Heinrich Grabner and Maria Grabner. Marie was confirmed at St. Paul on 3 June 1900.

Sometimes the church records do not seem to give all the information I would like. At least not at first glance. When all the information is not in one particular event entry the other bits of information become very important clues.

Three Baussers are buried at Zion’s cemetery: Marie (1887-1905), Pauline (1856-1929), and John (1847-1898). However, Marie and John’s burials were not recorded in Zion’s records. Pauline’s death and burial was recorded by the minister, but not under the Bausser surname.

The Baussers attended church at St. Paul Liberty Township and Zion Chatt for a period of time and were mentioned a couple times in their church records. Two Bausser children were confirmed at Zion Chatt—Johann Edward in 1893 and Margaretha in 1896. Those records indicate that John was their father. In addition, John Edward Bausser was a baptismal sponsor for Edward Paul Strebel [sic] in 1896 and for Luther Edward Clase in 1899.

John Bausser’s tombstone indicates that he was the husband of Polly, so Pauline Bausser was very likely his wife. John died in 1898 and according to Zion’s records Pauline Bowser married Wilhelm Andres on 27 August 1899. The information fits. A widow with several children remarries.

Armed with that information I located William and “Caroline” Andrews in the 1900 census, living in Liberty Township. Apparently Pauline was called Caroline then, because living in this household, in addition to four Andrews children, were four Bausser children: Edward, 20; Maggie, 16; Mary 14; and Willie, 9. The Bausser children were listed as step-children.

According to the 1900 census, wife and mother Caroline, aka Pauline, had given birth to four children and all four were living. Mary Bausser was age 14 and was born September 1886 in Ohio. Caroline was born December 1854 in Ohio. [1]

 

[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer County, Ohio, ED 85, dwelling 290, house 196, p. 15B, William Andrews; digital images by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 June 2014), from FHL microfilm 1241304, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1304.

Jun 06

Co. E, 89th Indiana Voluntary Infantry Roster

Last week I told about Hallot Bryan’s Civil War service. He served in Company E of the 89th Indiana Volunteer Infantry and died of dysentery on 13 September 1863 in Memphis, Tennessee. Hallot is buried in Memphis National Cemetery.

89th Indiana Infantry Roster.

89th Indiana Infantry Roster.

Company E of the 89th Indiana Infantry was organized at Indianapolis and mustered in 28 August 1862. Most volunteers in Company E were from Jay County, Indiana. Below is the roster of the enlisted men and recruits of Company E, their residence, and some additional information about some of the soldiers.

89th Indiana Infantry Roster.

89th Indiana Infantry Roster.

White, Frederick W; Lancaster, First Sergeant
Hall, Joseph L; New Corydon, Sergeant
Eblin, Joseph; Salamonie, Sergeant
Wright, Aaron W; Salamonie, Sergeant
Jackson, John W; Jay C. H, Sergeant
Peterson, William S; Jay C. H, Corporal (Died 6 February 1865)
Loy, Adam; Salamonie, Corporal (Died at St. Louis, Mo., 6 October 1864)
Stratton, Stephen A; N. Mt. Pleasant, Corporal (Died at Fort Pickering, Tenn., 10 Aug 1863)
Myers, William D; N. Mt Pleasant, Corporal
O’Harra, Charles T; New Corydon, Corporal
Arbaugh, Perry; Westchester, Corporal
Adams, David W; Westchester, Corporal
Broughman, Elijah; College Corners, Corporal

Cloud, Jonathan; Hector, Musician
Ogden, John; Bear Creek, Musician
Way, Philo P; New Corydon, Wagoner

Privates:
Arnold, David S; Westchester
Armentrout, Daniel; New Corydon
Armentrout, John; New Corydon
Athy, John C; N. Mt. Pleasant (Killed at Yellow Bayou, 18 May 1864)
Arbaugh, George W; Westchester
Adams, William T; Westchester
Boyles, David; Hector (Died at St. Louis, Mo., 18 March 1863)
Broughman, Daniel; College Corner (Died at Memphis, Tenn., 8 December 1862)
Brewington, George M; Hector
Beard, John C; Salamonie
Bryan, Hallot; Westchester (Died at Memphis, Tenn., 13 September 1863)
Bartmas; Abraham, New Corydon
Beason, George W; N. Mt. Pleasant (Killed at Pleasant Hill, La., 9 Apr 1864)
Bonecutter, John; N. Mt. Pleasant
Blackburn, Joseph; N. Mt. Pleasant
Barr, Stephen; N. Mt. Pleasant
Buckingham, Elias; New Corydon
Bergman, Absalom; Hector
Castle, Tomas; Jay
Clawson, Josiah; Jay
Clawson, Garrett; Jay
Corwin, Cornelius; N. Mt. Pleasant
Cook, Peter, M; N. Mt. Pleasant
Conkel, John A; Jay
Delph, Fountain; N. Mt. Pleasant
Evilsizer, Minor; Jay
Evilsizer, Lafayette; Jay (Died at Fort Pickering, Tenn., 23 May 1863)
Elliott, Jesse; N. Mt. Pleasant
Fifer, Benjamin; Westchester
Glasford, George W; Hector
Gilbert, William; Jay
Gray, Joseph; Linnville (Killed at Yellow Bayou, 18 May 1864)
Houser, Lewis; New Corydon
Haffner, William R; Bear Creek
Hudson, Benjamin J; N. Mt. Pleasant (Died at Memphis, Tenn., 3 August 1863)
Henry, George; N. Mt. Pleasant (Died 12 April 1864; wounds; in hands of enemy.)
Hilton, John W; N. Mt Pleasant (Never mustered into the service)
Henry, William; N. Mt. Pleasant
Hanlin, John G; Hector
Isenhart, Silas; College Corner (Died 7 July 1863)
Jetter, John D; Jay
Jackson, Joseph; Salamonie
Jones, Samuel W; New corydon
James, Jesse; N. Mt. Pleasant ( Died 22 May 1863)
Kelley, Francis M; Westchester
Loofborrow, Jasper N; New Corydon
Landers, Henry; New Corydon
Lewis, Chester; New Corydon
Loper, Christopher; N. Mt. Pleasant

Enlisted Men of Co. E, 89th Indiana Infantry

Enlisted Men of Co. E, 89th Indiana Infantry

McFarland, Robert W; N. Mt. Pleasant (Died 20 July 1865)
Mason, William H; Hector
Morehouse, Charles A; Hector
Morrical, Mahlon; N. Mt. Pleasant
Morrical, Adam; N. Mt. Pleasant
Meck, George W; N. Mt. Pleasant (Killed at Bayou Lamour, 7 May 1864)
McKibben, William; N. Mt. Pleasant (Never mustered into the service)
McLaughlin, William; N. Mt. Pleasant (Never mustered into the service)
Moore, James M; New Corydon (Never mustered into the service)
Miller, Ebenezer; New Corydon
Nidey, Timothy; N. Mt. Pleasant
Poling, Daniel; Bear Creek
Powers, Henry C; N. Mt. Pleasant
Premer, Samuel; Westchester
Ross, John G; Jay
Rantz, Isaac; Salamonie
Roshong, Daniel; Westchester
Sanders, William K; Bear Creek
Shane, William; New Corydon
Scott, Louton; N. Mt. Pleasant
Swyhart, George W; N. Mt. Pleasant
Snider, Franklin; New Corydon
Skinner, William; New Corydon (Never mustered into the service)
Sager, Levi; Westchester
Sigler, William; Hector (Killed at Yellow Bayou, 18 May 1864)
Tinkle, Jeremiah, F; N. Mt Pleasant
Walter, Washington; New Corydon
Warnock, Francis; Salamonie (Killed in skirmish, Fort Blakely, 5 April 1865)
Wible, William; Jay C. H
Wible, Robert; Jay C. H
Wible, Jacob; Jay C. H
Williams, Joseph; Jay C. H
Young, Robert; New Corydon (Died 5 Mar 1863)

Recruits:
Bergman, Hawey (Transferred to 26th Reg. 19 June 1865)
Kelly, William S.
Loofbanoro [sic], Elias
Money, Jacob
Miller, John Y (Transferred to 26th Reg. 19 June 1865)
Metzner, William T. (Transferred to 26th Reg. 19 June 1865)
Montgomery, George G. (Transferred to 26th Reg. 19 June 1865)
Meed, Nathaniel (Transferred to 26th Reg. 19 June 1865)
Premer, Isaac (Transferred to 26th Reg. 19 June 1865)
Siberry, William R. (Transferred to 26th Reg. 19 June 1865)
Siberry, Thomas J. (Transferred to 26th Reg. 19 June 1865)
Stanley, James B. (Transferred to 26th Reg. 19 June 1865)
Stratton, Timothy L.
Teeters, Jacob
Wilson, Judson C. (Transferred to 26th Reg. 19 June 1865) [1]

The 89th Regiment lost 6 officers and 55 enlisted men who were killed and mortally wounded and 3 officers and 188 enlisted men to disease, for a total of 252 fatalities. [2]

 

[1] Company E Roster, 89th Indiana Infantry, digital images at Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/reportindiana06dougrich : accessed 4 June 2014), from Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Vol. 6, 1861-1865, W.H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General, Indiana, 1866.

[2] The Civil War Archive, Union Regimental Histories, Indiana, http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unininf7.htm#89th, accessed 4 June 2014.

 

Jun 03

Tombstone Tuesday–Fred & Mary Ruck

Fred & Mary Ruck, Zion Cemetery, Logan County, Oklahoma. (submitted photo)

Fred & Mary Ruck, Zion Cemetery, Logan County, Oklahoma. (photo courtesy of Joyce Layman)

This is the tombstone of Fred and Mary Ruck, located in Zion Cemetery, Orlando, Logan County, Oklahoma. The marker is inscribed:

MARY
Nov. 4, 1861
Feb. 23, 1956

FRED
Aug. 5, 1860
Apr. 10, 1924

RUCK

Johann Fredrick Rueck was the fourth of twelve children born to Jacob and Maria Regina (Gross) Rueck, born in Steinbach, Oberamt Crailsheim, Württemberg, on 5 August 1860.

Fred immigrated to America with his family in about 1880. The Ruecks lived near Schumm, in Van Wert County, Ohio, for a couple of years. Most of the family then moved to Oregon, except Fred and his sister Christena. Christena married Jacob Miller and they resided in Mercer County. They were my great-grandparents. Christena’s brother Fred was my great-granduncle.

Fred left Van Wert County and went to Chicago, where he worked as a butcher for a short time. In 1884 he traveled westward to Kansas and changed the spelling of his surname from Rueck to Ruck.

While in Kansas he met and married Mary Prollock.

Fred & Mary (Prollock) Ruck, 1905. (photo courtesy of Joyce Layman)

Fred & Mary (Prollock) Ruck, 1905. (photo courtesy of Joyce Layman)

Mary was born to Michael and Eva Prollock on 4 November 1861 in Germany. She immigrated with her family in 1883 and they settled in Clay Center, Kansas. A year later, in 1884, she and Fred married. Fred and Mary lived in Kansas about six years before moving to Orlando, Oklahoma, in about 1890.

Fred homesteaded 160 acres of land in the Oklahoma Territory, located in the southeast quarter of Section 9, Township 19 North of Range two West of the Indian Meridian in the Oklahoma Territory. His homestead certificate is dated 26 December 1896.

Fred Ruck Homestead Cert. No. 2384, Oklahoma Territory, 1896. (courtesy of Joyce Layman)

Fred Ruck Homestead Cert. No. 2384, Oklahoma Territory, 1896. (photo courtesy of Joyce Layman)

They lived the rest of their lives on their Oklahoma farm.

Fred Ruck Sr. farm, Logan Co., Oklahoma. (photo courtesy of Joyce Layman)

Fred Ruck Sr. farm, Logan Co., Oklahoma. (photo courtesy of Joyce Layman)

Fred Ruck was known as the local veterinarian in the Orlando area and was elected Logan County road-overseer during 1892, 1896, 1898, 1900, and as trustee in 1912, 1914, and 1916.

Fred Ruck died at his home near Orlando at 3 p.m. 10 April 1924 at the age of 63 years, 8 months and 5 days.

Mary was a charter member of the Zion Evangelical Church west of Orlando and attended services in the Dierolf home before the church was erected. She was the oldest member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Orlando, which later became the Methodist Church.

Mary died at the home of her daughter Lena Frey on 23 February 1956. Mary had been bed-fast for twelve days before her death. [1]

Fred Ruck Sr Children: Fred Jr, Frank, Lena, Katie. (photo courtesy of Joyce Layman)

Fred Ruck Sr Children (c1900): Fred Jr, Frank, Lena, Katie. (photo courtesy of Joyce Layman)

Obituary:
Died at home at 3 P.M.
Fred Ruck, born at Steinbach Wuertemberg, Germany, August 5, 1860, died at his home near Orlando, Oklahoma, at 3p.m. April 10th 1924, aged 63 years, 8 months and 5 days.

He came to America with his parents in 1880 and settled in Ohio. He moved to Kansas in 1884 and was united in marriage to Mary Prollock the same year. To this union was born seven children, two of these preceding him in death.

In 1891 the family moved to Oklahoma and settled on a farm near Orlando, where he made his home until he departed this life.

Mr. Ruck was converted under the labors of Bro. Nannings and remained a true believer in Jesus Christ throughout his life. He was always ready and willing to give a helping hand at all times.

He leaves to mourn his departure a wife and five children, namely, Mrs. Katie Wait of Sawyer, Frank Ruck of El Dorado, Kansas, Mrs. Lena Frey, Fred and Marie Ruck of Orlando, also 11 grandchildren, four brothers and three sisters and a host of relatives and friends. He endured his suffering patiently until the death angel called to his eternal reward.

Mr. Ruck will be greatly missed by his many friends, having lived in this community for 33 years. He was a loving husband, father and friend. [2]

Fred Sr with granddaughter Mildred. (photo courtesy of Joyce Layman)

Fred Sr with granddaughter Mildred. (photo courtesy of Joyce Layman)

Obituary:
Rites Slated Sunday For Mrs. Mary Ruck
Rites for Mrs. Mary Ruck, 94, pioneer of the Orlando community, will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday in the
United Evangelical Church at Orlando. Rev. E.A. Pauli will officiate and burial will be in Zion cemetery, west of Orlando. Smith funeral home is in charge of the arrangements.

Mrs. Ruck died Thursday morning at the home of her daughter Mrs. Lena Frey in Mulhall. In addition to Mrs. Frey, she is survived by two sons, Frank Ruck of Eldorado, Kan., and Fred Ruck of Orlando; and one other Daughter Mrs. Marie Scott of Orlando, 17 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.

Fred & Mary (Prollock) Ruck with Frank & Katie, c1889. (Karen's photo collection)

Fred & Mary (Prollock) Ruck, with Frank & Katie. (Karen’s photo collection)

Fred and Mary (Prollock) Ruck had 7 children:
“Frank” Fred (1886-1965) married Lena Woelhof
Katie Regina (1888-1947) married Arthur Pierce Wait
Lena Ester (1890-1975) married Samuel G. Frey
John “Fred Jr” (1894-1977) married Gladys Izola Brown
Marie (1903-1982) married Jesse “Emmett” Scott
A son and a daughter died in infancy.

The 1900 US census indicates that Katie and Frank Ruck were born in Kansas, Katie in 1884 [sic] and Frank in 1886. Children Lena and Fred Jr were born in Oklahoma, Lena in 1889 and Fred Jr in 1893. The census also indicates that Fred and Mary had been married 16 years. [3]

Fred Ruck Sr family, seated: Mary, Marie, Fred Sr; standing: Katie, Fred Jr, Frank, Lena. (photo courtesy of Joyce Layman)

Fred Ruck Sr family, c1911, seated: Mary (Prollock), Marie, Fred Sr; standing: Katie, Fred Jr, Frank, Lena. (photo courtesy of Joyce Layman)

Thank you to Fred’s great-granddaughter Joyce for supplying the photos and most of the information about Fred and his family.

 

[1] From notes taken at Mary (Prollock) Ruck’s funeral, 27 February 1956, notes taken by E. A. Pauli for Mary’s daughter Marie (Ruck) Scott, who was deaf.

[2] Orlando Clipper, Orlando Oklahoma, 18 April 1924.

[3] 1900 U.S. Census, Orlando, Logan County, Oklahoma, ED 144, p. 6B, dwelling 114, family 116, Fred Ruck; digital images by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 June 2014), from FHL microfilm 1241339, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1339.