Ruggles Family Lines

James Walter Ruggles Family
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James Walter Ruggles	- Married - 12 Oct 1929 McPherson, McPherson County, Kansas, USA	Grace Genneta Brooks
Birth Date: 02 Nov 1898 Birth Place: Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, USA Death Date: 03 Jun 1987 Death Place: Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, USA Burial Date: 05 Jun 1987 Burial Place: Rose Valley Cemetery, Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, USA		Birth Date: 12 Oct 1901 Birth Place: Canon City, Fremont County, Colorado, USA Death Date: 26 Nov 1985 Death Place: Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, USA Burial Date: Nov 1985 Burial Place: Rose Valley Cemetery, Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, USA

Children:

Name	Sex	Birth Date	Birth Place	Death Date	Death Place	Burial Date	Burial Place
James Maurice Ruggles	M	19 Dec 1931	William Newton Memorial Hospital, Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, USA	11 Dec 2006	McAllen, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA		Rose Valley Cemetery, Liberty Township, Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, USA
Melvin Walter Ruggles	M	28 Oct 1934	Rural Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, USA
Marcia Janiece Ruggles	F	16 May 1939	William Newton Memorial Hospital, Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, USA	06 Jun 1991	Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, USA		Rose Valley Cemetery, Liberty Township, Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, USA
Leora Jean Ruggles	F	21 Dec 1942	William Newton Memorial Hospital, Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, USA

James Walter Ruggles:(Find-A-Grave Memorial)
James Walter Ruggles is the third generation of Ruggles to live in Liberty Township, Cowley County, Kansas and the first generation to be born there. His grandfather, James Elbert Ruggles, came to Kansas by covered wagon in the late 1870's and settled on a farm in Liberty Township. James Walter (nicknamed "Bill" by his father) was born November 2, 1898 to James Elza Ruggles and Edith Genevia Bowser.
Bill attended Red Valley School, a one-room school house located on what is now a part of the Theimer farm on Cowley County 20. Bill was bitten by a copperhead snake when he was eight years old. His father and uncle took him the twelve miles to Winfield by horse and wagon. A neighbor told them to put a fresh killed chicken on the wound to draw out the poison. Bill lived, but the scar remains to remind him of the event.
Bill started farming at a young age with his father. Bill and his father also broke and trained mules. At age 16 he was given charge of Abner Duncan's farm while Mr. Duncan and new bride honeymooned.
There were many barn dances in the rural area. Bill escorted his sister to these dances and sometimes played the harmonica.
He married Grace Genetta Brooks October 12, 1912 at McPherson, Kansas, the Rev. Walter Bynum performed the ceremony. Bill and Grace have four children, James Maurice, born December 19, 1931; Melvin Walter, born October 28, 1934; Marcia Janiece (now Andes), born May 16,1938; and Leora Jean (now Bland), born December 21, 1942.
The name of James has been in the Ruggles family for at least six generations. James Elbert, grandfather; James Elza, father; James Walter, the subject herein; James Maurice, son; Randal James, grandson; and Daniel James, great-grandson.
Bill and Grace raised their family on Silver Creek in Sheridan Township on the Perry Miller farm. When farming couldn't pay the bills, Bill went to work for Smith-Moon Steel Company in 1954. He retired from Smith-Moon in 1964 and then worked for Snyder Clinic as groundskeeper for several years.
In 1976 Bill went to Ribold, Lewis County, Kentucky to see the place where his father and grandfather had lived. The old log cabin still stands and the land is still owned by the Ruggles family.
Bill died June 3, 1987 in the county where he had spent his entire life. He is buried at Rose Valley Cemetery along with his wife, Grace, who died November 26, 1985. Submitted by Pearl Ruggles Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 281.

(Find-A-Grave Memorial)

Grace Genetta (Brooks) Ruggles, born October 12, 1901 was the sixth child born to Thomas Jasper and Rebecca Jane Miller Brooks. She was born in Canon City, Colorado. When she was nine months old her family moved to Winfield, traveling in a covered wagon. Her family settled on a farm east of Winfield. She attended South Walnut and Frog Hollow rural schools. In this close knit community, the families who had more than one daughter would "lend" a daughter to a neighbor at canning time. Grace was the "canning-daughter" of their neighbor Luetta Scott. Grace went to work at sixteen for the Bob Johnson family. They had five children and the youngest, Aaron was about six weeks old. Grace married James Walter (Bill) Ruggles October 12, 1929. They traveled to McPherson, Kansas so their friend Walter Bynum could perform the ceremony. Walter had just graduated seminary and had been given a church in McPherson.
Grace and Bill farmed in the Burden area most of their married lives. Grace was known for her homemade bread and often took ribbons at the Eastern Cowley County Fairs.
Grace and Bill have four children, James Maurice, born December 19, 1931, married Marjorie Lee Martin, June 19, 1954; Melvin Walter, born October 28, 1934, married Pearl Mae Rule, born October 12, 1957 (Grace & Bill's 28th wedding anniversary); Marcia Janiece, born may 16, 1939, married Willis Francis Andes November 24, 1957; Leora Jean, born December 21, 1942, married Marvin Lee Bland September 24, 1960. They have fourteen grandchildren.
Submitted by Pearl M. Ruggles
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 280.

Elizabeth Lee (Find-A-Grave Memorial)

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