Ruth, Captain James 1840 -1909 (or 1920?)

RUTH, COWAN, TUFTS, ANGELL, ROCKWELL, HURD

Posted By: Errin Wilker (email)
Date: 1/29/2009 at 12:19:15

Notes:
Most likely the obit from the New Albin newspaper that Errin found is incorrectly dated, or possibly was a 'looking back' type of article. 'Woodmansee' may have gotten the date of death from the New Albin article as well.

Researchers should come to their own conclusions, but I feel that the date of death for Capt. Ruth is almost certainly April 9, 1909 as given in both newspaper articles published at the time of his death. Also, the Postville Review obit says he was about age 70, which 'fits' with a 1909 date of death. Finally, the 1920 US census (enumeration date January 1920) shows Capt. Ruth's wife Addie M. Ruth living in the household of her son James Ruth. She is age 81 and a widow. If Capt. James had died in April 1920, his wife would not have been listed as a widow 4 months prior.

Also possible, is that the 1928 New Albin newspaper got Capt. James Ruth mixed up with his son, also named James.

~S. Ferrall, Allamakee co. IAGenWeb coordinator (1/15/2011)
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REMAINS OF FORMER LANSING RESIDENT BROUGHT BACK
The remains of the late Capt. Jas. Ruth, early resident and former postmaster of Lansing, who died at Sacramento, California, over a year ago, were brought to Lansing one day last week for interment in the family lot.

Capt. Ruth commanded Co. F of the 6th Iowa Cavalry of which the late W.B. Cowan was a member. He resided in Waukon twenty years ago while serving as county auditor.

Capt. Ruth was the uncle of Mrs. Ruth Tufts and E.J. Angell.

Source: The New Albin Post, New Albin, Iowa, 27 September 1928

~NOTE - The 1928 newspaper clipping states that Capt. Ruth died "over a year ago." I would take that to be around 1927. However, ALLAMAKEE COUNTY IOWA BURIAL GROUNDS, 1845-1988, by Dale P. Woodmansee shows his date of death to be 09 April 1920.
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Added 3/2/09, by S. Ferrall:

Death of Captain Ruth
Relatives in Cedar Falls have learned of the death of Capt. James Ruth of Lansing, Iowa, which sad event occurred at the home of his son James in Sacramento City, Cal., at midnight on April 9. Capt. Ruth was a man beloved by all who knew him and his acquaintance in Iowa extended nearly over the entire state. He had lived his life in Iowa, mostly in Lansing, and for the past six years has been recorder of Allamakee county, leaving the office the first of January, 1909, when in company with his wife he went to California hoping to receive benefit from a serious kidney trouble which was giving increasing amount of suffering. The end came quietly and unexpectedly and the remains accompanied by the wife and son were taken to Lansing where burial was made yesterday afternoon. Capt. Ruth's wife was Miss Addie Noble of Franklin, N.Y., a sister of the late Mrs. S.A. Rockwell of this city, and a cousin of D.N. Hurd. He did excellent service in the war of the rebellion during the entire period and was always an ardent member of the G.A.R. He frequently visited in Cedar Falls and Waterloo and daily read the Waterloo Reporter, which he counted almost as a personal friend. His large hearted interest in people, politics and public interests gave him unusual place in the hearts of the people of Iowa.

~The Waterloo Evening Reporter, Cedar Falls News column, Thursday, April 15, 1909

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Added 1/15/2011 by S. Ferrall:

Capt. James Ruth, an old and respected resident of Lansing, died at the home of his son in Sacramento, California, Friday last of Bright’s disease. Mr. Ruth had been in failing health for some time, and a few months ago he and Mrs. Ruth went to the coast with the hope that the climatic change might bring him relief. During his two terms as county Auditor, which closed January first of this year, Mr. Ruth gained a wide acquaintance all over the county, and all who knew him will mourn that he is no more. He was an honorable and upright man in every particular. He was aged about seventy years.

~Postville Review, April 16, 1909