RUGGLES, Elizabeth Arminda (Kelso) 1843-1933

RUGGLES, KELSO, VANETTEN, MILLER, DOWD, FAWCETT, MARKER, ALLEN

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 7/29/2012 at 11:40:39

Elizabeth Arminda (Kelso) Ruggles – October 7, 1843 – May 16, 1933

Elizabeth Arminda Kelso was the eldest daughter of Thomas Spencer and Lorana Van Etten Kelso. She was born at Cherry Valley, New York, on October 7, 1843, and departed this life on the morning of May 16, 1933.

Her childhood was passed in New York State, with her parents and 2 sisters. The family came west from their home in Rochester, New York, to Prairie Du Chen, Wisconsin in 1857. It was there that their daughters were educated and grew to womanhood. After finishing her education,

Elizabeth taught school for several years. It was while she was teaching in the school at Prairie Du Chen that she met and married the school principal, Ogden M. Ruggles. The date of the marriage was March 5, 1867.

In 1868, their first child was born and was named Almira, after her paternal grandmother. In the spring of 1868 Mr. Ruggles came to Rockford and bought a farm west of town, Mrs. Ruggles and the baby following in October of that year.

They came by train to Calmar, which was as far as the railroad extended at that time, and Mr. Ruggles met them there, continuing the journey to Rockford in a lumber wagon. The weather was unusually cold the ground frozen hard, and the long ride over a rough and rutty road anything but pleasant. To make matters worse, the fur robe, which Mr. Ruggles had procured to keep them warm, had been stolen from the wagon. They began their pioneer life in a log cabin and endured many severe hardships which only children of the early settlers dimly recall.

They lived on the farm for 35 years, and to them were born four sons and four daughters-all reared on the old homestead.

Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles moved to the home in Rockford in 1902 because of Mr. Ruggles' failing health and his death occurred in 1907.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles were keenly interested in all educational matters and in Masonic and G.A.R. circles. After her husband's death, Mrs. Ruggles remained in the home and kept open house for her children and grandchildren and all relatives and friends. Their interests were her interests and it was to her they went with all their confidences-their joys and their sorrows.

She joined the Congregational church in 1917 and continued in that membership.

One sister, Mrs. Georgiana Miller of Ocheyedan, Iowa, lives to mourn her death. The oldest daughter died in 1923, but there are living four sons and three daughters, nineteen grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren. The children are: Mrs. W. C. Dowd, deceased; Robert G. Ruggles of Redvers, Sask., Canada; W. S. Ruggles of Wanamaker, South Dakota; Mrs. Grace Fawcett of Chicago. Shelby Ruggles of Mason City and Mrs. Cora Marker, Mrs. Helen Allen and Stanley Ruggles of this place.

The funeral was held from the Methodist church at 2:30 Thursday afternoon, conducted by Rev. F. C. Worcester, and interment was made in Riverside Cemetery.

Those who attended the funeral from out-of -town were: Mr. and Mrs Amos Cobb, son Russell and daughter Georgian of Eldora; Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Underwood and children of Alden; Mr. and Mrs. Chester Powers and daughter of Kanawha; Mrs. Grace Fawcett of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs Warren Lane of Charles City; Mrs. Wayne Tibbetts and little son of Bassett; Mr. and Mrs. Van Marker of Charles City; Shelby Ruggles and family of Mason City; Shelby Dowd of Lake Mills; Wallace Ruggles of Wanamaker, S. D.