Rutledge, Thomas Delvin

RUTLEDGE, BLACKBURNE, JOHNSON, GERBER, BIRDSALL, TALCOTT, BIBLER, HANLEN, ROWAN, SCHULTZ

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 2/21/2010 at 15:20:03

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, vol II, 1912 p.116

THOMAS DELVIN RUTLEDGE.

Thomas Delvin Rutledge, who has for three years been manager of the Blairsburg Hardware Company, is highly regarded in local business circles, where he has shown himself to be a man of commendable methods and honest purpose. He was born in McLean County, Illinois, on the 28th of April, 1871, and is a son of Robert Blackburne and Matilda (Johnson) Rutledge. The father was born in McLean county, Illinois, in 1844, while the mother is a native of Le Roy, that state, her birth having occurred in 1851. The father, who is a farmer, removed with his family from McLean to Ford County, Illinois, where he continued his agricultural pursuits for several years. In 1890, he came to Hamilton County, locating on a farm just south of Williams in Rose Grove township. He subsequently purchased a place in the vicinity of Kamrar, but several years later he disposed of that and removed to Kamrar. His had always been too active and enterprising a life, however, for him to retire while his physical strength enabled him to continue working, so he later rented a
farm in the vicinity of Kamrar in the cultivation of which he is still engaged. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge numbered eight, as follows: Mrs. Elva Rowan, who resides a mile and a half north of Highview, this county; Thomas Delvin, our subject; Robert Blackburne, Jr., who is residing in East St. Louis, Illinois; Guy, who is residing in Kamrar; Beulah, who died while the family were residing in McLean County, Illinois ; Charles C, who is a resident of St. Louis, Missouri ; Roy Ford, who was born in Ford County, Illinois, and is living at home ; and Blanche, a native of Hamilton County, who is also living at home. The elder children were all born in McLean County.

Reared on a farm, the education of Thomas Delvin Rutledge was begun in the district schools of his native state and continued in the high schools of Le Roy and Gibson City, Illinois. Having decided that he preferred a commercial to an agricultural career, he left home soon after leaving school and entered the employ of E. Crabb, a general merchant of Gibson City, for whom he drove a delivery wagon. While there employed he had the misfortune to be stricken with blood-poisoning and for seven years thereafter was compelled to use crutches. This affliction compelled him to resign his position and for two years he remained at home, giving such assistance as he was able about the farm. He then took a position in the drug store of Schultz Brothers at Williams, and subsequently was employed for two years in the restaurant of William Gerber. At the expiration of that time he accepted a position in the general mercantile establishment of Mrs. John Birdsall of Williams, remaining there for two and a half years. He was subsequently employed in the hardware store of J. P. Talcott, also at Williams, following which he embarked in the restaurant business. After successfully conducting this enterprise for three years he disposed of it and accepted a clerkship in the hardware store of F. M. Bibler at Kamrar. The next year he again entered the employ of J. P. Talcott, with whom he remained until he accepted his present position as manager of the Blairsburg Hardware Company on the l0th of August, 1909. This is one of the largest establishments of the kind in the county, and in addition to a large stock of shelf and heavy hardware they carry a full line of farming implements, gasoline engines, automobiles and other vehicles. The policy of the house is well known and as they enjoy the confidence of the people are accorded a large patronage, not only in Blairsburg but from the surrounding country and the neighboring villages.

At Webster City, on the 12th of June, 1903, Mr. Rutledge was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Hanlen, a native of Dysart, Iowa, and a daughter of William Hanlen, a well known resident of Williams, who is mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work. There have been born of this marriage five children: William Donald and Lois Elva, who were born in Kamrar; Charles Marion and Doris Maude, who are natives of Williams; and a baby daughter, whose birth recently occurred in Blairsburg. Mr. Rutledge owns his residence, which is comfortably furnished and is providing his children with as good advantages as the town affords.

The family attend the Congregational church, of which Mr. Rutledge is a member, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Yeomen of Williams. Politically he indorses the principles of the republican party and is now representing his ward in the town council and served in a like capacity while residing in Kamrar. Despite his physical affliction and his many years of suffering, Mr. Rutledge has won a place for himself in local business circles, where he is highly regarded and is numbered among the town's desirable citizens.