Samuel Guiberson Ruby
OGDEN, RUBY
Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/12/2004 at 21:52:41
Samuel Guiberson Ruby, Winterset, attorney, of the firm of Ruby & Wilkin; born in Holmes county, Ohio, September 22, 1839; he came with his parents to this county in 1852; his youth was spent on a farm; he received the benefit of the common schools supplemented with two years of study in a private school in Winterset.
In 1859 he entered the office of Messrs. McPherson & Elliott as a student at law; the call of April, 1861, for troops, aroused the young student from his dream over Greenleaf and Vattel; in the very front of those who sprang to answer the treasonable roar of the guns upon Sumpter, Samuel G. Ruby, M. R. Tidrick, W. C. Newlon and B. G. Murray went to Indianola, Warren county, and enlisted in Co. G, Third Iowa infantry, and they were the first from Madison county to tender their services for the suppression of the rebellion; he enlisted as a private May 1, 1861, in which capacity he served two years; he was in the battle of Shiloh and a number of skirmishes and light engagements in the earlier part of the war.
On his return to Winterset he returned to the law-books in the office of McPherson & Elliot, and was admitted to the bar in 1863, before Judge Gray; about this time Messrs. McPherson and Elliott enlisted in the cause of their country, leaving Mr. Ruby their successor in business, and by close application to study and untiring energy and perseverance he has attained a deservedly high position in his profession.
Mr. Ruby entered on his career in life without funds or favors by which to help him to position or pave his pathway to success; he has held the office of county attorney five years, and was mayor of the city two terms, and has been the attorney of the C., R. I. & P. R. R. since its completion to Winterset.
He has in his possession between 400 and 500 acres of farming lands, and owns the finest residence in the county, it was completed in 1878, and contains all the modern improvements. In his own home Mr. Ruby has been abundantly blessed; the partner of his joys and the sharer of life's ills he found in the person of Miss Sophia Ogden, of Covington, Kentucky, whom he married December 26, 1863; three children, Claude, Ralph and Blanche, are the complement of his family circle.
Taken from the book, "The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1879" page 550
__________________________________________________A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896Transcribed by Kent G. Transier, 26 Dec 2009
Hon. Samuel Guiberson Ruby, attorney at law and formerly United States Consul to Belfast, Ireland, is a resident of Winterset. A native of Holmes County, Ohio, he was born September 22, 1839, the son of William B. & Ann (Guiberson) Ruby. His father, a farmer by occupation, was a native of Maryland and a son of John Ruby, also a native of the same State. His ancestors moved from France to England and thence to America as early as 1690. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Samuel Guiberson, was among the early settlers of New Jersey, and his ancestry is traceable back to England. In 1852 William B. Ruby and family moved from Holmes county, Ohio, to Madison county, Iowa, locating upon a new farm in Union township, in the vicinity of Winterset, where they carried on general farming for a number of years. They then moved into town, where Mr. Ruby finally died, in his eighty-fourth year. His wife had died previously, in 1855.
The gentleman whose name honors the introduction to this sketch, the eldest child by his father’s second marriage, passed hi boyhood on the farm in Holmes county, Ohio, and after his thirteenth year in Madison county, Iowa
On leaving the school-room he entered the law offices of Messrs. McPherson & Elliott, in Winterset, as a student of law, but his favorite studies were interrupted by that most horrible spectacle of human experience, civil war, and in April, 1861, on the very first call for troops, he and M. R. Tidrick, W. C. Newlon and B. F. Murray went to Indianola, Warren county, this State, and enlisted in Company G, Third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, commanded by N. G. Williams, and they went to the front from Madison county to tender their services to their country. Mr. Ruby enlisted as a private May 1, 1861, and served in the ranks two years, participating in the battle of Shiloh and in a number of skirmishes, in the early part of the war, and was honorably discharged the next year.
Returning to Winterset he resumed his law studies in the office where he had commenced, and in due time, in 1863, he was admitted to the bar, before Judge Gray at Winterset. About this time McPherson & Elliott enlisted in the service of their country, leaving their office and law business in the care of young Ruby, who improved the golden opportunity and by industry and wit succeeded in attaining an enviable position in the legal profession. Entering upon his legal career without means or favors he won his way to the front and in a short time was enjoying a good patronage and a handsome income.
By appointment by the Board of Supervisors he served as County Attorney for five years, with credit to himself and satisfaction to the people. For two terms he was Mayor of the city of Winterset, and for a number of years he was an attorney for the Rock Island Railroad Company after its completion to his city. For several years he was interested in farming lands, at one time being the owner of one of the best farms on the county. His residence, which he built in 1878, is one of the finest in the county.
In 1889 Mr. Ruby was appointed Consul to Belfast, Ireland, by President Harrison, and served a term of four years, efficiently and satisfactorily representing our Government at that point. His son, Ralph O., was with him and was Vice-Consul, doing a large part of the business. Toward the close of the term, Mr. Ruby established a law office in London, England, and while there his son was taken sick with typhoid fever, and died February 22d, 1895, in his twenty-eighth year. This was a severe stroke upon the bereaved parents.
Mr. Ruby continued his practice in London until April, following, and, returning to Winterset, has since devoted his attention to his financial interests. He is a member of the Knights Templar and of Pitzer Post, G. A. R.
December 25, 1863, is the date of Mr. Ruby’s marriage to Miss Sarah Ogden, of Covington, Kentucky; a daughter of William Ogden, and honored and influential family; and Mr. and Mrs. Ruby have had three children: Claude A., Ralph O., deceased, and Blanche, who is a student of music in London, England, and has spent six years in Paris and London in the prosecution of musical studies.
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