Ruffridge, George -- 1864 - 1936

RUFFRIDGE, MUSSER, KNOKE, JOHNSON, SELLMAN, BRUNNER, FISHER, BARTH, KERN

Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 3/27/2012 at 20:24:57

The funeral services of George Ruffridge, 72, of Locust, who was postmaster there for over 50 years, was held Sunday and largely attended. A brief mention of his death appeared in Public Opinion last week. He passed away at his home Thursday morning Nov. 19 after having been in poor health for a year. He spent several weeks in the hospital at Iowa City.

George Ruffridge, 72 years, was for half a century postmaster at the Locust post office until it was discontinued only a few weeks ago, on Sept. 30, 1936, died Nov. 19th at his home after having returned from Iowa City, where everything possible was done for him. His health had been poor for a year.

There is probably no postmaster in Iowa with a record of continual service such as that of Mr. Ruffridge. It was in 1852 that William Vail purchased the land there and built the first brick house in Winneshiek county. Vail was the first postmaster and following him were a Mr. Johnson, Silas Clark, J.T. Shipley, Isaac Gates (still living at Burr Oak), and the last George Ruffridge, who served more years as postmaster than all his predecessors combined.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from the Locust Lutheran Church with the Rev. Carl Losen officiating. Burial was in the Locust cemetery.

People from away who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Mike Ruffridge of Northwood, Ia., Henry Fisher of Kenseth, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Barth, Mary Ruffridge and son, Harry of Greene, Ia., Peter Ruffridge and Mrs. John Kern of Fairmont, Minn.

Other friends and relatives who attended were: Mr. and Mrs. George Ruffridge, Mr. and Mrs. Graham Williams, of Grafton, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. John Kern of Fairmont, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Earl Ruffridge and daughter, Mrs. John Ruffridge, all of Greene, Ia.; Mrs. Dick Ruffridge and son of Mabel, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Hardy of Greene, Ia.; Jack Darrington of Minneapolis, and Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Simpson of Postville.

All brothers and sisters were present with the exception of his brother, Henry, who is in the hospital at LaCrosse, Wis.

George Ruffridge was born Dec. 5, 1864 in Canada, a son of John and Anne Ruffridge. When he was five years old he came to Winneshiek county and located with his parents at Locust. After attending the Locust public schools he continued his studies at Breckenridge business college in Decorah.

On Sept. 5, 1887 he was married to Miss Hattie Musser in the Locust church. To this union nine children were born, Edgar dying at the age of 18. Those who survive are: Frank, John, Walter and Arlin, all of Decorah; Chester and Viola of Locust; Gladys (Mrs. E. Knoke) of near Mabel, Minn.; Ruby (Mrs. Merlin Johnson) of near Mabel, Minn.

He conducted a general store in connection with the post office for many years. In recent years his son Chester and grandson Galen Ruffridge, who was brought up by his grandparents, assisted him.

Three brothers and three sisters preceded him in death, John, Dieabold, Will, Anna Sellman, Kate Brunner and Margaret Fisher.

The Locust Lutheran church was filled to overflowing with relatives and friends who came to pay their last tribute to one who will be remembered as a jovial and kindly friend and neighbor and to extend sincere sympathy to the bereaved family. George Ruffridge was laid to rest only a short distance from where he spent virtually all of his life since early childhood.
He is also survived by his wife and the following brothers and sisters: Henry of Locust; Peter of Fairmont, Minn.; Mike of Northwood, Ia.; Mrs. Geo. Barth of Greene, Iowa, and Mrs. Eve Fisher and Mrs. John Kern of Fairmont, Minn.

Mr. Ruffridge was one of Winneshiek county’s well known pioneers. He was a member of the Lutheran church at Locust and will be sadly missed by those who knew him.

(Note: George Ruffridge gravestone gives birth date as 1863, article states 1864.)

Source: Decorah Genealogy Association & Decorah Newspaper

Submitted by John Matter jmatter@q.com

Locust Cemetery aka Saint John
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen