Biography of Ruel Aldrich's Family
By Carol Horrigan
Ruel Aldrich was born 1804 in Foster, Providence County, Rhode Island. Ruel's first wife was Abigail Mathewson. Ruel and Abigail were married December 3, 1824 in Douglas, Worchester County, Massachusetts. To this union was born a son, Thomas Aldrich, born March 24, 1824, in Northampton, Massachusetts. Abigail passed away shortly thereafter; and Ruel remarried to Mary Ann Marsh; the daughter of Thomas Marsh and Annis Allis. Ruel and Mary Ann were married in Whatley, Franklin County, Massachusetts -- year unknown.
Ruel and Mary Ann's first born was a daughter, Mary Aldrich. She was born November 7, 1828 in Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. It would only be about two years later, and both Thomas Aldrich and Mary Aldrich would pass away as young children. Thomas Aldrich died September 28 1830, and Mary Aldrich died October 2, 1830. They both died in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
Their second born was a son, who was also named Ruel. Ruel
Aldrich Jr. was born February 27, 1832 in Pittsfield, Berkshire
County, Massachusetts. Ruel Jr. would marry twice; his first wife
was Sarah McCashen, daughter of William McCashen and
Elizabeth Winget. Sarah was born in Ohio. Ruel Jr. and Sarah
McCashen were married June 16, 1853 in Shelby County, Ohio. To
this union were born 4 children; Edwin (See photo to left), Myron, Grant and Jane.
The family lived in Clayton County, Iowa for awhile; and during this
time period Ruel Jr. also served in the Civil War; 21st Iowa
Infantry, Company D. Ruel was a Corporal 2nd class in the Union
Army when he was mustered out in Baton Rouge Lousianna on July
15 1865. According to census records for Clayton County, Ohio
for the year 1870, Sarah McCashen Aldrich was listed as an
invalid; being blind and insane according to the census record for
that year. Sarah would pass away by the year 1872 near Elkport,
Iowa; and Ruel Jr. took his children and joined his family in
Mitchell County, Iowa, where they had already settled by 1870.
Ruel Jr. would remarry on January 14, 1874 to Mary Torrey in
Ramsey County, Minnesota. To this union were born 3 more
children; Edna, Ralph and Lynn Aldrich. Like his father, Ruel Jr.
was also a farmer there in Mitchell, Iowa.
The third child born to Ruel Aldrich and Mary Ann Marsh was Nehemiah Aldrich. Nehemiah was born in May 1840 in Ohio. Nehemiah would also serve as a union soldier in the Civil War; 21st Iowa Infantry, Company D. He was transferred to Co. U. 34th Iowa Infantry in July 1865. He mustered out as a private on August 15, 1865 in Houston Texas.
Nehemiah Aldrich married Nancy Jane Buckley, May 27, 1862 in Putnam, Fayette County, Iowa. Nehemiah and Nancy Jane had 4 children; Emily Jane, Charles, Mary Belle "Mamie," and Ella. Nancy Jane Buckley Aldrich passed away on August 24, 1874 in Mitchell, Iowa. After Nancy Jane's death both Mary Belle, "Mamie," and Emily Jane "Emma" would go to live with their maternal grandmother, in Lorain County, Ohio. Charles and Ella would remain with Nehemiah in Mitchell, Iowa; along with Nehemiah's new wife; who's name was Matilda Smith. Nehemiah and Matilda had no children together. By 1900 Nehemiah and Matilda would move to Monona County, Iowa; and there they remained until Nehemiah's death in December 1917.
The 4th child born to Ruel Aldrich Sr., and Mary Ann Marsh was Frank Aldrich. Frank was born August 1842 in Shelby County, Ohio. Frank would also serve as a union soldier in the Civil War; 21st Iowa Infantry, Company B. Frank never lived with the family in Mitchell, Iowa; and when he was discharged from the war, he settled in Potter County, South Dakota. He was in the heart of indian territory. He ran freight to the Black Hills of South Dakota; where it is said by family members that he found gold in the Black Hills. He ran a successful ranching business outside of Gettysburg South Dakota. His wife's name was Josie, but little is known about her. According to the Potter County, South Dakota Historical Society, Josie was the first white woman to settle in this area. Frank and Josie had no children. According to Frank's obituary, Frank was sent to the Dakota's in the spring of 1865 to protect the white settler from the hostile indians.
Frank joined the Grand Army of the Republic, Meade Post in April 1890. Frank continued his ranching business until his death on November 15, 1909. His wife Josie preceded him in death in the year 1886. They are both buried at the Gettysburg Cemetery, Potter County, South Dakota. Jane Aldrich, Frank's niece would also live with Frank for a period of time in Potter County, South Dakota.
The 5th child born to Ruel Sr. Aldrich and Mary Ann Marsh was Jane Aldrich. She was born November 1844 in Ohio. She married James Chiles about 1861. Jane and her family lived in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha, South Dakota. Jane died between 1910 and 1920.
The 6th child born to Ruel Aldrich Sr. and Mary Ann Marsh was Ellen Aldrich. Ellen was born February 1847 in Ohio; and she died as a baby on October 6, 1848. Ellen is buried in the Blendon Old Church Cemetery, Blendon Township, Ohio.
The 7th child born to Ruel Aldrich Sr. and Mary Ann Marsh was Theron Aldrich. Theron was born 1851 in Ohio. Theron would never see his adulthood, as he died at the young age of 19, in the year 1870. Theron was working for a logging company named, "Durfee and Peck." This company would work for the government clearing lands around military forts in the Dakotas. On September 19, 1870, Theron was working with his crew near Ft. Buford, Williams County, North Dakota. They were clearing some land, when they were ambushed by Sioux Indians. According to the "History Fort Buford," (by Ben Innis, author.) Theron was attacked by several Sioux Indians wielding tomahawks and war clubs. He valiantly fought the indians by shooting them with his Wincester Rifle, and when he was out of ammunition, he used the butt of the rifle as a club. However, Theron was overtaken and killed by the Sioux Indians on that day. Theron is buried at Fort Buford, North Dakota as a civilian.
The last child born in Ruel Aldrich Sr. and Mary Ann Marsh was Laura Belle Aldrich. Laura Belle was born 1854 in Ohio. She married William Austin in Mitchell, Iowa on April 1, 1874. Laura Belle's family would also move to the Dakotas. William and Laura Belle had 2 children; William Jr, and Lulu. Laura Belle died in Sioux Falls, South Dakota around 1916.
Notes:
Frank Aldrich's abstract of his estate in Potter County, South
Dakota names all the above Aldrich descendants as heirs to his estate.
Laura Belle Aldrich Austin had died prior to the settlement of
Frank's estate in the year 1918. Laura Belle's son William Austin
had also passed away before the year 1918; Ruel Sr. died in
Mitchell, Iowa in 1883, Ruel Jr. died February 4th, 1907 in
Mitchell, Iowa.
My great-grandfather, Edwin Aldrich was the son of Ruel Jr.
Aldrich and Sarah McCashen.
Edwin Aldrich was born 1855 in Iowa. Edwin married Anna
Katherine Walter (see photo to right) in Mitchell, Iowa on September 9, 1879.
Edwin and "Katie" had 11 children. Their children were:
Allie, Eva, Irene, Wilma, Mina, Mary, George, Clive, Fay, Carroll,
and Guy.
Edwin was a grain buyer by trade; and it appears that the family
moved around quite abit.
Anna Katherine Walter died in childbirth right after her daughter
Mary was born November 12, 1900 in Kossuth County, Iowa.
Anna Katherine Walter Aldrich is buried on Walter's lot at Oak
Grove Cemetery in Mitchell, Iowa.
Edwin and his children moved to Traverse County, Minnesota after the
death of his wife, Anna. Edwin died here in Traverse County, Minnesota
February 16, 1912; and his body was brought back to Mitchell for
burial. Edwin is also buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Mitchell;
along with his father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother Myron
and his wife Charlotte Klinger Aldrich, half brother Lynn Aldrich, and
his aunt Nancy Jane Buckley Aldrich.
My grandmother, Irene Aldrich would later marry my grandfather, George
David Clifford in Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota in the year 1911.
I have many roots in Mitchell County, Iowa; and this is just half of
my family; as the Walter's also lived in Mitchell, Iowa; who were
immigrants from Germany. I will post another biography of the
lives of John and Eva Walter, the parents of my gr-grandmother,
Anna Katherine Walter.
Frank Aldrich's abstract of his estate in Potter County, South Dakota names all the above Aldrich descendants as heirs to his estate. Laura Belle Aldrich Austin had died prior to the settlement of Frank's estate in the year 1918. Laura Belle's son William Austin had also passed away before the year 1918; Ruel Sr. died in Mitchell, Iowa in 1883, Ruel Jr. died February 4th, 1907 in Mitchell, Iowa.
My great-grandfather, Edwin Aldrich was the son of Ruel Jr. Aldrich and Sarah McCashen.
Edwin Aldrich was born 1855 in Iowa. Edwin married Anna
Katherine Walter (see photo to right) in Mitchell, Iowa on September 9, 1879.
Edwin and "Katie" had 11 children. Their children were:
Allie, Eva, Irene, Wilma, Mina, Mary, George, Clive, Fay, Carroll,
and Guy.
Edwin was a grain buyer by trade; and it appears that the family moved around quite abit.
Anna Katherine Walter died in childbirth right after her daughter Mary was born November 12, 1900 in Kossuth County, Iowa.
Anna Katherine Walter Aldrich is buried on Walter's lot at Oak Grove Cemetery in Mitchell, Iowa.
Edwin and his children moved to Traverse County, Minnesota after the death of his wife, Anna. Edwin died here in Traverse County, Minnesota February 16, 1912; and his body was brought back to Mitchell for burial. Edwin is also buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Mitchell; along with his father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother Myron and his wife Charlotte Klinger Aldrich, half brother Lynn Aldrich, and his aunt Nancy Jane Buckley Aldrich.
My grandmother, Irene Aldrich would later marry my grandfather, George David Clifford in Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota in the year 1911.
I have many roots in Mitchell County, Iowa; and this is just half of my family; as the Walter's also lived in Mitchell, Iowa; who were immigrants from Germany. I will post another biography of the lives of John and Eva Walter, the parents of my gr-grandmother, Anna Katherine Walter.