Ringgold Record
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa

A valued patron of the Record" one of the oldest settlers and one of the best and wealthiest of our citizens is: James H. RUBY.

Mr. RUBY was born in Breckenridge County, Kentucky in 1820. When he was 9 years old his father moved to Edgar County, Illinois where he was one of the pioneers. Neighbors were 8 to 10 miles away. So few were the families in the county that no school of any kind could be supported until Mr. RUBY was past 15 years of age - 1834. The second season of ten they settled in Illinois in 1831 an early frost killed the corn and Edgar County obtained it's breadstuff as well as it's grain for stock and seed from southern Indiana over 100 miles away. Hauling it with ox teams for the greater part over a wild country where roads were unknown. The drivers were guided in there course by "Blazers" on the trees and the stars.

In 1840 Mr. RUBY moved to Vermillion County, Indiana settling in the woods and cleaning out a timber farm. Nine years were taken up in reclaiming 20 acres from the roots and stumps and there were 9 years in unremitting toil, such as we harriest handed young farmers of present day would shrink from. At the end of the 9th year in 1855 he sold his farm for just $300.00 more than her paid for it. He cleared just $33.50 a year.

In the fall of 1855 he moved his family to Ringgold County, making the journey with two teams and in 21 days. Five milk cows were driven through and supplied the family with butter and milk. They suffered some from cold weather on the way.

Mr. RUBY made his first money in Iowa by trading in land, selling to new settlers as they came in. Mr. Mathew STRONAHAN as has been mentioned in the Record.

The winter of '55/'56 was one which is not likely to be forgotten by the settlers of that day. All the food for more or less had to be hauled from near St. Joseph, Whitesville and Savannah, Missouri. From 10 day to 3 weeks was of time consumed on a trip. $1.00 and $1.25 was of ten paid for corn and $5.00 per cwt for flower.

Toward the close of the winter of 1856 Mr. RUBY borrowed $20.00 of John T. WILLIAMS, who was at the time one of his neighbors, and went to Missouri. He bought corn and flower with it and on the way back he loaned it all out except one sack to persons who were out of anything to eat and had no money to buy with. Part of this was during the "Big Sleet of 1856" before referred to by the Record.

Mr. RUBY's family was at one time with only particles of food of any kind in the house for twenty four hours. They had been on short rations for nearly a week before and some of them were to weak to walk from the lock of sustinanes. Neither horses nor oxen could be used without shoes and the nearest blacksmith shop was 25 miles away at Hopeville [in Clarke County]. Mr. RUBY was about giving up in despair while Mrs. RUBY who had not enjoyed very good health for some time became so prostrated from starvation that she could not sit up straight when in a chair but would set doubled up with her head in her lap. She remembers the dull listless apotholic feeling that gradually came over her often. She had suffered the pangs of hunger for more or less several days. Now she lost all interest in her children and didn't care whether she lived or died. Finally Mr. RUBY obtained less than a peak of buckwheat which was grounded on the coffee mill and supplied the whole family for more than a day. After it was gone a Mr. TAYLOR came through from Hopeville with a load of flour which he sold out at $8.00 per cwt. This flour was black as buckwheat and made bread which would probably be considered a poor article now days, but was no doubt eagerly downed by the half famished family.

The first election held at Asa RUBY's has been spoken of, the second was held at Garret BINDS' the third and succeeding over for several years were held at Mr. James RUBY's. The townships of Jefferson, Lincoln, Grant and Washington called Platte Township. Mrs. RUBY always fed the voters. Mr. RUBY was the first assessor in the township, holding the office two terms.

Like his brother Valentine RUBY, Mr. RUBY never devoted much time to hunting but was counted on extra shot. He helped raise the first school house, spoken of before in another sketch. The first sermon preached in Platte Township and probably the first in the County was preached in the spring of 1856 at Mr. RUBY's house by Rev. William "Billy" WILLIAMS the first preacher on the new circuit.

Mr. RUBY's house was made of round logs and had no floor except one made of large pieces of bark peeled by the Indians, some of these pieces were 8X10 feet in size. For a dinner table one of the pieces of bark was taken up and laid on two forks driven in the ground and one corner of the house. The chimney was of sod, the bedstead was made in another corner and had but one bed post.

Mr. RUBY has successively and successfully filled every Township office. He had been at different times the assessor, Trustee, School Treasurer, Justice of the Peace. For 43 years he has been a member of the M.E. Church in high standing. He has amassed a large fortune in lands and money, much of which he has shared out among his children. He owns 234 acres of highly improved land in South Washington Township. Has what is by universal consent considered the best farmland in the township. Acommondions residence was completed in 1878. He has handled stock largely but is taking life easy now. We are sorry to say he is trying to sell his beautiful home and go to Kansas.

From a series of biographical sketches the Ringgold Recorder published of their subscribers in 1880 and 1881.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009