GEORGE M. RUBY
George
M. Ruby is conducting the only furniture and undertaking
concern in Seymour and in the conduct of his business affairs
has displayed such excellent judgment and ability that he is
now ranked among the representative and substantial men of the
community. A
native of Iowa, he was born in Van Buren county on December
12, 1858, and is a son of H. T. and Melissa (Fender) Ruby,
natives of Indiana. On
the maternal side Mr. Ruby is a descendant of the Harlan
family, representatives of which came to America from Scotland
in 1687 and established a family line which has been unbroken
since that time. Among
the most honored men who bore the name were Chief Justice
Harlan and E. R. Harlan, curator of the State University of
Iowa. In all
there are about twenty-five hundred representatives of this
family in America at the present time.
The grandfather of the subject of this review on the paternal side was Tilford Ruby, who was born in Kentucky and went to Indiana at an early date, farming in that state until his death. The father of our subject was married in Indiana, September 23, 1855, and in the same year he settled in Van Buren county, whence he moved to Wayne county in 1875. His death occurred in this section in 1892 but his wife survives, making her home in Seymour. Adherence to the principles of the republican party has long been a tradition in the Ruby family and the father of our subject was stanch in his support of the men and measures of that organization. Moreover, he took an active and helpful part in the public life of Wayne county and for two terms served as mayor of Seymour. He was a member of the Christian church and a man of high moral character, exemplifying in all the relations of his life the doctrines and principles in which he believed. He was the father of three children: J. F., a farmer who resides in Seymour; George M., of this review; and Willis, who was born in January, 1862, and who is now engaged in farming in Oklahoma.
George
M. Ruby acquired a common-school education and spent his
childhood upon his father’s farm. He aided in the work of the fields until
1896 and then abandoned farming in favor of commercial
pursuits, becoming identified with the furniture and
undertaking business in Seymour. Since that time he has conducted a
profitable enterprise, showing himself at all times forceful
and reliable in business affairs, and these qualities have
brought him rapid and well deserved prosperity.
On
September 23, 1888, Mr. Ruby married Miss Martha Keller, a
daughter of Henry and Belle (Hedrich) Keller, natives of
Virginia, who came to Iowa in 1861 and located in Appanoose
county, where the father followed farming. Mr. and Mrs. Ruby
had three children: Glenn,
who was born in 1889 and who is now a mining engineer residing
in Nebraska; Elsie, whose birth occurred on the 5th
of August, 1891, and who died April 13, 1892; and Lawrence,
who was born in June, 1893, and who was for some time a
bookkeeper in the Peoples Savings Bank at Seymour and now is
associated with his father in business. Mr. and Mrs. Ruby
are members of the Christian church.
Mr. Ruby is prominent in the Masonic order, holding membership in the lodge and chapter, and he is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and for eight years he served with ability and conscientiousness as a member of the school board. He is an active and willing worker for the upbuilding and advancement of Wayne county and stands high in the regard of all who know him.