Ruth Ann Clark was born March 16, 1861 in rural Mitchell County Iowa, to Thomas and Jane (Tibbits) Clark. Thomas and Jane Clark were early pioneers of Mitchell Co. and raised their 10 children just outside of Osage. Ruth lived on the family farm until she was 6 years old, at which time she was
sent to Stoughton, Dane Co. Wisconsin, to live with her grandparents, Edward and Ann (Rolfe) Tibbits. It is unclear why Ruth was chosen to go, and not one of her older sisters, but Ruth stayed and cared for her aging grandparents until she was about 19 years old.
Ruth Ann returned home to Mitchell Co. in 1880. Ruth was just 19 years old when she first set eyes on her father’s farmhand Charles Tubbs. Charles was a son of Caleb C. and Jane Eliza (Harris) Tubbs, also early pioneers of Mitchell County. To see a larger rendition of the photo of Ruth Ann, click here.
Apparently it was love at first sight as Ruth and Charles were married just months later on February 22, 1881 at the Methodist Church in Osage. Years later it was laughingly recalled that on their wedding day, snow was piled as high as the windows, and the bride and groom were unceremoniously thrown into a snowdrift when their cutter overturned, before they were even out of sight of the Clark home.
On May 18, 1883, Ruth and Charles welcomed their first child, Clayton Eugene Tubbs. Brothers John "Ray" in 1886 and Earl Clark in 1891 soon followed.
Sad news though came to the Tubbs’ home in July 1895. Charles’ sister-in-law Martha, wife of his brother Silas had died. Sadness came to the Tubbs’ home again just 7 months later with the news that Silas had been killed while logging in Itasca County Minnesota. With the deaths of both Martha and Silas, a decision was made that Ruth and Charles would take in Silas’s now orphaned daughters, Josie age 5 ½ and Jessie age 3 ½.
By this time Charles was almost 37 years old and Ruth was almost 35. Clayton was 12, Ray was 10, and Earl barely 4 when Josie and Jessie Tubbs joined the family. Just 9 months later, on November 28, 1896, Ruth gave birth to her last child, Ruth Gladys Tubbs. One can only imagine the challenges that Ruth and Charles must have faced having gone from a small family with just 3 sons, to having a family of 3 boys and 3 girls, 6 children in all, within a matter of months. It has always been said though, that Ruth never showed any favoritism between the children, and always treated the children the same. Many people never even knew that Josie and Jessie had been adopted and they were simply considered Ruth’s "daughters".
Charles and Ruth farmed for fifteen years on what was known as the J.R. James farm south of Osage. They also farmed in various other places around Mitchell County.
Farm life came with many hardships and so in 1919, after 38 years of rural life, Ruth and Charles moved into the town of Osage where they lived at 611 Park Street. By this time their children had grown to adulthood and were beginning families of their own.
On February 22, 1931 Charles and Ruth celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Fifty years of marriage was quite an occasion to celebrate and a party was duly hosted by their children at the home of son Ray in rural Osage. Due to the mild weather on this February day, all of their children were able to attend.
Sadly, three years later, and exactly one month before her 73rd birthday, Ruth passed away. She died at the family home on Park Street in Osage, February 16, 1934. She was laid to rest shortly thereafter at the Osage Cemetery.
Ruth was survived by her husband, her children, and by sisters: Ellen (Mrs. John Tibbits), Cora (Mrs. Herman Chidester), Sarah "Elizabeth" (Mrs. Arthur Ball), and by brothers: Edward and William Clark.
Preceding Ruth in death were her parents, Thomas and Jane Clark, and sisters: Margaret (Mrs. Daniel Lombard), Mary Ann (Mrs. Wade S. Clement), Susan (Mrs. Rodman Melvin), Rosette and Sarah Jane who had died as infants, and a brother Fred Clark.
Added notes for Ruth Ann
- Ruth's first son, Clayton Tubbs married Verna Burtch, and they had 2 stillborn children, Helen 1911, and Morris 1913. They adopted a son in 1912 and named him Wendell Burtch Tubbs. Very little is known about Wendell but he evidently resided in Arizona, was married, and had a son named Robert. Clayton and Verna lived in Floyd, Floyd Co., Iowa, not far from Osage.
- Second child of Ruth, John, or "Ray" Tubbs as he was known, married Bessie Button and had 8 children:
- Grace Allene b. 1913 never married
- Helen Rae b. 1916 married (1) James Appleton (2) Jean T. Frazier
- Merlyn Dean b. 1919 stillborn
- Marian Ruth b. 1920 married Cyril Cornwell
- Kathryn Jean b. 1922 married William Gardner
- Shirley Mae b. 1925 married John Tesar
- Betty Caroline b. 1927 married Melvin Warner
- Rollin Ray b. 1930 married Helen Irene Angell
- Ray and Bessie spent their entire lives in the Osage area.
- Ruth's third son, Earl Clark Tubbs was my grandfather. He married (Annie) Gladys Erbe and they had 3 children:
- Joan Marie b. 1921 married William Kenny and resides in Osage
(had 3 children)- Charles Henry b. 1923 married (1) Mary Lou Barnes (2) Barbara Powell, and resides in Oelwein Iowa
(had 1 son stillborn, and 1 adopted daughter)- Phyllis Irene (my mother) b.1933 married Herbert C. McAlister and resided in Austin, Minnesota
(had 5 children)- Earl and Gladys also spent their entire lives in Osage.
- Youngest child of Ruth and Charles Tubbs, Ruth Gladys Tubbs, married Ernest E. Coonradt and they had 2 sons:
- Robert Charles b. 1928 married Delores Rader, (had 3 children)
- Dale Lee b. 1932 married Lois Niewohner, (had 4 children)
- They resided in Waverly Iowa.
- It has been said that Ruth Ann was small in stature but was big in spirit. She was proud of her English heritage and would no doubt be proud of her many descendants.
Written by great-granddaughter of Ruth Ann (Clark) Tubbs,
Kathy (McAlister) Pike August 5, 2003