William Reuben Rumbaugh
WILLIAM REUBEN RUMBAUGH, for many years identified with the oil fields of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Texas and Louisiana, was born at Hillville, Perry township, Armstrong county, Pa., April 7, 1864, a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Elder) Rumbaugh.John Rumbaugh, his paternal grandfather, was born in Eastern Pennsylvania and was an early settler in Perry township. By trade he was a tailor and followed that calling during the larger part of his life. He married Betsey Truby, and seven children were born to them, namely: William B., Marshall, Simeon, George W., Christopher, Polly (wife of Andrew Grinder) and Eliza (wife of Harrison Risher).
George W. Rumbaugh, son of John, was born in Perry township, Armstrong county, and is a carpenter by trade. During the oil excitement in the sixties he built a large number of derricks in the oil fields of his native State and in West Virginia. In 1882 he moved to Grapeville, Pa., and in 1901 from there to Texas, and at the time of his death resided at Mooringsport, La., being engaged in contracting in the oil districts in that vicinity. He died there Dec. 1, 1913. He married Elizabeth Elder, daughter of James Elder, and eight children were born to them, as follows: John M.; Nancy J., who is deceased; William R.; Ida M., who is now deceased, was the wife of Daniel Jordan; Charles E.; Electa Lavina, who is the wife of William Baker; Rolandus C., and James E.
William R. Rumbaugh was reared in Perry township and received his education in the common schools, afterward working as a carpenter and driller in the oil fields of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Texas and Louisiana, up to January, 1910. In March of that year he purchased the farm of 222 acres, situated in Perry township, on which he still resides. Mr. Rumbaugh was married Dec. 15, 1897, to Amelia Hardt, a daughter of Conrad and Theresa (Gipe) Hardt, of Allegheny county, Pa., but natives of Germany. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rumbaugh, namely: George E., William Floyd, Robert T., Bertha C., and Eddie and Edna, twins. Mrs. Rumbaugh is a member of the German Lutheran Church. Politically Mr. Rumbaugh is identified with the Republican party, and fraternally he is a member of Lodge No. 1112. I. O. O. F., of Hoboken, Pa., and Lodge No. 85, B. P. O. Elks.
Source: Page 447, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed September 2001 by Vaughn Davis for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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