Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

RUTH,
CALVIN

p. 1169

Surnames: RUTH, KURTZ, LUDWIG, GEHRET, HOLL, DUNDORE, BAER, EMIGH,
GAUL, EBLING, ZERR, MOYER, SPOHN, SHOUP, HAIN, JARVIS, SHEIDY

Calvin Ruth, a young business man of Wyomissing, Berks county,
belongs to a family which has been represented in both Berks and
Lancaster counties from the early days.

(I) Peter Ruth, the first ancestor of whom we have record, was a
farmer by occupation, and operated along the Cacoosing, in
Heidelberg township, Berks county. He and his wife Catherine had
fourteen children: Michael, Jacob, Christian, Peter, George, John,
Henry, Francis, Catherine, Mary, Barbara, Eve, Magdalena and
Margaret. The father of this family died in September, 1771.

(II) Francis Ruth, son of Peter, died in 1809. He and his wife
Elizabeth had eleven children: Elizabeth, John, Henry, Christian,
Catherine, Magdalena, Isaac, Mary, Jacob, Peter, and Rebecca.

(III) Christian Ruth, son of Francis, was born April 20, 1781, in
Berks county, and when a young man removed to Lancaster county, in
the vicinity of Denver, where he carried on farming. His first wife
was a Kurtz, and by her he had six children: Peter, Mary, Henry,
Elizabeth, Francis and Caroline. To him and his second wife,
Susanna (Ludwig), were born four children: Nathan, John, Jacob and
Catherine. Christian Ruth died in 1847.

(IV) Francis Ruth was born in 1815 in East Cocalico township,
Lancaster county, and was there reared to farming. About 1860 he
removed to Berks county, where he died in 1899, at the age of
eighty-four, his wife also being eighty-four years old at the time
of her death, in 1903. He married Magdalena Gehret, and to them
were born children as follows: Isaac married Mary Holl; Elizabeth
married John Dundore; Harriet married John Baer; Susanna married
Adam Emigh; Magdalena married Aaron Gaul; Peter married Annie
Ebling; John married Anna Zerr; Amanda married John E. Moyer;
Francis married Sarah Gehret; Jacob is mentioned below; Sarah
married Lewis E. Spohn; Edwin C. married Emma Moyer; Carolina
married James Shoup; Henry, Ezrom, and Reuben all died young.

(V) Jacob Ruth, son of Francis, was born Oct. 20, 1853, in East
Cocalico, Lancaster county, and was reared to farming, which
vocation he followed for many years in Heidelberg township, Berks
county. He still owns a farm of 158 acres there, which he now
rents, and which is considered one of the most valuable and fertile
tracts in that township. Since the spring of 1903 he has resided at
Wyomissing. Mr. Ruth has not only been an active man of business,
but he has taken an intelligent interest in the public affairs of
the communities in which he has resided, and while in Heidelberg he
served as school director and as treasurer of the school board. He
became the first treasurer of the borough of Wyomissing upon its
organization. In religion he is a member of the Reformed Church,
belonging to Hain’s Church, of which he has been deacon and elder.

In 1873 Mr. Ruth married H. M. Catharine Hain,
daughter of Adam L. and Hannah (Gaul) Hain, of Marion township.
Mrs. Ruth was born July 20, 1854, and died May 28, 1902, the mother
of four children, namely: Eva K., who lives at home; a daughter,
twin to Eva, who died in infancy; Adam P., and Calvin. Of these,
Adam P. Ruth graduated from the Robesonia high school, from the
Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, in 1896, and from a
Reading commercial school. He taught school four terms in
Heidelberg township, and is now a clerk in the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing at Washington, D.C., where he resides. In 1903 he
married Cadella Jarvis, and they have one daughter, Catherine R.,
born in 1905.

(VI) Calvin Ruth was born Oct. 19, 1877, in Lower Heidelberg
township, and attended the public schools in both Heidelberg and
Lower Heidelberg townships, continuing his studies until he was
nineteen years old. He was reared upon the farm, upon which he
worked until 1903, the year in which he established his present
coal business at Wyomissing. Mr. Ruth bought out William E. Sheidy,
built a new house, and greatly improved the yard, which has done a
thriving business under his management. He disposes of between two
thousand and three thousand tons of coal annually, and has built up
this large trade himself, enjoying a good reputation for honorable
dealing. He is well known throughout this territory, running two
daily teams, and has patrons at Shillington, Reading, and along the
Harrisburg pike.

Mr. Ruth is a member of Hain’s Reformed Church.
He also holds membership in Wernersville Lodge, No. 835, I. O. O.
F.

RUTH,
DANIEL

p. 1630

Surnames: RUTH, ROTHERMEL, REINERT, GROSS, KUNTZMAN, DOUGHTY, ELY,
WELLS, GARRETT, MELCHER, KNODERER

Daniel Ruth, for many years a leading business man in the city of
Reading, Pennsylvania, was born April 13, 1822 and died January 11,
1908. He was the son of Benjamin and Susan (Rothermel) Ruth.

The parents of Daniel Ruth were both natives of
Berks county, Pa. His father resided in Cumru township, now Spring
township (where Daniel was born) along the beautiful Cacoosing
Creek, and his mother was a daughter of Peter and Magdalena Iaeger
Rothermel, of Richmond township. Benjamin Ruth was a farmer by
calling. His life was brought to an untimely close when he was
twenty-one years of age. His widow was left with three children,
namely: Henry, Daniel and Mary, who married Charles Reinert. Mrs.
Ruth afterwards married Samuel Gross, and eight children were born
to them, viz.: George Washington; Peter; Catharine; Louisa; Samuel;
Jacob; Susan and Charles, of whom only one, Jacob, now (1909)
survives.

Daniel Ruth was brought up partly under the care
of his uncle, Daniel Rothermel, until he reached the age of
sixteen, and up to that time he attended the district schools of
Berks county. When he had reached a proper age to learn a trade, he
decided upon cabinet making and served his apprenticeship under
Jacob Kuntzman. After working in that line six years, he went to
Reading, Pa., and was there for three years, in the employ of the
Johnson Foundry, engaged in building coal cars. He then took a
position with Jacob Doughty, a manufacturer of agricultural
implements. He had marked business aptitude, and in his various
enterprises succeeded so well that in 1898 he retired from active
business, occupying himself in looking after his property
interests.

In 1842 Mr. Ruth was married to his first wife,
Miss Hannah Ely, who was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. They
enjoyed only thirteen years of wedded life, Mrs. Ruth dying in
1855, leaving four children: George, Margaret Elizabeth (who
married William M. Wells, March 10, 1867), John and Henry. April
22, 1866, Mr. Ruth married his second wife, whose maiden name was
Amanda Garrett, who, with her daughter Susan, their only child,
survives him.

Mr. Ruth was a member of the Reformed Church. In
politics he was a Democrat. He was also one who risked his life for
his country during the Civil War, having been mustered, December
11, 1862, into Company B, under Captain Charles Melcher, 167th
Pennsylvania Regiment, Colonel Charles A. Knoderer, commanding.

RUTH, EDWIN
G.

p. 1442

Surnames: RUTH, GEHRET, KURTZ, LUDWIG, HOLL, DUNDORE, BAER, EMICH,
GAUL, EBLING, ZERR, MOYER, HAIN, SPOHN, SHOUP, DEGLER, REBER

Edwin G. Ruth, county treasurer of Berks from 1903 to 1906, and a
leading and representative citizen of Reading, Pa., was born Jan.
3, 1858, in East Cocalico township, Lancaster Co., Pa., son of
Francis and Magdalena (Gehret) Ruth.

Peter Ruth, the great-great-grandfather of Edwin
G., was a farmer by occupation, and operated along the Cacoosing
creek, in Heidelberg township. To him and his wife, Catherine, were
born fourteen children: Michael, Jacob, Christian, Peter
(1764-1819), George, John, Henry (Sept. 6, 1799-1855), Francis,
Catherine, Mary, Barbara, Eve, Magdalena and Margaret. The father
of these children died in September, 1771. His son Francis Ruth,
who died in 1809, married a lady whose first name was Elizabeth,
and they had eleven children: Elizabeth; John; Henry; Christian;
Catherine; Magdalena; Isaac; Mary; Jacob; Peter; Elizabeth and
Rebecca. Of this family, Christian was born April 20, 1781, in
Berks county, and when a young man removed to Lancaster county, in
the vicinity of Denver, where he carried on farming. His first wife
was a Kurtz, and by her he had six children: Peter; Mary; Henry;
Elizabeth; Francis and Caroline. He married (second) Susanna
Ludwig, and to them were born four children: Nathan; John; Jacob
and Catherine. Christian Ruth died in 1847.

Francis Ruth, father of Edwin G., was born in
East Cocalico township, Lancaster county, in 1815, and was there
reared to farming. About 1860 he removed to Berks county, where he
died in 1899, his wife also being eighty-four years old at the time
of her death in 1903. He married Magdalena Gehret, and to them were
born children as follows: Isaac, who married Mary Holl; Elizabeth,
who married John Dundore; Harriet, who married John Baer; Susanna,
who married Adam Emich; Magdalena, who married Aaron Gaul; Peter,
who married Annie Ebling; John, who married Anna Zerr; Amanda who
married John E. Moyer; Francis, who married Sarah Gehret; Jacob,
who married Hannah Hain; Sarah, who married Lewis E. Spohn; Edwin
G.; Carolina, who married James Shoup; and three who died young.

During Edwin G. Ruth’s infancy his parents
removed to Berks county, locating in the eastern section of
Heidelberg township, near Hain’s Hill. He was educated in the local
schools and in the Womelsdorf Academy, and was reared to farming on
his father’s place, where he remained until he became of age in
1879. He then engaged at farming for himself and continued until
his election to the office of county treasurer, when he gave his
entire attention to his official duties from 1903 to 1906.
Previously he officiated as a school director of Lower Heidelberg
township for nine years, in which time he assisted in erecting nine
township school buildings. He has taken an active interest in
Hain’s Church for many years, serving as deacon and as elder. He
assisted in organizing the Wernersville National Bank and became on
of the directors on the board. Mr. Ruth was married to Emma Moyer,
daughter of John and Mary (Degler) Moyer of Heidelberg township,
and to this union there have been born five children: Tillie Emma,
who married Dr. Conrad S. Reber; Edna; Katie; Laura, and one child
which died young. Tillie and Edna were graduated from the Keystone
State Normal school, the latter being a teacher of the public
school in Spring township; and Katie took a special course in the
Parisian school of tailoring and designing at Philadelphia, from
which she was graduated with the highest honors.

RUTH,
ISAAC

p. 1634

Surnames: RUTH, HOLL, SPATZ, EIDELL, KAUFFMAN, WAGNER, MOYER

Isaac Ruth, one of the supervisors of Lower Heidelberg township,
and a son of Francis Ruth, was born in the vicinity of Denver,
Lancaster county, Sept.23, 1841, and was there educated and trained
to farming. When he was sixteen years old, he went to Cumberland
county, found employment with a farmer near Shippensburg, and while
assisting his employer in stock raising and farming operations,
obtained an English education. He remained two years, and then
returning home, accompanied his father to Heidelberg township,
Berks county, where the latter had purchased a large farm. After
assisting his father three years, he married and moved to Reading,
where he was employed as a teamster at the Krick Grist Mill,
situated along the Canal, near the Lebanon Valley Railroad. He
continued at this employment three years, and then assisted Rick
Brothers in putting up their foundry, working for them in all two
years. He next engaged in the manufacture of hand-made building
brick, with his plant in Ricktown, along Schuylkill avenue. He had
been engaged in this business for about thirteen years, when he was
appointed highway commissioner for the Western District of Reading,
and he sold out his business. He served as commissioner eight
years, and then engaged in farming along the Tulpehocken Creek, in
Bern township, and at building operations with the West Reading
Building Association for several years. After 1893 he engaged in
farming on his forty-acre farm in Lower Heidelberg township,
one-half mile west of Sinking Spring. He sold this farm in the
spring of 1907, and a year later moved into his own residence at
No. 141 North Front street, Reading, where he has since lived
retired. Under the new Road Law, which became operative in 1906, he
was elected one of the road commissioners of Lower Heidelberg, and
he is now filling his first term. He is a stanch Democrat.

In 1862 Mr. Ruth married Mary Holl, daughter of
Peter and Catharine (Spatz) Holl, of Lower Heidelberg township. She
died in 1872, aged thirty years. The children born of this union
were: Susanna Elizabeth m. Franklin Eidell; Emma Amanda m. Nicholas
Kauffman; Francis H. m. Cora Wagner; and a son died young. In 1876
Mr. Ruth married (second) Amanda Moyer, daughter of William Moyer,
of Spring township, and four children have been born of this union:
Sallie Ann, William Isaac, Eva Magdalena, and a son that died in
infancy.

RUTH, JOHN
A.

p. 1138

Surnames: RUTH, ALLSPACH, POTTEIGER, DEPPEN, BOWMAN, BECHER,
FEENEY, LEWIS, YEAGER, WILLETS

John A. Ruth, who died in Reading April 17, 1901, belonged to a
family long resident in Berks county, and was born there in Spring
township, Sept. 17, 1839. son of John and Rebecca (Allspach) Ruth.

John Ruth owned two very valuable farms in
Spring township, and was also extensively engaged in buying and
selling cattle. He was a prominent man in that region during his
day, and was also well known in Reading, where many of the older
citizens still remember him. He died during the early sixties, aged
eighty-five years. He and his wife had seven children namely:
Cyrus, of Sinking Spring; Eliza, m. to William Potteiger; John A.;
Henry Y.; Sarah, m. to Samuel Deppen; and two that died in infancy.
The family were members of the Reformed Church, and in politics Mr.
Ruth was a Democrat.

John A. Ruth was educated in the common schools
of Spring township, and remained at home until he was eighteen
years old. He then began working in the iron mines in that
township, and spent several years in that employment, but later he
came to Reading, and was thereafter identified with that city. At
first he was in the hotel business on South Sixth street, and later
was with the Harbster Iron Company. From there he went to a
position with John Bowman, a wholesale liquor dealer, located on
Penn street, between Third and Fourth, and was still employed by
him at the time of his death in 1901. Mr. Ruth always supported the
Democratic party in politics, and in religion he was a Lutheran. At
one time he was a member of the P. O. S. of A., but later took his
name from its rolls.

During the Civil war Mr. Ruth enlisted in the
Union army, but in a short time was discharged on account of
disability, as he had contracted a chronic intestinal trouble.

On Sept. 21, 1872, John A. Ruth married Ellen,
daughter of Patrick and Mary (Becher) Feeney, of Chester county,
the former a native of Ireland. Mrs. Ruth was born in this country
in Leesport, Pa. Five children were the issue of this union,
namely: Lillie, m. to Joseph Lewis; Nora, m. to Luther Yeager;
Mary; Grace; and Minnie, deceased. Luther Yeager, who is now
employed by the Philadelphia & Reading railroad, enlisted
during the Spanish-American war in Company A, 4th Pa. V. I., under
Capt. Willets, and served in Puerto Rico, being honorably
discharged in November, 1898.

RUTH, JOHN
J.

p. 1700

Surnames: RUTH, HEDRICH, STUMP. SPEICHER, BALTHASER, BOYER,
STRAUSE, SPATZ, LEASE

John J. Ruth, proprietor of the historic “Cacoosing Hotel,” in
Lower Heidelberg township, near the Spring township line, has been
located there since 1903. He is a native of Penn township, this
county, born May 10, 1863, and was reared on the parental farm in
North Heidelberg township. He received his education in the public
schools.

When he was eighteen years old, Mr. Ruth started
out in life for himself as a farmer, but after he had been away
from home one year his father again desired his services, and he
accordingly returned to his parents, working for them nine years
longer. He then engaged in farming on his own account in Penn
township, on Reuben Hedrich’s farm, upon which he lived as a tenant
for ten years. In the spring of 1903 he sold his farm stock and
purchased the “Cacoosing Hotel” property, including a farm of
twenty-nine acres, from the Adam Stump estate. He has made his home
there eve since, conducting this well-known Hostelry, which is
patronized by the traveling public and many Reading people. Mr.
Ruth is an obliging landlord, doing everything in his power for the
comfort and convenience of his guests.

Mr. Ruth has been twice married. His first wife,
Lydia (Speicher) Ruth, died five years after her marriage, the
mother of a son and a daughter, twins. The son died in infancy, but
the daughter Lillie is still surviving. Mr. Ruth’s second marriage
was to Maggie L., daughter of John and Louisa (Balthaser) Ruth. No
children have been born to this union. Mr. Ruth and his family are
Lutheran members of the Bern Union Church, and fraternally he is a
member of Lodge No. 835, I. O. O. F.; and Washington Camp, No. 99,
P. O. S. of A., both of Wernersville. He is a Democrat in political
belief.

Israel Ruth, father of John J. Ruth, was born in
1824. He was a shoemaker by trade and followed that occupation in
his earlier years, later conducting a farm. He married Catharine
Boyer, who died in 1890, and both are buried at the Corner Church
in Heidelberg township. Mr. and Mrs. Israel Ruth had eight
children, as follows: Joshua, is a resident of Reading; Mary m.
Levi Strause, of Reading; William lives in San Francisco, Cal.;
Emma m. George W. Spatz, of Robesonia, Pa.; Sarah m. Aaron Lease,
of Reading; John J.; and two died in infancy and are buried at the
Bern Church.

Jonas Ruth, grandfather of John J. Ruth, lived
in the vicinity of Reading. Three of his four children were:
Josephus, Israel, and John.

RUTH, JOHN
J.

p. 833

Surnames: RUTH, RICK, LOOSE, KELLER, SPATZ, GOODHARD, ADAMS,
SUTTON, KNUCKLES

John J. Ruth. Among the representative citizens of Cumru township,
Berks county, none is more worthy of mention than John J. Ruth, who
conducts the leading general store of Millmont. He was born Sept.
19, 1853, in Tulpehocken township, Berks county, son of John L.
Ruth.

Jacob Ruth, grandfather of John J., was a
leading agriculturist and highly esteemed citizen of Heidelberg
township, where all of his life was spent, and where his wife also
died. They were the parents of: Samuel, Lewis, Mrs. Charles Rick,
Mrs. Benjamin Loose, and John L.

John L. Ruth was born in Heidelberg township,
and early in life engaged in farming, being also interested in a
hotel business for many years. He died in Reading, at the age of
eighty-seven years, and his wife died when eighty-four years old,
and both were interred in the Charles Evans cemetery. Their
children were: Alfred, Cyrus, James and Adams, deceased; John J.;
George, a blacksmith of Reading; and Morris, of Millmont;
Priscilla, wife of William Keller, of Centre Hall, Centre Co., Pa.;
Eliza, wife of Daniel Spatz, of Missouri; Ellen, deceased wife of
William Goodhard, of Exeter township; and Mrs. Richard Adams, of
Farmington, Missouri.

John J. Ruth attended the public schools of
Tulpehocken township and the City of Reading, and as a boy engaged
in farm work, later learning the blacksmith’s trade, which he
followed for a period of four years. His first business venture was
in the tobacco and confectionery trade, at Reading, where he
successfully continued for seven years, and in January, 1902, he
came to Millmont and established his present business, which has
grown to large proportions. Mr. Ruth carries a full line of flour,
feed, groceries and notions, and in these commodities he has become
the leading dealer of this section.

Mr. Ruth was married to Miss Lillie Sutton, who
died in 1892, the mother of one child, Rosie (m. Jacob Knuckles, of
Missouri, and has three children). In political matters Mr. Ruth is
independent. He attends St. John’s Reformed Church.

RUTH,
LEONARD M.

p. 519

Surnames: RUTH, DUNDORE, WEINHOLD, HAIN, MOYER, ROTHENBERGER,
FISHER, HUYETT, SCHOLL, YODER, MENGLE, MENGEL, SHOUP, KIND,
GERHARD, GERHART, LAMM, KLINE

Leonard M. Ruth, cashier of the Wernersville National Bank, of
Wernersville, Pa., was born in Lower Heidelberg township, son of
James H. and Catharine (Dundore) Ruth.

Leonard Ruth, Mr. Ruth’s great-grandfather, was
a son of Michael Ruth, and carried on farming near Hain’s Church.
He married Elizabeth Weinhold, of Cumru (now Spring) township, and
they had ten children, four of whom died in infancy. The others
were: Isaac, Josiah, Levi, Elizabeth, Michael W. and Leonard.

Michael W. Ruth, son of Leonard, was a farmer of
Lower Heidelberg township. He was born in 1830, and died in 1905.
He married Catharine Hain, daughter of John Hain, and she died
shortly after her husband’s death at the age of seventy-four years.
They had six children: James H. (father of Leonard M.); Frank P.
(died young); J. Hain (m. Mary Moyer, and after her decease Jennie
Rothenberger); Ellen (m. Samuel R. Fisher); Emma (m. Garson M.
Huyett); and Mary (died young).

James H. Ruth, father of Leonard M., was born in
Lower Heidelberg township in 1852, educated in the local schools,
and brought up to farming, which occupation he has followed up to
the present time. He officiated as a school director of the
township, for three terms, and also as treasurer, deacon and elder
of the Hain’s Church for nine years. He married Catharine Dundore,
daughter of John D. and Sarah A. (Scholl) Dundore. Mr. Dundore was
brought up on a farm in Bern township, and carried on farming
operations in Lower Heidelberg township. Mr. Ruth had six children:
Leonard M.; Jennie (m. Amos Yoder); and Elizabeth, Ellen, Laura,
and Mary, all of whom are single.

Leonard M. Ruth was born Aug. 2, 1875, and was
educated in the local schools. He graduated from the West Chester
State Normal School in 1895, and then taught public school for
eleven years – in Lower Heidelberg township four years, and as
principal of the Robesonia high school for seven years. Upon the
organization of the Wernersville National Bank in 1906, he was
chosen one of the directors and cashier, and he has officiated as
such until now in a highly satisfactory manner.

In 1904 Mr. Ruth was elected treasurer and
deacon in the Hain’s Church, and served as such for two years. He
was one of the charter members of the Citizens’ Hose Company No. 1,
for the protection of the people of the village from fire, and has
since maintained an active membership.

Mr. Ruth married Laura E. Mengle, daughter of
Samuel G. and Agnes (Shoup) Mengle, of Lower Heidelberg township.
Mrs. Laura E. Ruth was born Oct. 19, 1875, in Muhlenberg township.

The great-grandfather of Mrs. Laura E. Ruth was
Daniel Mengel, of Richmond township. He married Susanna Kind, and
they both lived to the age of eighty-seven years. They were the
parents of eighteen children, one of whom, Samuel, was the
grandfather of Mrs. Ruth. He was a farmer in Maiden-creek township,
and he married Henrietta Gerhard, of Alsace township, by whom he
had four children, Nathaniel, David Llewellyn, Rebecca Jane and
Samuel G.

Dr. Samuel G. Mengle, father of Mrs. Ruth, was
born April 19, 1850, in Ontelaunee township. He was educated in the
local schools, and graduated from the Jefferson Medical College, of
Philadelphia, in 1870. On Jan. 1, 1872, he married Agnes Shoup,
daughter of Richard Shoup, and they had four children, Stella,
Laurant, Laura and Carrie, all but Mrs. Ruth dying young. Mrs.
Agnes (Shoup) Mengle, the mother of Mrs. Ruth, was born Dec. 24,
1854, in Cumru township, was educated in the local schools, and
died in 1883. Two years after the death of Mrs. Mengle, Dr. Mengle
moved to Peru, Ill., where he married a second time, and where he
is now practising medicine.

Richard Shoup, the maternal grandfather of Mrs.
Ruth, was a farmer of Cumru township, who died in 1896, at the age
of sixty-seven years. He married Elvina Gerhart, daughter of John
B. Gerhart, of Lower Heidelberg, by whom he had one daughter,
Agnes. After the death of Elvina (Gerhart) Shoup in 1866, Richard
Shoup married (second) Kate Lamm. They had three children, Thomas,
Emma, and Adalaide.

John B. Gerhart, the maternal great-grandfather
of Mrs. Ruth, married Sarah Kline, and had five children: Elvina,
Sarah, Ellenora, Rebecca, and John K.

Owing to the early death of her mother, Mrs.
Laura E. Ruth, at the age of seven years was placed into the care
of John K. Gerhart, and his sister Rebecca. She was reared in Lower
Heidelberg township, educated in the local schools, and for a few
terms attended Albright College, Myerstown, Pennsylvania.

RUTH,
LEVI

p. 1695

Surnames: RUTH, PAFF, HIESTER, HAAS, FISHER, KEGERIAS, SLOATS,
SNYDER, ARNOLD, REESER, O’BOYLE, BRITTON, LEHR, FEATHER, BUCHER,
MECK, SHADE

Levi Ruth, who was for many years engaged in cigar manufacturing in
the city of Reading, Pa., was a native of Lebanon county, born Feb.
19, 1841, son of Benevelle and Catherine (Paff) Ruth and grandson
of Jonathan Ruth.

Jonathan Ruth, who was a highly esteemed citizen
of Heidelberg township, devoted all of his life to agricultural
pursuits, and died stanch in the faith of the Reformed Church. He
married Katie Hiester, and to them were born these children:
Gabriel m. Nellie Haas; Joseph m. Susan Fisher; Levi m. Mary
Kegerias; Beneville; Catherine m. Harrison Sloats; Johanna m. Henry
Snyder; Rebecca and Susan died single; and Caroline.

Benevelle Ruth was born between Wernersville and
Sinking Spring, in Heidelberg township, and was reared on the home
farm, on which he remained until about nineteen years of age. At
this time he came to Reading, where he was employed in a blacksmith
shop for some time, later worked at the Krick mill and Bushong
Brothers’ farm and distillery, and finally engaged with the
Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, in whose shops he continued
until his retirement. He married Catherine Paff, daughter of Jonas
Paff, an early settler of Alsace township, and to this union there
were born nine children: Solomon; Benevelle, who lost his life in
the Civil war; Levi; Rebecca, m. to Thomas Arnold; Amanda, m. to
John Reeser; Mary, m. to William O’Boyle; Sarah, m. to John A.
Britton, and two who died in infancy. In religious belief the
family were connected with the Reformed Church. Mr. Ruth was
originally a Democrat in politics, but at the time of his death was
an ardent supporter of Republican principles.

When seven years of age Levi Ruth was brought to
Reading by his parents, and in this city he secured his education
in the common schools, after leaving which he took up cigar making,
a business which he followed practically all of his life, being
foreman for Mr. George W. Lehr, on Penn street, at the time of his
death. He was a skilled mechanic and excellent workman, and had the
full confidence and esteem of his employers. He died April 30,
1889.

In June, 1870, Mr. Ruth married Miss Emma
Feather, daughter of Rebecca Feather, and granddaughter of Samuel
and Mary (Bucher) Feather, and two children were born to this
union: Mary R., m. Harry C. Meck, and had two children – Harold. R.
and Robert C.; and Emma C. m. C. W. Shade, and also had two
children – Marion R. and Emily K.

RUTH, MORRIS
M.

p. 1075

Surnames: RUTH, LUDWIG, MOYER, FISHER, KELLER, SPATZ, ADAMS,
GOODHARD, FATZ, HASSEL, FRICKER, WESTLEY

Morris M. Ruth, who in November, 1908, moved from Millmont to
Reading, was an experienced core-maker, connected with the large
foundry plant of Orr & Sembower, at Millmont, Pa. He was born
Nov. 2, 1860, in Marion township, Berks county, youngest of the
eleven children of John L. Ruth.

John L. Ruth was a son of Frederick Ruth and
wife (whose maiden name was Ludwig). He married Matilda Moyer,
daughter of George W. and Barbara (Fisher) Moyer, and they had
eleven children: Alfred; Cyrus; John; James; Adam; George;
Prissilla m. William H. Keller; Alize m. Daniel F. Spatz; Matilda
m. Richard Adams; Ellen m. William Goodhard; and Morris M.

Mr. Ruth attended the schools of his native
township and those of the city of Reading, and at the age of
fourteen years began carrying papers. For about one year he was
employed in the drilling department of the Reading Hardware
Company, and for two years at the Rick foundry. At the age of
eighteen years he went to Missouri, where he spent three years,
being engaged in farm work and railroading. Returning to Berks
county at the end of that time, he was again employed at the
Reading Hardware Company’s works, but after a short time went back
to Missouri, remaining two years. He then again returned to his
native county, and for ten years was successfully engaged in a
retail milk business in Reading, but in 1898 located in Millmont,
where for a short time he was employed in the pipe mill and later
in the stove works. Mr. Ruth then became connected with the firm of
Orr & Sembower as a core-maker, a position he filled most
efficiently. On Nov. 3, 1908, he moved to No. 428 Wunder street,
Reading.

In 1884 Mr. Ruth married Annie B. Fatz, daughter
of Adam and Cecelia C. (Hassel) Fatz, of Reading, and to them have
been born the following children: William J., a stove-plate moulder
by trade, m. Mary Fricker; Nathan I., a machinery moulder by trade,
and employed at the Orr & Sembower plant at Millmont, was
formerly president of Camp No. 678, P. O. S. of A., Reading, and
was elected in July, 1906, president of the moulders’ union of
Reading, being a young man of much executive ability, well and
favorably known in union circles; Cecelia C. m. Author Westley, of
Reading; and Annie M. is at school. Mr. Ruth erected a pleasant
home at Millmont in 1900, where they resided until the removal to
Reading. They attend the Reformed Church. In political matters Mr.
Ruth is a Democrat, and fraternally he is connected with Camp No.
689, P. O. S. of A., Reading; Independent Americans, Lodge No. 27,
Reading; Iron Moulders’ Union, and since 1882 with the Keystone
Fire Company. Mrs. Ruth is also prominent is several fraternities
including St. Bernard Temple, L. G. E., No. 16, Reading; Daughters
of Liberty No. 122, Reading; and Dames of Malta No. 22, Reading.

RUTH,
WILLIAM H.

p. 893

Surnames: RUTH, PAHM, BOYER, FISHER, KRICK, ECKENROTH, KINTZER,
BEHM, BERTREM, RADER, LEISZ, ADDAMS, HOFFMAN, HOMAN, YODER, MINKER,
KOCHER,

William H. Ruth, a well-to-do business man of Berks county, who
conducts the “Railroad House” at Sinking Spring, was born Jan. 7,
1863, in Brickerville, Lancaster county, son of Henry F. Ruth.

Philip Ruth, the great-grandfather of William
H., was born Aug. 1, 1776, and died June 9, 1833, after a life
spent in agricultural pursuits in Spring township. He is buried at
Sinking Spring, where the remains of his wife, Elizabeth, are also
interred. Mr. and Mrs. Ruth had these children: Peter settled in
Lancaster county; Molly, who married Jacob Pahm, died in Sinking
Spring; Elizabeth, who married Bennewell Boyer, died in Heidelberg
township; Absalom was the grandfather of William H.; Thomas lived
in Spring township.

Absalom Ruth, born Jan. 4, 1807, in Spring
township, died April 13, 1873. He was a farmer all of his life,
carrying on operations in Spring and Heidelberg townships. He
married Annie Fisher, born May 20, 1802, who died Dec. 3, 1890,
daughter of William and Margaret (Krick) Fisher, and to this union
there were born: Isaac, who died when four years of age; Samuel,
who died in Heidelberg township; Henry F., father of William H.;
Abraham, who died in Exeter township, Mary, who married Samuel
Eckenroth; Absalom W., living at Adamstown; Ellen, deceased, who
married George Kintzer; Catherine, who married Jacob Behm; Lemon,
who resides at Reading; and Richard and Emma, who died young.

Henry F. Ruth was born in Spring township, Berks
Co., Pa., Feb. 28, 1863. After attending the common schools of
Spring township, he began farming, first in Spring township, and
then in Clay township, Lancaster Co., Pa., locating there inn 1861.
After six years in that locality he returned to Spring township
where he made his home for fifteen years. His next move was to
Muhlenberg township, near Hyde Park, and for two years he farmed
and then entered a hotel business at West Reading. After three and
one-half years there he operated the “Bellview Hotel” at Hyde Park,
for two and one-half years. The following six years he spent at
Reading, where he was a successful grocer until his retirement, in
1898, when he returned to Hyde Park. He now lives retired. In
addition to his work as farmer, hotel man and grocer, Mr. Ruth
served his country in her extremity, enlisting in Company F, 179th
P. V. I., and after nine months’ faithful service received his
honorable discharge at Heidelberg, July 27, 1863.

On Sept. 10, 1857, Mr. Ruth was married to
Rebecca Bertrem, daughter of Jonathan and Ellen (Rader) Bertrem.
Mrs. Ruth died March 25, 1906, aged seventy years, and is buried at
Sinking Spring. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Ruth: Hannah A. married Peter Leisz and lives at Zion City, Ill.;
Martin L. married Anna Addams, of West Reading; William H. is
mentioned below; Anna F. married Charles Hoffman, of Columbia, Pa.;
Absalom was killed on the East Pennsylvania railroad, at the age of
twenty-three years; Ellen N. married Harry Homan, and resides at
Hyde Park; Emma E. married William Yoder of Hyde Park; Milton B.,
unmarried, resides at Reading; Debbie M. is the widow of Jacob
Hoffman, who met his death on the Lebanon Valley railroad bridge;
Sadie C. married George Minker, of Reading. With a good business
record, a gallant war service, and a large family of children all
in comfortable circumstances, Mr. Ruth is enjoying his present ease
in his declining years, and is looked up to not only by his family,
but by those who have been his companions and friends for many
years.

William H. Ruth during his youth attended school
in Spring and Lower Heidelberg townships, Berks county. He also
learned the butcher’s trade while farming, and when he had mastered
this occupation engaged in butchering for sixteen years at
Tuckerton, thus continuing until 1898, when he branched out into a
produce business, which he developed successfully, continuing it
until 1902, when he purchased the “Railroad House.” He has since
carried this place on to the satisfaction of his visitors and his
own financial profit.

Mr. Ruth was married to Isabella Kocher, of
Berks county. They have no children. In political faith he is a
Democrat, and has always been actively interested in the welfare of
the community. He is a prominent member of the Reformed Church, at
Tuckerton, Pa., and a liberal contributor. Fraternally Mr. Ruth is
a member of the Knights of Malta, commandery No. 47, Reading; the
I. O. O. F., also at Reading, and the P. O. S. of A., at Hyde Park.
He is genial and enterprising, and a man who understands his
business and the principles of true American citizenship.

RUTH,
WILLIAM H.

p. 869

Surnames: RUTH, HATT, ORR, WHITMAN, HAAS, STRUK, RINTZ, HOOVER

William H. Ruth, a leading citizen and school director of Spring
township, Berks county, who is quite extensively engaged in truck
farming, was born March 13, 1866, at Fritztown, Pa., son of Daniel
and Catherine (Hatt) Ruth, and a member of one of the best-known
and most numerous families of Pennsylvania.

Peter Ruth, great-grandfather of William H., was
a farmer whose property was situated along the Cacoosing Creek, in
Heidelberg township. He died in September, 1771. To him and his
wife, Catherine, were born the following children: Michael, Jacob,
Christian, Peter (born in 1764, died in 1819), George, John, Henry,
Francis, Catherine, Mary, Barbara, Eve, Magdalena and Margaret.

Henry Ruth, son of Peter and grandfather of
William H., was born Sept. 6, 1799, and died in 1855. He was an
agriculturist of Fritztown, owning what is now the well-known Hill
Side Stock Farm, the property of Harry Orr. Henry Ruth married,
Sept. 26, 1819, Elizabeth Ruth, born July 19, 1796, and to them
were born the following children: Abraham, born July 27, 1820;
Charles, born Sept. 26, 1822, died June 11, 1823; Charles, born
Dec. 31, 1825; Henry, born July 27, 1824, died Nov. 3, 1829; Lewis,
born June 3, 1831; and Daniel, born Jan. 11, 1836.

Daniel Ruth, father of William H., was born Jan.
11, 1836, in Spring township, and died Sept. 1, 1897. In early life
he engaged in clerking in the country store at Fritztown, where
later he became a partner, but subsequently embarked in
agricultural pursuits, and for many years operated a twenty-five
acre farm at Fritztown. Mr. Ruth was a well-known citizen of his
community, and enjoyed a reputation for honesty, integrity and
public spirit. He was buried at Sinking Spring Church, of which he
was a member. In politics he was a Democrat, and for many years
collected the tax in Spring township.

Daniel Ruth was married to Catherine Hatt, born
in August, 1838, who now resides on the homestead at Fritztown, and
to them there were born these children: Marcus D., a merchant of
Sinking Spring; LaFayette R., who married Lizzie Whitman; Emanuel,
of Gouglersville; Rebecca, who died unmarried; William H.; Jacob,
who is unmarried and lives at home; Katie, who married Franklin
Haas, of Fritztown; and Emma, who married Pierce Struk, of Mohnton.

William H. Ruth was educated in the township
schools, and later attended Lebanon Valley College at Annville for
two terms. In 1891 he engaged in truck farming, having prior to
that time clerked in a store and engaged in cigar-making for one
and one-half years. His twenty-five acres of good land are well
cultivated, and he has been successful to a high degree. In
politics Mr. Ruth is a Republican, and although the district is
strongly Democratic, in the spring of 1902 he was elected school
director, and three years later re-elected to that office by a
large majority. He is greatly interested in educational matters,
and is an intelligent and progressive official. He and his family
are members of Zion U. E. Church, of Mohnton, Pennsylvania.

In 1891 Mr. Ruth was married to Rosa Rintz, born
June 7, 1866, daughter of Casper and Rosa (Hoover) Rintz, of
Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Ruth have had eight children, namely:
Franklin P., who died aged two months, seven days; Catherine R.;
Jacob D.; Annie E.; Charles H.; Hattie N.; Edna V., and Adam C.