Walker - Palmer Genealogy Web Site
Jonathan Royce
Death*: UNKNOWN Family:
Mary Royce Pop-up Pedigree Birth*: New London, Connecticut Parents:
Mary Royce Pop-up Pedigree Birth*: 19 November 1701, Norwich, New London, Connecticut Parents:
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Polly Royce Death*: Family:
Ruth Royce Pop-up Pedigree Marriage*: Principal=Caleb Chappell Parents:
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Sarah Royce Pop-up Pedigree Birth*: October 1665, Norwich, Connecticut Parents:
?? Rucke Marriage*: Principal=Robert Rooke Family:
Alice Rucke Pop-up Pedigree Burial*: Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, England Parents:
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Louisa Jane Ruckman Birth*: 28 December 1845, Agency City, Wapello County, Iowa, U.S.A. Family:
Alma Rugg Death*: Family:
Jane (Brigg?) Rugg Death*: UNKNOWN Family:
Rebecca Ruggells Marriage*: 6 November 1684, Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, Principal=Israel Read Family:
Clarence Ruggles Pop-up Pedigree Death*: Parents:
Edward Ruggles Death*: Family:
Elmer Ruggles Pop-up Pedigree Death*: Parents:
Amelia 'Mina' Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Marriage*: Principal=(?) Hesselschwerdt Parents:
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Anna Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Marriage*: Principal=(?) Fleissner Parents:
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Bertha 'Bert' Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Note*: Bertha 'Bert' Ruhlman took care of her mother, Caroline Baltzly Ruhlmanuntil Caroline died, Bertha had a stroke and died 7 December 1956. Parents:
Carrie Addie Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Burial*: Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls County, New York, U.S.A. Parents:
Carrie E. 'Tut' Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Burial*: Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls County, New York, U.S.A. Parents:
Clara Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Note*: Parents:
Clara Edith Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Note*: Remembrances of Clara Ruhlman Mc Cue (Born April 6, 1899 in Niagara Falls, New York, - Died October 9,1994 in Honolulu, Hawaii) -- She was the sister to our John JacobRuhlman II (born December 19, 1877 in Buffalo, New York, Died November 1, 1953, Niagara Falls, New York) -- As interviewed by her daughter Pat (Mc Cue) Paakaula in Honolulu,Honolulu Co., Hawaii in 1989 -- 'IT’S FUN JUST THINKING ABOUT THINGS THAT HAPPENED SOLONG AGO!' 'The Ruhlman Family came first from New York City, then to Orchard Park,Buffalo, and Niagara Falls in Erie County, New York. I’m not sure whenthey came to Niagara Falls. My father, JOHN JACOB RUHLMAN I (bornSeptember 27, 1852 in N.Y., N.Y.) fell from the roof while painting theCathedral in Buffalo and was never the same until he died. It wasevidently a very important job. He was not in good health until hisdeath (Feb. 20, 1920), in Niagara Falls, N.Y.) He decided at one timeto open a seafood place because lots of fish were available -- it wassmall and didn't do very well -- there were many other bigger places atthat time.' 'My mother (CAROLINE BALTZLY - born March 10, 1857 in Buffalo, N.Y., diedApril 21, 1928 in Niagara Falls) was a very gentle person -- quiet - infact too much so. We used to get angry at her for not telling somebodyoff --- But she never would. She was a very peaceful, quiet person.' 'My father (John Jacob Ruhlman I) had a very quick temper which, for alittle bit would be really quite violent -- but after it was over he wasalways very, very remorseful. For some reason or another (I guess I wasthe youngest child and very, very small), after one of those spells Iwould always go into the bedroom and sit by him and hold his hand -- heliked that! He was always very remorseful.' 'Our house (2507 - 13th St., Suspension Bridge, Niagara Falls, near therailroad switching yard) was a very comfortable house. We did have akitchen stove that burned wood or coal. We had a range with a tank inback for heating water. I can remember in the winter when everybody wasin the dining room, I’d go behind the stove and wash myself. It was so nice and warm.Normally we had a place off the pantry where we would wash, but thatplace was COLD in the winter. There was no indoor plumbing.' 'I remember a time when my sister CARRIE ('Tut' born October 2, 1894, inSuspension Bridge, m. 1. Walter Dominick 2. Clarence York d. February 24,1968, Niagara Falls, N.Y.) and I were home alone. We were gettingundressed and ready for bed -- Carrie was old enough to wear a corset.She unhooked her corset and just then I screamed because I saw someonelooking in the window. She got so frightened she dropped to he hands andknees and started fast across the bedroom floor with her corset flyingbehind her like wings! I just stood there and laughed because she lookedso funny! She really got very angry at me. I can still picture thatcorset up in the air like a wing.' 'My Mother (CAROLINE BALTZY) died in 1928 of cancer. My Father (JOHNJACOB RUHLMAN I) died in 1920. He had Pneumonia - whether there wasanything more or not, I don’t know.' 'My grandfather (JOHN JACOB RUHLMANN b. May 19, 1826, in Hesse-Darmstadt,Germany, died January 14, 1917 in Buffalo, N.Y.) used to come and visitus on 13th St. in Niagara Falls. He was a very small man with white hairand a white beard. He was the CLEANEST person. He was always washing.He was always washing his clothes and polishing his shoes. He was a veryreligious man. He used to teach me my catechism and if I didn't know it,or if I gave him the wrong answer, he’d pinch my ear!' 'My grandfather (JACOB RUHLMANN) loved to walk. We were at the fartherend of Niagara Falls from the falls. He would bribe me if I would walkup to the Falls with him. He would buy me something! At that timeeverything at Woolworth’s was either 5 or 10 cents -- I would gladlywalk! We’d go to Woolworth’s and that always took a great deal of timebecause I HAD to look over everything and could select what I wanted.I’d get a 10 cent present and sometimes I’d get an extra 5 cent present(and that would be a Big day.) I’d be so delighted and then we’d walkhome. It must have been way over a couple of miles. When we got to theFalls, we’d sit down on the bench for awhile and look, then we’d walk onhome. I always liked that. He was a very kind person - a very religiousman -- and a very good man. He lived in Buffalo where his other son, myfather’s brother, lived. (MARTIN J. RUHLMAN b. April 7, 1850 NYC, diedJune 21, 1919).' 'We always had animals -- dogs, cats -- my brother (Eddie b. June 27,1892 died Sep 26, 1977, Niagara Falls) always had lots of animals. Heliked rabbits. We had some bantam chickens that were very tame andfriendly. They had the run of the yard. In fact, my mother would getannoyed because, if the door was left opened, they’d come in the house!Eddie had frogs, toads, -- anything he could find.' 'We had a horse and a nice carriage. My father and my mother would rideup to the Falls with one seat between them. My mother would put acushion down on the floor for me. I would sit on it -- I loved it whenwe would go up to the Falls. One time my father decided we should have apicture taken up at the Falls. That picture was called a tin type (printed in metal) -- in fact,I think that tin type is still around somewhere! (We have it! we beingJohn Jay Ruhlman IV and Nancy). In the background they had a picture ofthe Falls. I valued that picture for years. I thought it was reallyquite wonderful.' 'Father liked a beer. The beer man would come with a huge, huge wagonwith two horses hitched to it. When Charlie (his name was Charlie Weber)would deliver beer, he would drive into our yard. Always there was abench in our back yard and Charlie would sit down with my father andthey’d drink a bottle of beer and talk together. My mother didn't like the beer wagon coming.She always was kind of worried that our minister would make a social callwhen the beer wagon was there. IT HAPPENED! Why my mother didn't have aheart attack, I'll never know! But Reverend Kurtz (from the FirstEvangelical Church, Niagara Falls?) walked into the yard. My mother was fit to betied -- My father very calmly asked Rev. Kurtz if he would have a glassof beer and he answered: You know, I really would; I can’t tell you whenI last had a glass of beer. My father never did get over that -- tellingabout a glass of beer with the Reverend.' 'My mother bought a bottle of something she always had in the house. Itwas called Horn’s Balm. If you had a stomach ache, you’d take hot waterand put a little bit of Horn’s Balm in it and you drank it. If you had atoothache, she got a piece of cotton, soaked it in Horn’s Balm and put itin the cavity. As far as I can remember, that was about the onlymedicine that we took. We were never, never without Horn’s Balm! If youhad an aching joint, you rubbed it with Horn’s Balm. We always had a bigbottle of Horn’s Balm in the house.' 'We always had lots of children from our neighborhood in our yard. Allthe neighborhood kids would congregate and no one told them not to doit. You be happy and have a wonderful childhood without a lot of money.I think now (1989) children don’t go for entertaining themselves somuch. They want what all the other children have, naturally! All theother children have these new expensive toys so kids now probablywouldn't be as happy as we were then.' 'Mom and Dad (John Jacob Ruhlman and Caroline Baltzly) never owned theland the house was on. It was on the New York Central Railroad property(See map in their scrapbooks). They rented it for many years. John, myoldest brother, got married to Sophia Ohm from New York City. They had ahouse built right near us. (Cleveland Ave.?) He owned the house, but theground was rented from the Railroad. They lived there a long, long time.' 'We were never lacking in company. I guess both my mother and fatherliked company and all our relatives from Buffalo would come down toNiagara Falls. My father had a great big table and benches built so asmany as would or could come -- there wouldn't be any limit. In thesummer we usually would eat out in the yard with that great big table.We always had lots and lots of company.' (Pat then asked her mother Clara): 'Were the Kaplans (Sp?) from yourfather’s side or your mother’s side?' (We (John Jay and Nancy Rulman IV)think she answered); 'Mother’s (BALTZLY) side. Uncle Ernst owned abrewery; they (KAPLANS?, BALTZLY) were a very well to do family inBuffalo. She (CAROLINE BALTZLY?) had another sister.' 'My brother Eddie drowned in the cistern. The cover was off. My sisterBertha remembered Father took a pole and pulled him out' 'The only grandparents I knew was my father’s father. (John JacobRuhlmann, b May 19, 1825, Dukedom of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, d. January14, 1917, Buffalo, N.Y.). I knew Uncle Martin Ruhlman and Aunt Mary;they had two sons Hilly and Howard?) My girlfriend Nellie and I neverliked to have Martin’s sons (my cousins, Hilly and Howard) sit with us inchurch (First Evangelical Church, Niagara Falls?). Hilly was the oldestone and Howard was more our age. Howard loved to sing the hymns. He wasoff key and out of tune! If only he would sing quietly -- but he sangway out loud! Nellie and I would have something to do until we found outhe’d sit in church, then we’d go sit on the other side.' 'Another time, Nellie and I really got it -- Oh my mother was so mad! Wewent to church and my father wore a derby hat. He took his hat off andput it under the pew ahead of on the floor. When it was getting time forchurch to be over -- he bent down and came up and bumped his head on thepew and said 'Damn it' -- right in church! Nellie and I stared to laughand we both got a hit. My mother was so mortified -- and she was mad atNellie and I for laughing.' 'The Railroad men would come over quite a bit and talk to my father. Iused to love to sit and listen to them. They had so many stories to tellabout robberies and so on. I was just fascinated.' 'There were some woods not too far from us. I used to go there a lot.At that time you could wander anywhere and be perfectly safe. No oneever had to check on me. It was safe back then. There was a little pondand my friend and I would sit there by the hour and watch the pollywogsand frogs. One day I found an open cloth bag in the woods. The bag was full of all kinds ofthings from a robbery! My dad got the railroad detective and I got areward of a doll that was in the bag!' 'My cousin Ralph Baltzly (my mother’s brother John Baltzly’s son) livedreal near us. My aunt (Anna?) was selling gasoline irons. Mother boughtone of them to iron clothes. Can you imagine anything so dangerous? Shewas so pleased and proud of her iron.' 'Lots of times when I am running the washer and dryer, I think of thewash board and scrubbing by hand. My mother finally got a washing machine-- it had a crank on it. My father had to do that! What a greatimprovement that was over scrubbing! It’s no wonder that women livelonger now. I often wonder what my mother would think about me puttingmy clothes in the washer and the dryer -- then I sit down to eat mybreakfast while THEY work! So, it’s no wonder my mother seemed like an older person -- things theyhad to do then!' -- CLARA RUHLMAN MC CUE, 1989. Parents:
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Clarence John Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Birth*: 20 February 1905, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, U.S.A. Parents:
Eddie Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Burial*: Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, U.S.A. Parents:
Edward Jacob Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Note*: Edward Jacob Ruhlman lived at 756 Spruce Ave., Niagara Falls, New York.He was a butcher by trade and had a stroke on Aug 15 1956. Parents:
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Etta Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Note*: Etta Ruhlman must have died in infancy Parents:
Grace Carrie Minnie Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Note*: Grace Carrie Minnie Ruhlman was born 28 Nov 1908 in Niagara Falls, NewYork. She married Dudley Thurlow 'Yak' Yaxley, son of ? Dudley. Gracegave her father, John 1/2 of her check when she went out on meetingsuntil she got married. Grace was an Evangelist beginning at the age of16, after she got married, she gave her tithe ($1.80 per week) to herfather, John (Pa) because he was working with the Tuscaora Indians. Parents:
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Howard O. 'Nun' Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Note*: Howard O. ‘Nun’ Ruhlman had some conflict with his father, John JacobRuhlman II, of Niagara Falls, New York. He worked for a while on a shipon the Great Lakes and then joined the U.S. Army. He was stationed inLaredo, Texas at Fort McIntosh. There he met a lady of Spanish decentnamed Carlota ‘Lottie’ Donvalina. They were married in Laredo in 1929. Lottie’s great-grandfather? was a very honorable man. He was deeded ahuge land grant by the Spanish government extending about 50 miles Eastand North of Laredo. At the end of each year he would 'settle up' to themerchants for all his debts for farm equipment, etc. On those occasionshe would deed vast acreage to pay his debts for perhaps the equivalent of 10 cents peracre! (see notes about Capt. Don Jose Vasquez Borrego, Lottie’s Ancestor). Their son, son, Howard (Harold) tells the story of his father: 'HowardSr. had a small business in Laredo. He delivered potato chips, pickledhot dogs, etc. to many bars and restaurants. One day, a big tough man in a bar called him an SOB. Howard Sr. laid hisglasses and sales order forms on the bar and proceeded to punch the namecaller in the face until he 'slid down the wall calling for mercy' ---'Now just stay on the floor until we leave. That’s where snakes belong!' Howard Sr. and his son Howard, proceeded to slowly and deliberately drinktheir orange drinks while their intruder still whimpered on the floor. 'Now if I ever see you again in the street, you cross the street to theother side when I come by --- that’s how I treat a snake' said Howard Sr. -- Howard Ruhlman, May, 1996 Howard’s daughter, Lee Ruhlman Terry had wonderful memories of her fatherat the Ruhlman Family Reunion in Redding, Shasta Co., California, July1995: 'My dad was Howard Ruhlman, the second oldest in John Ruhlman II family.He joined the U.S. Army and came to Texas via Galveston. Dad married mymother Carlota ‘Lottie’ Donvalina, a seventh generation Texan in 1929.He was very well known in Texas --- and was a friend to everyone. He wason the Laredo Police Force while I was growing up and everybody calledhim 'Sarge'. He was third in command when he left the police force towork for himself. He owned 'Atomic Sales' and sold potato chips, Roncomacaroni, etc. He owned a potato chip factory at one time and also ownedthe first bowling alley in Laredo. Dad was self-educated. He didn't speak Spanish when he married mom, butrealized he needed it in business, so he taught himself and later spokeit fluently! I didn't realize how well known Dad was until I left Laredo. When wemoved to Freeport, Brazonia Co., Texas, Bunny Gray (a BISD school boardmember) and I were visiting. When she heard I was from Laredo, she askedif I knew Howard Ruhlman. I said 'that’s my dad'. It seems he had cometo Freeport when he was President of the Lulac’s League of the UnitedLatin American Citizens. He started the 'Escuelitas' schools forunderprivileged Latin children. He was the first Anglo President of thatorganization. Another time, my husband and I were at the Houston Livestock Show andRodeo with a group from La Grange. Sheriff Flournoy from La Grange whowas made famous on the stage and screen in 'The Best Little Whorehouse inTexas' was sitting next to me. When he heard I was from Laredo, he asked 'Do you know Howard Ruhlman?' I said, 'That’s my Dad!' He had met Dad atPistol Meets. Dad was a sharpshooter and traveled all over Texas andMexico on a Pistol Team. Dad was a very happy man. He loved his family, loved to fish, golf, playcards, play dominos, play pool -- he excelled at everything he did. He converted to Catholicism and is buried in the Catholic cemetery inLaredo. There is a Ruhlman Drive in Laredo that my brother Howard andsister-in-law Julia have named in their Industrial Park. The Ruhlmansare also remembered in the brick paving at St. Augustine Cathedral wereMother and Daddy were married and my brother Howard and I were baptizedand made our first communion. He was so proud of his sisters and brothers. Uncle Johnny, (John JacobRuhlman III) visited with us before he married Aunt Kathryn. AuntFlorence and Uncle Carl Wheeler made several visits to Laredo and so didAunt Dorothy and Uncle George Moore. Also, Uncle Dick and Aunt ClaraRiffle and Aunt Helen and Uncle Al Eisenhart visited us in Laredo. AuntGrace Yaxley never came, but we heard from her often. I saw Grandpa Ruhlman(John Jacob Ruhlman II) once, and all I can rememberis that he wanted to buy me some ice skates -- I said 'it never snows inTexas!' Uncle Johnny (John Jacob Ruhlman III) spoke at Dad’s funeral - it waslike seeing a younger version of Dad. They were eleven years apart. --Same smile, same gestures -- and that’s what I find here at thiswonderful Reunion! I see my children and grandchildren’s faces in mycousins and aunts! The Ruhlman blood lives on! It has been a privilege being here. I thank you for the opportunity toshare a little part of my Dad’s life.' --- Lee Ruhlman Terry, July,1995 Parents:
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Ida E. Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Note*: Ida E. Ruhlman was unmarried in 1928. She was very prim and proper- lotsof perfume - she married a drunk later in her life -- Grace Yaxley Ruhlman Parents:
Jessie Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Note*: Jessie Ruhlman must have died in infancy. Parents:
John '1' Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Note*: Died in infancy in 1909 Parents:
John Jacob Ruhlman I Pop-up Pedigree Address*: 2507 13th St. Suspension Bridge, Niagra Falls New York U.S.A. Parents:
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John Jacob Ruhlman II Pop-up Pedigree Burial*: Riverside Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls County, New York, U.S.A. Parents:
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John Jacob Ruhlman III Pop-up Pedigree Event-Misc*: Sunset Hills Cemetery, Bellevue, King Co., Washington, Type: Fact #1 Parents:
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Lillian Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Note*: Lillian Ruhlman must have died in infancy. Parents:
Lillian 'Lil' Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Address*: 2251 Ontario Ave. Niagara Falls New York U.S.A. Parents:
Mabel Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Note*: Mabel Ruhlman, cause of death, Diphtheria. Parents:
Margaret Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Note*: Margaret Ruhlman must have died in infancy. Parents:
Margaret Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Parents:
Martin J. Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Marriage*: Principal=Catherine Mary Unknown Parents:
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Minnie Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Birth*: 1913, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, U.S.A. Parents:
Robert Charles Ruhlman Pop-up Pedigree Event-Misc*: Sunset Hills Cemetery, Bellevue, King Co., Washington, Type: Fact #1 Parents:
Catherine\Katherine Ruhlmann Pop-up Pedigree Marriage*: Principal=Frederick Betz Parents:
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Frederick Ruhlmann Pop-up Pedigree Parents:
George Ruhlmann Pop-up Pedigree Parents:
George J. Ruhlmann Pop-up Pedigree Note*: George J. Ruhlmann was Overseer of the poor in Erie County, N.Y. for oneyear. Parents:
Henry W. Ruhlmann Pop-up Pedigree Parents:
Jacob Ferdinand Ruhlmann Note*: THE STORY OF THE JACOB FERDINAND RUHLMANN CLA (Also see 'More About' his son, Jacob J.Ruhlman) (Soundex for Ruhlmann is R455.) Our 'Rühlmann' in German has the'umlaut' (two dots over the 'ü') and is pronounced 'RUUUL'MANN') Jacob Ferdinand Ruhlmann is the name given as the father of Jacob J.Ruhlman on Jacob J.'s death certificate. (Jacob J. died January 14, 1917in Buffalo, NY. The name Ruhlman (Ruhlmann prior to John Jacob Ruhlman I--born 1852)comes from the German name Rudolf (somewhat of a diminutive). In fact,other similar German names come from Rudolf: Ruhl, Ruhle, Ruhlemann,Ruhlke, etc. according to The German Name Lexicon by Hans Bahlow.Bahlow also adds 'Especially in Hessia'. We know from Truman White's book: 'Our Country and Its People; ADescriptive work on Erie County, New York' (pg 242) that our family comesfrom the Dukedom of Hessia--the southern area of Darmstadt! (not HessiaCassel to the north). While most of the census records (1870?, 1880,1890?, 1900 of Erie County, NY all say Hessia Darmstadt for the Ruhmanns,the earliest census of our family (1860) of NYC lists Jacob J. Ruhlmannand his wife Mary from BADEN! Although some of my fellow Ruhlman familygenealogist Barbara Newman's ancestors did come from some towns in Baden,I think our Ruhlmanns came from around Himbach, 20 miles or so northeastof Frankfurt in Hessia Darmstadt. I really assume that Baden was justanother name for the same area. (However, in Vol. III'Inspiration-Historie' by Gottlieb Scheuner, the classic Amana SocietyHistory, Baden and Alsace are mentioned as recipients of a letter in 1842from Christian Metz, leader of the Inspirationists to 'Brother A. Noe ofAnweiler' which stated 'we must....move...to America', (page 188). Bahlow also lists some famous ancient Germans who may be our ancestors!: 'Rule Reye, 1300, at Wetzlar; Rule Schafrippe, 1363 Upper Hessia;Rulman Merswin, mystic of Strassburg, 14th century, Marburg, Hessia 1539;Rulman Niedernhofer, 1544 Rullmann Hune. Abbreviated Riehl, compareRudel and Riedel. With k suffix; Ruleke, son of Ruleke 1315. TheHessian Ruhle is near (or ON was from 'onomastikon' ancient times in)Meppen and Holzminden'. As we stated earlier, the name Ruhlmann is really somewhat of adiminutive for 'Rudolph.' Of course, the most famous Rudolph was thefirst Hapsburg, Rudolph, who was elected Holy Roman Emperor in 1273. TheHapsburg name came from the family castle in nearby Aargau, Switzerland,built by Werner, Bishop of Strasbourg, in the 1000's. Its name wasHabichtsburg, which means 'hawk's castle.' The Ruhlmann name somehowhonored the Emperor in the Middle Ages. Several hundred French Ruhlmanslive today near Strausburg, Alsace, France. At least two wineries areowned by Ruhlmanns in nearby Dambach la Ville where John and Nancyvisited in Oct. 1998. Our known family's story began in the general area of Hesse Darmstadt(Baden?) Germany, when our immigrant ancestor Jacob Ferdinand Ruhlmannwas born in 1795 (although when he arrived in NYC, Jan. 5,1847, he islisted as age 48 in the Ships Passenger List--If so, he really was bornin 1799!). He We only now know of the general area; Hessen Darmstadt is not a town, buta former grand-dukedom in Germany. The dukedom of Hessen was subdividedin 1567 into Hessen Darmstadt and Hessen Kassel, both named after theirrespective capitals. Louis of Hesse Darmstadt was a Lutheran prince by1614, while his cousin Maurice of Hesse Cassel had embraced Calvinism in1592. Charles V had named this area the '7th Circle of the Upper Rhine'in 1521. This was the home area of the famous military 'Hessians' who fought inthe American Revolutionary War of 1776. It is estimated that in HesseCassel alone, there were about 400,000 people during that time. The areaof Ysenberg was just north of Frankfurt in the general area of the RhineRiver Valley near the French and Swiss border. In those days, there wascontinual conflict and border disputes between France and Germany.Cities in this area were sometimes in Germany and sometimes in France!Napolean of France had conquered the world. Germany was on the rise andmost young men were drafted into one army or the other! One reason whythe German and French people of this era immigrated to America was simplyto avoid Europe's wars! Our Jacob Ferdinand Ruhlmann married Dorothy Hammerschmidt (b. May 15,1804, in Germany), and they had seven children. Most of the childrenwere educated in Germany. The famous German Confederation was established with 39 states in 1815.The Constitution of Frankfort on Main was enacted in 1816; by 1830 therewas a revolution in Hesse over high taxes (especially poll taxes). According to the Word Book Encyclopedia (1976 edition, pg 153):'Beginning in 1844, harvests were poor in Germany and business activitydecreased. Many Germans were hungry and out of work.' Our Jacob Ferdinand Ruhlmann, his wife ,Dorothy, and (we assume) theirseven children arrived in New York City in 1847 when his son Jacob (ourline) was 21 years old. Another brother (Martin) was 14--They lived inN.Y.C. where they worked as boot makers. Interestingly, only a yearafter their departure from Germany, riots broke out in Berlin, Vienna andmost of the German capitals which resulted in the ultimate unification ofGermany under Otto von Bismark and the later resounding defeat of theFrench in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. The seven children of Jacob Ferdinand and Dorothy Ruhlmann were: Jacob(our ancestor, b. May 19, 1826, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany), Catherine,Phillip, Peter, Martin (b. Sept. 25, 1833, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. Diedafter 1898, Orchard Park, Erie Co., N.Y.) George and Minnie. We are not sure where Jacob Ferdinand Ruhlmann died and was buried. Hemay have died in New York City after 1847 (1852?), Erie County, somewhereelse in America--or he could have returned to Germany! I personallybelieve he died in NYC and his widow, Dorothy Hammerschmidt, moved toEbenezer where some of her children (at least Jacob and Martin!) lived.She died November 28, 1881(aged 77) and is buried in the old EvangelicalChurch Cemetery in West Seneca, N.Y. on the East and West Road. Thebuilding is gone, but it belonged to the 'Angle Road EvangelicalAssociation.' The stone is in German and brings back a wonderful memoryfrom about 1979 when our son Robert Martin Ruhlman found the old stone insome brush on a family vacation when he was only 8 years old! Another possible reason for the great migration of the Ruhlmann Clan wasreligious freedom. Certainly it was for the Hammerschmidts! Barbara S.Hoehnle, a historian of the Amana Heritage Society in Amana, Iowa wroteme in 1995 that although the Ruhlmanns, Wises, Dackmans, Places andBaltzlys were never listed as part of the Ebenezer/Amana Society, severalHammerschmidts were: Carolina Hammerschmidt, b. 1840, d. 1927; LeonardHammerschmidt, b. 1833, d. 1896; Maria Hammerschmidt b. 1801, d. 1887;and Peter Hammerschmidt, b. 1796, d. 1884. We also can't help but wonderif our Dorathea was a sister or cousin to Peter Hammerschmidt!) The Amana Society was founded in 1714 in Germany by Eberhard Gruber andJohann Rock. In Germany, they were called 'The Community of TrueInspiration' or 'The Inspirationalists.' We were overjoyed to find threewonderful books we purchased from the Amana Society in Iowa:Inspirations-History 1714-1728, Part I, Inspirations-History 1729-1817,Part 2 and Inspirations-History, 1817-1850, Part 3. All three werecompiled from the German church records by Gottlieb Scheuner (publishedin Amana, Iowa in 1881-1884). Sure enough, there was extensivereferences to Hammerschmidts in Part 3--especially to the above mentionedPeter Hammerschmidt! 'On August 13, 1847 the oft-mentioned Br. Peter Hammerschmidt and hisfamily arrived in Ebenezer (Erie Co., NY) after a 63 day seavoyage...These arrivals caused much extra effort in the time whichfollowed. Since the time of the New Awakening (1817) Hammerschmidt hadbeen half hearted at best and was now still the same. He wanted to behalf in the Community and half in the world. This was no longer possiblehere, and that is why he did not continue. Soon after their arrival, theLord manifested His Word of guidance unto him and the Brethren explainedthe regulations of the Community. But it soon became apparent that itwas difficult for them to adjust to the regulations and restrictions ofmembership. So it was that on September 12 this Word was presented whichled to their decision: 'Since they have not, nor can adjust to the ways,the rules here, I have yet another way for them to continue or toeventually gain re-admittance. They are to go and live on their own atthe place where I abandoned the communal way. (Canada Ebenezer)'. '...So the matter stood in the balance, but soon swung towardseparation. Soon after, two of Hammerschmidt's children, a son and adaughter, left secretly and returned to Germany. Then in defiance of theLord's and the Brethren's Counsel, he purchased a piece of land nearBuffalo. A declaration of his expulsion and separation from theCommunity was issued on September 24. So the Lord's good counsel andconcern for rescuing his own from the bonds of the worldly spirit wasfrustrated.' (Part 3, pg 248) In Germany, the Inspirationalists had lived in leased estates andcastles, believing in a simple life and the revealed Word of God by a fewleaders called 'Instruments.' Christian Metz brought the group toEbenezer, near Buffalo, NY in 1843. There they were called the EbenezerSociety. Members owned the land and buildings in common; they relocatedto 26,000 acres near Iowa City, Iowa in 1855 where they developed thefamous Amana Society. We believe that our ancestors may have boughttheir land, were related to some of the families, had similar religiousbackgrounds, and probably were a part of the Amana or Ebenezer Society('True Inspirationalists') near Frankfurt, Germany. We were overjoyed in reading Part 2 of Inspirations - History by GottliebScheuner to find two Ruhlmanns mentioned as members of the Community ofTrue Inspiration in the Ysenberg (north of Frankfurt)) area of HesseDarmstadt in 1762: First, at Himbach, January 19, 1762 (the home church of theimmigrant leader's family, Christian Metz): Br. Georg Jacob Ruhlmann!(Could he be our Jacob Ferdinand Ruhlmann's grandfather? Grandfather'sbrother? Someday we'll visit Himbach and search!--JJR) Second, at Dudelsheim, March 3, 1762: Valentin Ruhlmann! Because of the tremendous number of Ruhlmanns in throughout the years inthe Alsace near Strausbourg, we suspect that these few families wereconnected with the Inspirationalists and moved to the Ysenberg area ofHesse Darmstadt in the mid 1700's. These Ruhlmanns were living in the same area of Germany 33 years beforeour Jacob Ferdinand Ruhlmann was born. They were members of the sameChristian communal group that immigrated to Ebenezer, (Buffalo), NY.beginning in 1843, and Jacob Ferdinand's wife Dorathea Hammerschmidt musthave been related to the excommunicated Ebenezer member of the same timeand place- Peter Hammerschmidt who arrived in Ebenezer in 1847. We do know that our Ruhlmanns arrived in NYC in 1847, four years afterthe Ebenezer Society was established in Ebenezer (near Buffalo), and, forsure, Jacob Ferdinand Ruhlmann's son Martin arrived in Orchard Park (nearBuffalo) in 1861. By the1875 census we know our ancestor, Jacob J.Ruhmann was living in West Seneca (near Buffalo) employed as a shoemakerand a farmer. While Jacob J. was listed at age 49, his first wife, Mary,was already 60! Their son Martin J. was living with them (age 25 andwife Catherine age 23' with two granddaughters: Mina (age 3) and Anna(age 1). After Catherine's death, Jacob J. Ruhlmann married Anna MaryDackman (b. Nov 2, 1812 in Germany; d, June 16, 1899 in Ebenezer, NY).We have no record of Catherine's death. Jacob and Catherine must have had at least Martin J. Ruhlman (b. 1850NYC) and our John Jacob Ruhlman I (b. Sept 27, 1852 in NYC). There musthave been other children; The obituary of Jacob in the Buffalo EveningNews in January, 1917, lists some daughters of Jacob: 'Mrs. GeorgeBehsman of New Jersey and Mrs. Charles Hensel (probably of Buffalo).' Jacob was quite a devout Christian. Clara Ruhlman McCue (Read herstory!) describes him as 'very religious.' At this point, we are notsure if he was Lutheran or from the German Evangelical Church. GraceRuhlman Yaxley remembered him saying to Sophia Ohm Ruhlman 'Somedayyou'll understand.' He was a small, very neat, and clean man with awhite beard in his old age. (See photo of four generations of Ruhlmanmen.) Our line follows with Jacob J. and Catherine Ruhlmann's second son JohnJacob Ruhlman I (b. September 27, 1852 in NYC; d. February 20, 1920 inNiagara Falls, NY) Be sure to read Clara Ruhlman McCue's account of howhe was quick tempered but afterward, remorseful! Like most Germans ofthat era, he loved his beer. He was married to a very quiet, devoutChristian from the Evangelical Church named Caroline Baltzly. Herfather, Jacob Baltzly, was from France and had a blacksmith shop inEbenezer. John Jacob Ruhlman I fell from the roof while painting the Cathedral inBuffalo (about 1900?), and he was never the same again. He died February20, 1920. (See Clara Ruhlman McCue's story) John Jacob Ruhlman I and Caroline Baltzly had 14 children! The eldestwas John Jacob Ruhlman II ('Pa') ( b. December 19, 1877, Buffalo, NY; d.Nov. 2, 1953 in Ransomville, NY) He married Sophia Anna Ohm (b. May 5,1884, Graves End, Long Island, NYC; died in childbirth, May 9, 1930,Niagara Falls, NY ) (See family story in Helen Ruhlman Eisenhart's,When Ma Wouldn't Give Up) -- John Jay Ruhlman, Mount Vernon, WA,March, 1997 Family:
Jacob J. Ruhlmann Pop-up Pedigree Burial*: Mt. Hope Cemetery, Ebenezer, Erie County, New York, U.S.A. Parents:
Family 1:
Family 2:
John Ruhlmann Pop-up Pedigree Parents:
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