Ruth, Henry G. (1847-1926)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1926 Mar 17 p. 1

Birth date: 1847 Jun 27

text of obituary:

†Henry G. Ruth†

Henry G. Ruth, son of David and Katherine Strohm Ruth, was born in Eichstock, Bavaria, German, on June 27, 1847. With his parents, sisters and brothers he came to America in 1852, settling in West Point, Franklin county, Ia.

He was baptized Sept. 29, 1861, in the Zion Mennonite church in Franklin county, Ia. In 1863 he went to Summerfield, Ill. There on July 23, 1870, he was married to Mary Hirschler, who preceded him in death three years and four months.

Having acquired a farm in Harvey county, Kansas in 1874, he and his family ten years later, on Nov. 24, 1884, took possession of this farm and made their home there for almost 30 years until they moved to Halstead in 1913.

In the spring of 1912 he became afflicted with rheumatism and spent the next year in seeking relief from his affliction. He recovered beyond all hopes and expectations and was in his usual state of health until Jan. 28, 1926, when he had a sudden attack of illness closely followed by two other attacks. A week after the third attack he took to his bed on Feb. 4, with Bright's and heart disease and bronchial complications. He suffered great discomfort for three and one-half weeks, when he was released from pain in death on March 10, at 4:40 in the morning, having attained to the age of 78 years, eight months and thirteen days.

Of a large family of children, but four survive him. One married daughter, Mollie Ruth Wall, passed in May, 1914 and a son Elmer D. Ruth in November, 1923. There now remain the following sons and daughters: Arnold H., of Pullman, Wash., Homer g., of Moundridge, Kan., and Alma and Edna, who made their home with and for their father. There are three daughters-in-law, nine grand children, one great grandson, one sister, Mrs. Barbara Lehman, two brothers, D. C. Ruth of Halstead and J. E. Ruth of McPherson, two sisters-in-law, besides a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted at the home and at the Mennonite church in Halstead Friday afternoon, March 12, by Rev. H. T. Unruh, in the presence of a large gathering of friends and life-long neighbors and interment was made in the Halstead cemetery.

H. G. Ruth has been a well known figure in Harvey county affairs for a generation. He came to the county from Summerfield, Ill., with a group of those sturdy pioneer Mennonites who purchased Santa Fe Railroad land in northern Harvey and southern McPherson counties in 1874. He is one of the last of those stalwart frontier settlers to pass away. A short time ago he wrote with his own hand a review of their experiences, quoting prices paid for land and giving other data of interest. —Evening Kansan.

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The Mennonite obituary: 1926 May 27 p. 7

text of obituary:

Ruth. — Henry Ruth was born in Germany June 27, 1847, and arrived in America with his parents in 1852 when they settled in Franklin Centre, Lee Co., Iowa. He was baptized in Zion Mennonite church, Franklin Centre, Iowa, Sept. 29, 1861. In 1863 he moved to Summerfield, Ill., where he married Mary Hirschler in 1870, who preceded him in death three years ago. In 1884 he moved to Halstead, Kansas, remaining there until his death. Funeral services were held in the Halstead Mennonite church, Rev. J. W. Kliewer in charge.