Ruffner Roots & Ramblings

RUFFNER ROOTS & RAMBLINGS Published quarterly by the Ruffner Family Association P.O. Box 351, Luray, Virginia 22835 Volume 22, Issue 2, Summer 2019

Go West Ruffner clan! And, that’s what we did for our 2019 Ruffner Family reunion, June 21-23 in Pres- cott, Arizona! Ruffner cousins gathered from all over the United States to attend the southwestern reunion. Smoki Museum was our headquarters where each Ruffner was greeted at a welcome reception and received a tote bag with schedules and maps. On Saturday, we met at the Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home where Melissa Ruffner dressed in 19th century clothing, led us on an interesting downtown Pres- cott historic sites tour. Ruffner presence could be felt with every corner we turned as George Ruffner and others that followed had a great influence on the development of the Prescott area. After the tour, lunch was provided by the Wakelin Funeral Services and we greatly appreciated their hospitality and generosity. Vice-Mayor Billie Orr brought greetings and read a city proclamation followed by Chief Dep- uty Sheriff David Rhodes demonstrating a historic rifle while giving an account of Yavapai history. Local author and historian, Parker Anderson, presented the Story of a Hanged Man which included a detailed history about Flemming Parker and Sheriff George Ruffner—a "must read" for all! Our RFA Board met after lunch and members from different parts of the U.S. were able to participate via conference call. That night we enjoyed a banquet dinner, silent auction, quilt raffle and music by Spider Ranch and local cowboy poet Gail Steiger. A beautiful memorial service honoring our beloved cousins Elisabeth Ruff- ner, Bob & Shirley Sheets, Dorotha Russell and Phil Johnson took place overlooking the historic Granite Dells at the Watson Lake Ramada on Sunday morning. We are so grateful to Becky Ruffner, Melissa Ruffner and the rest of the 2019 Reunion Committee for all the time and planning they invested in this exciting, well-organized reunion celebrating our southwestern Ruffner heritage! Photo courtesy of Marria Blinn.

1 RUFFNER FAMILY ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP Sam McNeely PRESIDENT P.O. Box 351, Luray, VA 22835 Marria Blinn, Illinois [email protected] TREASURER & COO FACEBOOK POSTMASTER Samuel H. McNeely, Virginia Charlotte Ruffner ASSISTANT TREASURER [email protected] Bryan Wallace, Indiana NEWSLETTER EDITOR SECRETARY Kimberly McCue Rebecca Ruffner, Arizona 162 Kendallwood Ct. , Aiken, SC 29803 HISTORIAN

Betty Lou Gaeng, Alaska MISSION STATEMENT Betty [email protected] Chartered and incorporated in 1999 to support an LIBRARIAN association of members who will research and pre- Judy Henderson, Virginia serve their common heritage through the collection of artifacts and documents which form the basis for BOARD OF DIRECTORS knowledge and appreciation of the historic role Betty Ann Axline, Virginia played by the Ruffner descendants and their collec- tive lines in the settlement and development of the Robert Brown, Virginia American Frontier. Marilyn Courtade, Washington www/ruffnerfamily.org Leila Garcia, Virginia ______Phyllis Hershock, Pennsylvania Angela Hinzey, Virginia Jim Johnson, Ohio

Charlotte Ruffner, California K. Daniel Ruffner, Ohio Douglas Ruffner, Oklahoma RFA Board Position Additions and Changes Gary Ruffner, Illinois During our June RFA Board meeting, we reviewed the re- Melissa Ruffner, Arizona sponsibilities of our Board positions. The Board agreed Nancy Lee Ruffner Shifflett, Virginia that the responsibilities of the president and secretary were manageable. However, for many years, our treasurer DIRECTORS EMERITI has been doing the work of three people! We appreciate Betty Lou Gaeng, AK (active) the time and effort Sam has invested into the RFA, but no Samuel H. McNeely, VA (active) one would ever be able to fill his shoes in the future. The time had come to restructure and add some additional Joan Ruffner Reid, OH (active) positions to make the office of Treasurer more managea- Elisabeth Ruffner, AZ (deceased) ble for future volunteers. With that being said, we added an Assistant Treasurer position to maintain the member- Shirley Ann Sheets, CO (deceased) ship spreadsheet and to help with the computer work. We Rev. Dorotha Russell, TX (deceased) also added a Librarian position to handle the donations Robert Newman Sheets, CO (deceased) and sales for our genealogical books as well as the newsletter distribution list for libraries. We moved the position Lester Ward Ruffner, AZ (deceased) of Historian to the Executive Board which brings the num- Doris Laver Ruffner, OH (deceased) ber of our current positions to six. All board positions are Olive Taylor Ruffner, OH (deceased) currently filled, but in the future, please consider serving at least for one term as a director or officer. We are very George E. Ruffner, IL (deceased) fortunate to have the Ruffner Family Association and need to share in the responsibility of ensuring its existence!

2 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE HELLO, RFA MEMBERS— For the past few years, you have known me as the RFA Secretary and cousin from the Chicago, Illinois area. At the RFA board meeting in Prescott, Arizona, I was honored to be elected RFA President and am looking forward to serving our great organization. President Phyllis Hershock did an outstand- ing job for the last 10+ years and will be a very hard act to follow. We are indebted to her for her dedicated and devoted service and to her husband, Craig, for supporting her along the way. Phyllis went up and beyond the call of duty and served multiple consecutive terms for which we will always appreciate and remember with great fondness. When you have an opportunity, please consider sending Phyllis and Craig a thank you card—2575 Sandy Lane, York, PA 17406. I am sure they will be happy to hear from you! June 21-23, our Ruffner Clan went southwest for a family reunion in Prescott, Arizona. The Smoki Mu- seum in Prescott served as headquarters for Ruffner cousins from all over the United States. On Saturday morning, we met at the Ruffner-Wakelin Funeral Home where Melissa Ruffner, dressed in historical clothing, led us on a most interesting downtown Prescott historic sites tour. Additional activities that generated more fun at the reunion included a quilt raffle (winners listed on p. 4), banquet dinner and silent auction. A beautiful memorial service honoring our beloved cousins Elisabeth Ruffner, Bob & Shirley Sheets, Phil Johnson and Rev. Dorotha Russell took place on Sunday morning. A great BIG thank you goes out to Becky & Melissa Ruff- ner for the time and effort they invested to host this well-orchestrated event as well as other reunion con- tributors Betty Gaeng, Joan Ruffner Reid, Marilyn Courtade and Sam McNeely. Read more about the reunion later in this newsletter and see photos related to this spectacular event on page 5 of this newsletter plus our Facebook and Website pages. It is very exciting to announce that Joan Ruffner Reid, Sam McNeely and Elisabeth Ruffner (posthumously) have been awarded the title of Director Emeritus for their many years of dedicated service. Congrats to all and their families, too, on this great honor! In addition, I am pleased to announce that a couple of positions have been added to the RFA Exectu- tive Board to reduce the workload for some individuals and to make the positions more manageable for our volunteers. Please read about these changes and the many exciting projects and events that are in store for the Ruffner Family Association in this issue of the Ruffner Roots & Ramblings. Wishing you health, happiness and restful summer days….

MARRIA BLINN RFA President (708) 269-7101 * [email protected]

3 CONGRATULATIONS QUILT RAFFLE WINNERS!

Thanks to our two junior Ruffner members, Chloe May and Liam, a bundle of tickets were sold for the Ruffner Reunion quilt raffle! Congratulations to Steve and Marria Blinn (IL) and Joan Ruffner Reid (OH) on being the lucky winners! About the quilts…… This quilt pattern was made from a quilt found in a concealed wall cupboard in the Ruffner-Rowles House in Fairfield County, Ohio. The exact age and maker of the original quilt are undetermined. The late Roberta Ruffner Kirwin copied the pattern on paper for the 1999 Ruffner Reunion in Lancaster, Ohio. The baby quilts (shown above) in the rare old Love Apple design were graciously made for the 2019 RFA Reunion raffle by ladies of the Mountain Top Quilters Guild in Prescott. Thank you, Becky Ruffner for providing the quilts! ______FROM THE DESK OF….. 2021 Reunion Committee Chairman Gary Ruffner and his reunion team which consists of his adult children, have been busy working on the 2021 Mason, Illinois reunion. They are checking into some historical activities, possibly a tour or two, and are planning an old-fashioned family reunion with lots of fun, fellowship and food! Gary recently retired and is planning to devote more time to family research to increase the wealth of knowledge of the Ruffners who came to Illinois in the early to mid-1800s.

4 2019 REUNION VIEWS

SATURDAY TOUR STARTTOUR SATURDAY

SATURDAY BOARD SATURDAY MEETING

AT THE YAVAPAICOUNTY AT COURTHOUSE

ON SUNDAYPICNICERS

DEPUTY SHERIFF RHODESDEPUTYSHERIFF

BEAUTIFUL GRANITE DELLS BEAUTIFUL

Photos courtesy of Marilyn Courtade and Marria Blinn

5 VIOLA KNAPP RUFFNER — 1812-1903 By Betty Lou Gaeng The lithograph print pictured here was sold at auction a few years ago by Heritage Auctions, an American multi-national auction house based in Dallas, Texas. The company is considered to be the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer, What is of vital interest in our Ruffner family is that this lithograph print by Arthur Lidor is said to be the image of Viola Knapp Ruffner, the second wife and widow of Lewis Ruffner4 (David Ruffner3, Joseph Ruffner2, Peter Ruffner1). Previously, the only description noted for Viola Ruffner was that she was pretty and blonde. Long before its appearance at the auction house, the lithograph print was shown in the December 1953 issue of the Ameri- can Heritage magazine. Since 1949, American Heritage has been considered to be the leading magazine of American history and culture. The print was described as 20.5 x 32 inches in size and was affixed to a card with a Booker T. Washington quotation typed in the bottom margin. It was noted that there was some wear to the edges with small chips and tears, plus some staining from dampness—otherwise it was considered to be in good condition. The print had been held in the magazine’s archives. My own personal opinion is that the lithograph print is ex- actly what it is purported to be—a likeness of the illusive Viola Knapp Ruffner. Also, I can’t help but wonder if the original source for Arthur Lidor’s lithograph print was a sketch done by her son, Col. Ernest Howard Ruffner (1845-1937). Col. Ernest Ruffner was considered a very talented artist. This long searched for image of Viola Knapp Ruffner came to light after I was contacted via the Ruffner Family Association’s Facebook website by Sheridan “Sherry” Brown. Ms. Brown has been working on a project as part of the Living History Guild at the Booker T. Washington National Monument in South- west Virginia. The project’s aim is for a better understanding of the people who influenced the life of Booker T. Washington, and for this purpose, she requested a photo of Viola Ruffner and information on the family. To help with this project, I sent her copies of he bios of Lewis Ruffner and Ernest Howard Ruff- ner from the Joseph book, as well as information I had on Viola Ruffner. Viola Knapp was born in Arlington, Vermont in February of 1812, the daughter of Silas Knapp (1786 -1869) and Urania “Rany” Hawley (1787-1829). Her grandparents were Ephraim and Hannah Knapp. Silas Knapp was a cabinet maker in Arlington, Bennington County, Vermont. The Knapp family were members of historic Saint James Episcopal Church in Arlington, the oldest parish in the diocese of Vermont. Viola’s parents and grandparents are buried at the church’s cemetery. Viola Knapp attended school near her home until she was 17 years old, and then taught at a local school. Following her early schooling and teaching assignment near home, Viola Knapp enrolled at Ben- nington Academy in Bennington, Vermont, and after three years as a student at Bennington, she graduat- ed in 1833. She then taught school at the academy for two years. Established in 1821 as a private school, Bennington Academy has long been closed. However, the building once considered one of the finest in

6 Vermont, is still in existence. Having served as a private school, a public school and later as the Bennington Public Library, the building has now been completely restored, modernized, and converted for residential use. Viola Knapp went on to teach school in North Carolina, and moving to New Jersey, she headed the English department of a secondary school. She then established and operated a school of her own until she had health problems. While recovering, she applied for the position as governess for the children of wid- ower, Gen. Lewis Ruffner, an owner of salt and coal mines, as well as a community leader in Kanawha County, West Virginia. She was accepted to fill the governess position. When Gen. Ruffner very soon pro- posed marriage, she accepted his offer. A copy of their marriage record shows the couple were married December 2, 1843 in Hamilton County, Ohio. Viola Knapp was 31 years old. Lewis Ruffner was 46. The older children from Lewis Ruffner’s first marriage, did not approve of his second marriage, and Viola, described as a shy woman, often suffered from depression and loneliness. Her mentoring and friend- ship with Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), a young ex-slave, no doubt filled a void in Viola Ruffner’s sometimes lonely life. After emancipation following the Civil War, Booker T. Washington and his mother Jane, had located in Malden, West Virginia, where Booker early in life became a laborer in the Ruffner’s coal mine. With plans for an education and a better life, Booker took a job as a houseboy in the home of Lewis and Viola Ruffner. His salary was $5.00 per month. As told in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, according to Booker T. Washington’s 1901 autobiog- raphy Up from Slavery, Viola Ruffner had a harsh reputation, and her rigid and strict manner was often feared by her servants. A New England-trained school teacher, she was conservative and hardworking, a person who valued education, cleanliness, promptness, and honesty—qualities Booker Washington never forgot. She also taught the young ex-slave the value of a dollar, and encouraged him to further his schooling, allowing him to attend school for an hour each day. In his book, Washington expressed his extreme respect and regard for Viola Ruffner calling her “one of the best friends I ever had.” They remained friends for the rest of Viola Ruffner’s life. Viola Ruffner died in December of 1903. Her grave is located next to the burial spot of her son Ern- est Howard Ruffner at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Her husband, Lewis Ruffner (1797-1883), is buried next to his first wife Elizabeth Ann Dickinson Shrewsbury Ruffner at the Ruff- ner Family Cemetery in Malden, Kanawha County, West Virginia, in back of the old Ruffner home. While doing research for this article, a copy of the last will and testament of Viola Ruffner was also discovered. The will which named her son Ernest H. Ruffner as executor and trustee, was presented at court in Kanawha County, West Virginia on January 27, 1904. ______What Specifically is a Director Emeriti? You’ve probably noticed on page 2 of this newsletter a listing of the Ruffner Family Association positions. Under the title of Directors Emeriti you see all are deceased except 3 members. Who were these people and what is a Director Emeriti? The title Director Emeriti can have a different meaning for different organi- zations and companies. However, according to the RFA By-Laws, a Director Emeriti is someone "living or deceased, who has achieved a high level of success in support of the Association and its programs or has made extended contributions to the historical and genealogical research of the Ruffner Family and their collateral branches.” In other words, our Directors Emeriti are the shakers and the movers of our organization, worked tirelessly and consistently for years to establish and maintain our Association and we will ever be indebted to them! Congratulations to our newest Directors Emeriti Sam McNeely, Joan Ruffner Reid, and Elisabeth Ruffner! And, thank you to our newest living Directors Emeriti along with Director Betty Gaeng for serving as Advisors for the RFA. We appreciate your service!

7 PERSONAL THOUGHTS ABOUT VIOLA KNAPP RUFFNER By Betty Lou Gaeng Having been contacted lately with requests for more information about Viola Knapp Ruffner, I have been making my way back in history—as much as possible—to learn what I can about who she real- ly was. Mrs. Ruffner has been described as shy, disillusioned, stern and rigid—a conservative and hardworking woman who valued education, cleanliness, promptness and honesty above all else. I personally think of Viola Ruffner as an emancipated woman living at a time when women were expected to marry young and raise a houseful of children—and to be subservient. No, that was not Viola Knapp Ruffner. Did Lewis Ruffner think he was getting a quiet and docile wife? She may have even sur- prised her husband. Viola Ruffner was a tough New England lady, and before the half-way part of the 1800s, she had left her father’s comfortable Vermont home and made her own way in life as a single woman. She was brave, determined and smart. Looking at her image in the lithographic print, she was also beautiful and feminine. Viola Ruffner stayed strong and determined in withstanding the barbs and head shakes of the townspeople of Malden, West Virginia, and some family members, when she helped a poor ex-slave further his education. I read in a timeline issued by the Vermont Historical Society that in 1835, a total of 420 Vermont ladies petitioned the Vermont Legislature to sign an anti-slavery petition and send it to the United States Congress. Was a 23-year-old Viola Knapp one of these ladies? Maybe not, but I imagine that petition had an influence on her own thoughts about the injustice of slavery. With her New England roots, Viola Knapp was raised in the Episcopal faith at Saint James Episcopal Church in Arlington, Vermont. At the advanced age of 31, she married into a Southern family,one with a very strong Presbyterian background. Viola Knapp Ruffner must have stood her ground regarding her own faith—their son Ernest Howard Ruffner, born June 24, 1845, was baptized at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky on April 11, 1847. I tip my hat to Viola Knapp Ruffner—a strong-willed lady, a good mother, and an ad- vocate for education for everyone; no matter their background or race. ______By-Laws committee The RFA By-Laws were originally written and accepted by the Charter Members on June 5, 1999. They were re-written in 2002 by Joseph Wilson Ruffner as part of a Ruffner Family Association Handbook that was edited by Joan Ruffner Reid. There have been some changes to the RFA over the years and it is time to update By-Laws. At the RFA Board meeting on June 24 , 2019 in Prescott, Arizo- na, a Special By-Laws Committee was created for the purpose of updating the By-Laws. Their recommendations will be presented to the RFA Board who will then vote on their approval. We will keep you posted on the By-Laws Committee progress! The following RFA members volunteered and were appointed to the committee. The RFA thanks you for your service. Chairman—Dan Ruffner (OH) Members—Marria Blinn (IL), Leila Garcia (VA) and Jim Johnson (OH)

8 WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS—from Marilyn Courtade While watching our small town’s 4th of July parade—in Carnation, Washington, a treehouse float went by and a man stopped and talked with us—then I realized who he was. You may recognize Pete Nelson of the TV show Treehouse Masters seen on the Animal Planet channel.

PETE NELSON PETE

TREEHOUSE FLOAT TREEHOUSE

I was able to snap a picture of him and his treehouse float. It was very exciting for our small town. For those who have never seen the treehouses he builds, they are remarkable. Pete lives down the road from us at Fall City, another small town, where he and his family have a treehouse retreat called Treehouse Point. You can stay in a treehouse while vacationing in the area, much more exciting then a regular hotel/motel. He has treehouse resort/spa’s all over the U.S.— https://www.nelsontreehouse.com/stay ______Leila Garcia, Judy Henderson, Angie Hinzey, Jim Johnson, Kim McCue, Becky Ruffner, Charlotte Ruffner, Bryan Wallace are our newest RFA Board Members, Directors and Chairman. Congrats and Thank you! Your time and talents are greatly appreciated.

9 A Book Review from the desk of located on a knoll a short distance from the en- trance to the caverns. At times, rumors were circu- Betty Lou Gaeng, RFA Historian lated about this dangerous and mysterious cave— one even spoke of a dwarf often being seen in the In the Spring 2017 issue of Ruffner Roots & vicinity. Ramblings, there was a story about Ruffner’s Cave and at the end of the story, I wrote about a 192- page teen-age science fiction book I had come across, entitled Ruffner’s Cave. Even though the story itself is fiction, it does pertain to the old cave which is part of our Ruffner family history in Luray, Page County, Virginia. William Yancey Brown, the author of the 2015 book, is an attorney, as well as having a doc- torate in zoology, and a very impressive background. According, to his bio, he lived in Washing- ton, D.C., but he definitely seemed to have had some knowledge of Luray and the Shenandoah Val- ley. The book review which follows, may entice This land was part of my gr-gr-grandfather’s those readers who are fond of fantasy books. farm. Because of dissention in the family, Gr-Gr- This is a novel that will appeal to young Grandfather Peter A. Ruffner (a son of Jonas Ruff- adults and others of all ages who have a taste for ner), with his family, left the farm and journeyed to fantasy. Max Mason is 18 years old and just fin- Oregon, Missouri and finally Plattsmouth, Nebras- ished high school in Luray, Virginia. His school ka, where he died in 1870. friends go to nearby Ruffner’s Cave one Saturday The book Ruffner’s Cave is available from night, a place little known to anyone except the several online book sellers, including Barnes & No- town people, but known to them for decades. ble and Amazon. They dance in the “Ballroom.” Max misses the ______dance, because he is in Front Royal buying a used car, with cash from his dad. When he gets back, RUFFNER HONORS the dance is all the news; his friends have disap- peared. After everyone else gives up, Max figures Terry Chandler Award the answer is deep in the cave. It is, but not what you’d think. Rebecca Ruffner Always considered a cave too dangerous for Rebecca Ruffner of Prescott, exploration, Ruffner’s Cave has been sealed off for Arizona received the Chandler many decades.. During very early times, one of the award this year for her selfless commitment and Ruffner boys was lost for several days in the cave dedication to making children and families lives and almost perished. Evidence seems to indicate better. Rebecca is the founder and Executive Direc- that young Martin Ruffner, the adventurous son of tor of Prevent Child Abuse Arizona; the co-founder Benjamin, may have been the cave-exploring young of Best for Babies, in all 15 counties; founder of man. In 1812, heroic Martin Ruffner died at the Never Shake a Baby Arizona; and chair of the hands of marauding Indians when he went to the Healthy Families Arizona advisory board. During aid of his Ohio neighbors. the selection process there were a number of acco- lades given her—notably she was instrumental in The cave appears to be separate from the assisting the courts, CASAs, attorneys, and all in- much-visited Luray Caverns, although part of the volved in the Juvenile Justice System by providing a same property; and at one time the land for both voice for the infants and toddlers who do not have belonged to the Ruffner family. Ruffner’s Cave is a voice in the system. CONGRATULATIONS BECKY!

10 WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MY NECK OF THE 1929;” Ron Kaplan, Director, Ohio Air & Space Hall of WOODS—COLUMBUS, OHIO Fame & Museum Inc., and Dan Beaumont and Steve Spiegel of the Walt Disney Company. By Joan Ruffner Reid Upon a faithful restoration of the Terminal Building and Hangar 1, the buildings will be occupied by the new Ohio Air & Space Hall of Fame & Museum.

On July 13th, my home town celebrated the 90th anniversary of Port Columbus. Opened in 1929, on a site chosen by Charles Lindbergh, the original Port Columbus Terminal and Hangar (pictured above) were the eastern terminus of the first trans-continental air/ rail route, Transcontinental Air Transport—(TAT)— The Lindbergh Line. Joan Ruffner Reid with Amelia Earhart It was the site where American commercial air Portrayer - Old Port Columbus transportation was born! TAT later became TWA. From the grand opening in July of 1929, in the pres- We are in the process of cre- ence of Amelia Earhart, Harvey Firestone, Henry and ating a Children’s Corner section Edsel Ford, and for almost 30 years, the brick terminal of the RFA Website! Has your and steel and glass hangar served as a hub of aviation child, grandchild, niece or neph- innovation and connection. ew created a family tree or fam- The former Terminal has earned a designation ily history project for school? If yes, we ask that you on the National Register of Historic Places. Port Colum- share a photo and template for the project. Before bus was one of only 11 airports selected nationwide by taking a photo, please cover up the information for all Charles Lindbergh to be part of TAT. The western ter- living people in the family for security reasons. Over minus was in Glendale, California, outside of Los Ange- the next few months, we will be creating an area les, and known as the Grand Central Air Terminal. It is where Ruffner children can go to see examples of fam- currently owned by The Walt Disney Company and was ily history projects and will be able to print off tem- faithfully restored in 2015. plates to help them create their own projects for school. We have many teachers in the Ruffner family I first toured the old Columbus Terminal and and would appreciate if you would check your files to viewed various posters and photographs before going see if you have an item or two that could be contribut- into Hanger 1 for a program celebrating the 90th anni- ed to the Children’s Corner. We could also use a little versary. Presentations were made by: Captain Robert help with this project so if you would like to volunteer, Kirk, USAF (Retired), author of “The Building Of An Air- please contact Marria Blinn, [email protected]. port: Port Columbus, America’s Greatest Air Harbor

11 PROGRESS OF RUFFNER COLLECTION AT LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY Longwood University RFA Archival Project is ongoing and digitalizing is going well with about 5% of the collection completed. That might not sound like much is being completed, but please know that before the digitalizing began, a great deal of time and attention was invested into the organization and priortization of the collection. Archivist Ben Chatelain will focus the majority of his time this summer on continuing with the digitalizing of the collection. It is anticipated the project will be completed in 3 years. It is online and the public can access it at: Ruffner Family Collection at Longwood University https://libguides.longwood.edu/c.php?g=811913.

Each box that was donated is listed with each and every document listed. You can click on the document name ______and view the scanned documents. It’s quite exciting to IN LOVING MEMORY see our Ruffner collection available for public viewing at a well known university! VICTORIA (RUFFNER) YOUNG, Remember to send “Ruffner materials” to Sam McNeely 77, of Lancaster, OH, died on May 5, 2019. The Lord to be added to the Longwood University Ruffner Family stopped her sweet heart and Collection. Please email Sam ahead of time to check for took her home—safe and in his specific guidelines on what items will be accepted— loving arms. Vickie enjoyed bak- [email protected]. ing, sewing, and the needle arts. Over the years, she was an ______active member in the choir at From the Desk of the RFA Librarian….. Fairfield Christian Church, was editor of the church newsletter The Library of Congress will only accept hard copies at Gloryland Nazarene, and was of the Ruffner genealogy books. The cost of a member of the United Brethren Church as a child and printing the books is being investigated and once again in recent years. She found happiness and solace we have found a reasonable printer, the books will in her faith and relationship with God. She is survived be printed and donated to the Library of Congress by her daughter—Jenny Young of Castle Rock, Colora- do, a dear friend—Martha Darling of Lancaster, broth- and the DAR Library in Washington, D.C. We are er—Dr. Kail (Rosalyn) Ruffner of Grayson, KY and Sis- working with the DAR Library to update the RR&R ter—Rebecca Starkey of Amanda,, OH as well as nieces newsletters as they only have copies up to August and nephews. She was the daughter of George F. Ruff- 2016. (Photo)—Judy Henderson and Marria ner (desc. Emanuel) and Mabel Kinser Ruffner . In addi- Blinn at the DAR Library, Washington, D.C., hold- tion to her parents, she was preceded in death by her ing the volumes that contain the Ruffner Family husband—James W. Young, and brothers—Neil G. Association Newsletters.˃ Ruffner and Lewis “Jack” Lacey.