Jacob Ruth ^{1 2 3}

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Newspaper: The Inquirer: The Ruths of Reamstown, 12 Jun 1920, Lancaster, Lancaster, PA. ⁴ THE RUTHS OF REAMSTOWN.
Of the Same Kin as the Roots and Rutts, It Is Said.
Among the well-known families of the ancient village of Reamstown, in 1830, and before, were the Ruths. The father died young, leaving the mother with a group of boys and girls. The boys learned trades, the girls married in due time. Reuben was a saddler and about 1838 with party of young men he decided to follow Horace Greeley's advice, and seek his fortune in the West. By rail and canal they went to Pittsburgh down the Ohio, up the Mississippi to Beardstown, then a lively town on the Illinois side of the great river. The capitol had just been moved from Vandalla to Springfield; and, believing that town was most promising, the young fellows proceeded thither, and struck their stakes. A good move, Reuben bought a lot on the south side in Capitol Square, which afterwards became very valuable, and opened a harness shop, long the leading one in the city. In 1840 he returned to the East and took back a bride in the person of Maria Diller of Downingtown. She was a sister of Mrs. Susanna Davis of New Holland, whose husband was a member of the firm of Roberts & Davis, keeping a general store in that old long town. Springfield remained their home to the end. Mr. Ruth prospered in business, becoming one of the prominent men of the city, president of the Marine Bank, and filling other places of trust. His wife died first, and in 1881 he followed her, at the age of sixty-three.
"The sweet remembrance of the just,
Shall flourish when they sleep in dust."
An older sister of Reuben, Elmira Ruth, married George Mohler, belonging to a kindred so extensive that near Lititz is a Mohler's graveyard. They moved to Illinois soon after 1850, settling on a farm near Sterling and later residing in the town. Two sons they had -- Leonidas and George. When in Chicago, Leonidas took a course in telegraphy and was given charge of a station at Galt, on the Chicago and Northwestern railroad. Now he showed his genius; for in ten years he was a big railroad officer at St. Paul and finally became president of the Union Pacific, with headquarters at Omaha. A few years ago he appeared at Sterling in his private car and invited the writer to dinner, prepared by his chef in the car. His mother was an ambitious woman. Starting life with little education, she by her own efforts acquired much skill in embroidery and painting.
"A perfect woman, nobly planned,
To warm, to comfort, and command."
Another of the Reamstown Ruths, Caroline, married William Hess, a carriage maker, they moved to Sterling in early fifties. He did good work, was a strong Methodist and regularly on the table was to be found the Ladies' Repository. Peter Ruth, one of the brothers, was a shoemaker, and found his way to Sterling about 1890; afterwards went farther west. Soon after the close of the war in 1865, Julia, the youngest of the sisters, came with her husband, John Beecher, to Sterling, where they farmed a small place near the city. Two children, Alice and Will. The mother, Susan Ruth, came with the last family, as she had made her home with them in Reamstown. A bright and pleasant lady, fond of talking about the success of Reuben in Springfield. Over eighty when she died. But the whole family is now a memory. All are in their graves. W. W. DAVIS.

Jacob married Susannah Johns in 1814 in , Lancaster, PA.¹ (Susannah Johns was born on 31 Oct 1796 in , Lancaster, PA,^{2 5} died on 31 Mar 1884 in Sterling, Whiteside, IL ² and was buried in Sterling: Riverside Cemetery, Whiteside, IL ².)