Imperial County CA Archives Biographies.....Ruth, Charles H. 1871 - 
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Author: F. C. Farr (editor, 1918)

CHARLES H. RUTH, who enjoys recognition as one of the leading and enterprising
business men of Imperial County, has won merited success as the inventor of the
Ruth dredger. Ambition, energy and progressive spirit have brought Charles H.
Ruth to a position of prominence and distinction. He was born in Osborne,
Kansas, November 24, 1871, a son of Richard and Sarah Ruth. His father was a
tailor by trade and was numbered among the substantial citizens of his locality.
Both parents of Mr. Ruth are deceased and buried in Osborne, Kansas. Charles H.
acquired his schooling in Kansas. He followed farming for a time and later took
up the blacksmith trade. At the age of twenty-two he engaged in business in
Downs, Kansas, for a period of seven years. In 1903 he came to Brawley, where he
followed farming for one year and then for about a year he followed teaming. Mr.
Ruth then engaged in the blacksmith business. He invented the celebrated Ruth
dredger for cleaning and building new ditches. This device was conceived and
developed and patented by Mr. Ruth. In the face of existing conditions and in
competition with all other methods and machines in use, the Ruth dredger made
its advent in Imperial County, and in the center of the greatest continuously
irrigated area in the United States. This machine combines economy, efficiency
and durability of construction not equaled by any other make of dredger.
Eighteen of the Ruth dredgers are operating in the Imperial Valley alone. Mr.
Ruth has received testimonials from the most practical and eminent irrigation
men as well as prominent engineers in various parts of the country. The first
Ruth dredger, put out in 1908, is in good condition today, and has been in use
almost constantly, and much of the time it has operated night and day. Mr. Ruth
was united in marriage to Grace D. Robb, a native of Kansas, May 22, 1901. To
this union have been born four children, three of whom are living—Harold M.,
Charles E., Ellen M. and Florence, who died in infancy. Mrs. Ruth is a daughter
of Rev. E. P. Robb, a resident of Bethel, California.

Additional Comments:
From:

THE HISTORY
OF
IMPERIAL COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
EDITED BY
F. C. FARR

IN ONE VOLUME
ILLUSTRATED
Published by ELMS AND FRANKS
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 1918

Printed by Taylor & Taylor, San Francisco

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