Obituary for Archibald Rutherford I beg space to offer a few words in memory of Archibald Rutherford whose death and funeral were announced in the columns of the Independent week before last. He was named for his father, the elder Arch Rutherford, who with his father came from Tennessee to the Illinois country about the time that it became a state in the Union. His mother's mother's maiden name was Rebecca Oxford, the oldest member of the large Oxford family, whose ox-drawn moving wagon had but a few years before crossed the Ohio River at the historic Ford's Ferry and proceeeded on the notorious Ford's road to their settlement on Patton Ridge. To this pioneer family a number of children were born, all of whom I cannot name by memory, but there was James Rutherford who developed the fine Harris Creek farm now owned by Asa Reynolds; alo Miranda Ingram, wife of Benjamin Ingram, a prosperous pioneer farmer in the Dutton settlement. I heard my father talk a lot of these two pioneer families for whom he worked up to the time he enlisted in the Rebellion. This was before the days of green-back paper money, which was issued to pay the war debt; then practically all money was silver coin. He said in a land deal with Uncle Abner Dutton, he held a meal sack for Ben Ingram to put his money in to pay for the farm. He threw this sack across the saddle and carried it on horse back to pay that purchase price. Another son was Joseph who died in the war. The youngest son was Thomas Rutherford who has served in the commissioners courts of our county and still lives on his Rock Creek farm. Arch, who has just departed from this life married Lydia Wilkerson, who is now living, about 90 years of age. Joseph Rutherford of Rock Creek and James Rutherford of McFarlan precinct are well known sons. The first born was a daughter named Hannah, the wife of the late Sherman Browning, but before her death she raised a daughter, who is now Mrs. Mose Suits of our county. The Rutherford's are a prosperous, industrious people. From early days til now, they have developed good farm lands, well stocked, made good livings for their families and added a steady revenue to the building up of our schools, churches and our county. Uncle Arch and his good wife have been members of Rock Creek Baptist church for I don't know how long an lived moral faithful lives. Their bounteous supply could be relied upon in all times of need and charity knew the way that led to their door. We often overlook the value of such substantial people. I dislike the tone of how people talk these days. They talk of scheming, crime and trickery, as though there were no upright people any where. I can't believe it. Good men and women were living and inheriting the earth in Jusus day; taking care of their property and their families also in Uncle Arch's day and they are doing so in our day. Their names I do admit do not fill the scandal columnms of newspapers, nor make poison for the scandal monger's tongue, but I, find their names, hundreds of them on the honor rolls of school patrons and officers, they adorn the revenue records of county and state and fill St. Peter's Heavenly day-book. "Blessed are the up-right in heart, for they shall inherit the Kingdon of God." In Grateful Memory, E.N. Hall Taken from the Hardin County Independent 12 April 1934 Vol 62 #44 ------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Wanda Reed