BIO: David H. RUHL, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  327

  DAVID H. RUHL, proprietor of the "Spring Mills Hotel," is one of the 
noted citizens of his town, and one of the best known hotelmen in 
Penn's Valley, where his geniality and social disposition have won him 
a host of warm friends.  He was born in Warwick township, Lancaster 
county, Penn., December 30, 1840.  His father, Peter Ruhl, was born in 
the same county, June 1, 1820, and was a son of George Ruhl, a farmer 
in affluent circumstances who left to his children considerable 
property.
  Peter Ruhl was reared in his native county, and was married to Miss 
Mary Heagg, who was born near Manheim, Penn., in April, 1820.  Mr. Ruhl 
followed farming in Lancaster county until our subject was five years 
of age, when he removed with his family to Anville township, Lebanon 
county, and subsequently located near Campbelltown in that county, 
where he operated a rented farm.  While residing there the mother died, 
February 28, 1875, and was buried in Hirschey Cemetery, near 
Campbelltown.  The father has since married a Mrs. Selmire, and is now 
living a retired life in Annville.  He was a stanch Whig and is now a 
stalwart Republican.  By his first wife he had two children: David and 
Abraham, who died at the age of five years.  By his second marriage he 
has a daughter, Emma, at home.  He is highly respected for his sterling 
worth, and has many friends in the community where he lives.
  David H. Ruhl had meager educational privileges, for during his 
boyhood the schools were somewhat primitive in character, and moreover, 
his services were needed on the farm, for his parents were in but 
limited circumstances.  At the age of nineteen he gave up school, and 
when twenty-one years of age he left home.  Previous to that time his 
labors had all been for the benefit of his parents.  Since early 
manhood he has been engaged in auctioneering, and has added not a 
little to his income thereby.  In 1862 he came to Centre county, and 
began work as a farm hand for J. H. Fishburn, in Benner township.  On 
January 1, 1863, he accepted a clerkship in the store of D. M. Wagner, 
of Bellefonte, at a salary of $13 per month, but his wages were 
considerably increased during the seven years which he remained in the 
employ of that well-known merchant.  In 1870 he and his brother-in-law, 
Samuel Gault, purchased the grocery business of Levi A. Miller, of 
Bellefonte, and the firm of Ruhl & Gault conducted the store for  two 
years, when the former became sole proprietor.  A year later he sold 
out and again entered the store of D. M. Wagner, with whom he remained 
for six months.
  On the expiration of that period, Mr. Ruhl came to Snow Shoe, and 
accepted a clerkship with May, Loeb & Co., with whom he continued until 
the store was closed out a year and a half later.  He then conducted a 
licensed house in Snow Shoe for a year and a half, and for two years 
conducted a temperance house in Snow Shoe, called the "Snow Shoe 
House."  In 1879 he located at Potters Mills, Centre county, where he 
conducted a licensed house until April 1, 1887, when he came to Spring 
Mills.  In July, 1896, he purchased his present hotel property, and now 
has a popular hostelry.
  Mr. Ruhl was married November 13, 1866, in Boalsburg, Penn., to Miss 
Sarah S. Poorman, of Benner township, where she was born in April, 
1845, a daughter of Henry (a farmer) and Hannah (Friese) Poorman.  The 
children of Mr. and Mrs. Ruhl are: Edwin, born March 13, 1868, now a 
hotel keeper in Centre Hall; Lydia, born June 7, 1870, is now the wife 
of W. W. Rishel, proprietor of the "Kline House," at Lewistown, Penn.; 
William, born December 16, 1879; and Harry, born June 20, 1885.  Mr. 
Ruhl is a stanch Republican in politics, and served as judge of 
election in Gregg township in 1894 and 1896.  He does all in his power 
to advance the interests of the party, but has never been an office 
seeker.  Socially, he belongs to Spring Mills Castle No. 169, K. G. E., 
and in matters of religion he and his wife attend the Presbyterian 
Church.  They conduct one of the best hotels in Penn's Valley, and the 
hospitable disposition and friendly manner of the proprietor have made 
him very popular with the traveling public, and secured him a liberal 
patronage.