BIO: Henry RUDY, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 220-221.
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  HENRY RUDY, Petersburg, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in Barree 
township, Huntingdon county, July 10, 1825, son of George and Isabella 
(Ewing) Rudy. His paternal great-grandfather was German by birth; the 
grandfather, George Rudy the elder, was born in York county, Pa. He was 
a farmer, first in his native county, afterward in Barree township, 
Huntingdon county, where he purchased 200 acres of land, all in timber. 
With the help of his family, he cleared it all, and built upon his farm 
a stone dwelling and a barn. He tilled the land and raised stock. 
George Rudy, Sr., took part in the Revolution, being for seven years in 
the Continental army. He married in York county. His children were: 
Jacob; John; Jonas; Henry; George; Samuel; Elizabeth; Catherine; 
Barbara; Mary; and Margaret. George Rudy, Sr., belonged to the old Whig 
party. He was a member of the Lutheran church. He died in Barree 
township in 1833. His fifth son, George Rudy, Jr., after receiving a 
rather limited education in subscription schools, learned the trade of 
a blacksmith with his brother, Jacob Rudy. He carried on this business 
all his life, besides farming fifty acres in Barree township, raising 
stock, etc. Like his father, he adhered to the Whig party, and held his 
membership in the Lutheran church. His wife, Isabella Ewing, was a 
daughter of John Ewing, a soldier under General Washington in the 
Revolution. Their children are: Mary A., deceased, wife of Dewalt 
Slipy; Elizabeth, died young; Henry; John, served in the war of the 
Rebellion, and died several years after the close of the war in Ohio; 
Barbara, wife of Samuel K. Wharton, blacksmith, of Petersburg, Pa.; 
Martha (Mrs. Alexander Slipy), deceased; George, deceased; Elizabeth; 
Isabella (Mrs. David Bracker), of Indiana; and Sarah (Mrs. James Neil), 
of Huntingdon, Pa. George Rudy died in Barree township in 1842. His 
wife died in 1845. Mr. Rudy was a noted hunter; many a deer and bear 
fell by his unerring aim; many a wild turkey of his shooting - to say 
nothing of smaller game - helped to furnish the family larder. Henry 
Rudy's maternal grandmother was the Miss Elizabeth McCormick, whom the 
Indians captured in 1782, during the last days of the Revolution, after 
hostilities had ceased. Her father's residence, near which she was 
taken, was in the vicinity of the present site of Neffs Mills. It was 
three years before Mr. McCormick succeeded in finding his daughter, and 
bringing her home.
  Henry Rudy attended subscription and public schools in Barree 
township. He was brought up on a farm, and learned the blacksmith trade 
from his father. He carried on that business first in Barree township, 
until he was twenty-four years old; then successively in Blair county 
for one year, in Centre county for seven years; near Neffs Mills, in 
Huntingdon county, for one year; at Monroe Furnace for one year; at 
Masseysburg, Barree township, for seven years, and at Shavers Creek 
bridge, West township, for three years. Mr. Rudy came to his present 
place of residence in Logan township, in 1868; built a shop and 
dwelling at a cost of over $2,500, with a barn and other improvements, 
costing $600 additional. He does wood work besides the labor of the 
forge, and is successful in both branches of his business. Mr. Rudy has 
well merited his present prosperity, having begun as a poor boy, 
obliged after the death of his father to contribute to the maintenance 
of the family, besides supporting himself. He has faithfully performed 
his duty, and won success by his energy and his sensible and honorable 
management. He has been justice of the peace for twenty years, elected 
on the Republican ticket, and was tax collector for twelve years.
  Henry Rudy was married in Barree township in 1843, to Margaret J., 
daughter of Matthew Gilliland, a stone mason of that township, of 
Scotch-Irish descent. Mrs. Rudy was born in Barree township in 1827. 
Their children are: Rebecca; Isabella (Mrs. Samuel Steel), of 
Huntingdon, Pa.; William, deceased; George, deceased; Samuel, county 
superintendent of common schools; Matthew, lumber merchant; Margaret, 
died young; Ida C.; Elizabeth, died young; Annie M. (Mrs. James Weir), 
of Tyrone, Pa.; an infant, not named. Mr. Rudy is a member of the 
Presbyterian church.