BIO:  Benjamin F. Ruff, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Peach Bottom Township, Pg 168

BENJAMIN F. RUFF, a native of Harford County, Md., was born April 29, 1820.  His parents, 
Richard and Lovina (Montgomery) Ruff, were of English descent.  His father was one of the “Old 
Defenders,” having been with his company at Baltimore in 1814.  He died in 1823.  The subject 
of this sketch spent his early life on a farm, and received his education in a subscription 
school, and at Abington Academy.  After leaving school he served an apprenticeship at 
blacksmithing at Bush Furnace, and afterward worked at Patterson’s Iron Works, in Baltimore 
County.  In 1842 he came to Peach Bottom Township, rented a shop one year from James Ramsay, 
after which he built a shop at Slate Hill, where he now resides.  He was married in 1845, to 
Elizabeth, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Bankhead) Alexander, of Harford County, Md., and 
had born to him five children, all of whom died soon after they were grown up.  His wife died 
in 1862, and in a few years he entered into a second marriage with Virginia, daughter of John 
L. and Mary Ann (Gibbons) Sterns, by whom he has two sons:  Purlee and James Ross.  His second 
wife died February 22, 1884, and she as well as the first, was interred at Slateville 
Presbyterian Church, of which the family are members.  Mr. Ruff enjoys a reputation among his 
neighbors for strict integrity of character and upright dealing.  By his industry he has 
acquired a fair competence.