Biography of Thomas H. Ruth

	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an 
	illustrated compendium of biography, containing a compendium   
      of local biography, including biographical sketches of...prominent 
	old settlers and representative citizens of South Dakota with a 
	review of their life work... Also a compendium of national biography."
      Publisher: Chicago, G. A. Ogle, 1898. Pages 235-236.

	Scan and OCR by Joy Fisher, 1997. This file may be copied for non-profit 
	purposes. All other rights reserved.

COLONEL THOMAS H. RUTH, president of the Kingsbury County Bank and ex-mayor, is one of 
the most prominent and influential citizens of De Smet. He is wealthy, a large property 
holder, and one of the leaders in municipal affairs in the flourishing city where he 
lives. Colonel Ruth was born in Carmichaels, Greene county, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1844. 
His father, Peter Ruth, was also a native of Pennsylvania, of German extraction, born 
September 16, 1819. He married Mary Homer, who was born in the same state November 19, 
1821. She was of German extraction on her father's side. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Ruth settled in Carmichaels, where our subject's father died, October 31, 1858. Mrs. 
Ruth still resides there, the mother of six children: Thomas. H., the subject of this 
sketch; John W., Sarah C., William H., and Lora B. and Ara B., twins. . Thomas received 
his education in the common schools end at Greene Academy, Carmichaels, Pennsylvania. 
On the 6th of June, 1863, he enlisted in Company C, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, 
in the ninety-day service. After his term of enlistment expired Colonel Ruth returned 
to Carmichaels, and in 1868 went to Page county, Iowa, where he soon afterward began 
buying cattle for West & Company, of Hawleyville, Iowa. After a time he engaged in the 
business for himself. In 1876 Colonel Ruth removed to Greenfield, in the same state, 
where he started an abstract business, writing a complete set of abstract books of 
the county. February 28, 1880, he came to De Smet, and in June of that year 
established the bank of which he is now president, and which, from a small beginning, 
has grown to be one of the large and solid financial institutions of South Dakota. His 
brother was a partner with him in this venture, the firm name being A. Ruth & Company. 
The bank was incorporated in 1886 under the state law, with a paid up capital of 
$25,000. John Armstrong became its president and Colonel Ruth cashier. On the first 
of February, 1892, Mr. Ruth succeeded to the presidency of the bank, and Mr. E. P. 
Sanford, of whom a sketch will be found in this work, was installed as cashier. The 
Kingsbury County Bank is one of the oldest in the middle eastern section of the state, 
and has been known for many years as a well conducted and very conservative institution. 
Colonel Ruth, in addition to his city interests, is the owner, with his brother, 
of 1,120 acres of fine farming land in Kingsbury, Beadle, McPherson, and Campbell 
counties. He is an ardent Republican, and has always taken a lively interest in 
political and public questions. In 1889 Colonel Ruth was elected mayor of the city 
of De Smet by a handsome majority, and in 1890 was the successful candidate on the 
Republican state ticket for the office of commissioner of schools and public lands. 
He was re-elected in 1892, serving in all four years. He was for many years a member 
of the South Dakota National Guards, and in 1884 organized Company E, of the First 
Regiment of De Smet, of which he was elected captain, and subsequently became major, then 
colonel. in which capacity he served until 1897. He is also a member of Harvey post, 
No. 82, G. A. R., at DeSmet.

	Colonel Ruth married Miss Lora Galbraith, November 11, 1879, in Carmichaels, 
Pennsylvania. She was born May 30, 1844. and was the daughter of Dr. William and 
Mary (Hiller) Galbraith. Mrs. Ruth died August 10, 1893. Colonel Ruth remarried 
May 1, 1895, his bride being Miss Amelia M. Bell, the daughter of James and 
Elizabeth Bell, of Carmichaels, Pennsylvania. Colonel and Mrs. Ruth have no 
children.