Dallas Co., TX - Bios: Joseph Columbus Rugel
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Joseph Columbus Rugel (19 Mar 1853 - 29 Jan 1929)

Biography on pages 956-957 in Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas
County, Texas (Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1892)
Transcribed by Robert Bennett 26 Mar 2005

J. C. RUGEL, an ex-member of the Legislature and a hardware merchant of
Mesquite, Dallas. county, Texas, is one of the prominent men of this section
of the country. Mr. Rugel is a son of Ferdinand and Laura Bell Rugel, natives
of Germany snd Tennessee respectively. Ferdinand Rugel came to America about
1833, and traveled extensively over the United States before settling in
Jefferson County, Tennessee. He was by profession a naturalist, having come to
this country in the interest of a scientific organization of Germany. He was a
graduate of a medical college in Wurtemberg and was otherwise highly educated.

After settling in Tennessee he was engaged in the practice of medicine and
also carried on farming operations. After a long and eventful life he died
there, in 1878. He and his wife were the parents of twelve children, five of
whom are still living. Their son Ferdinand died in the army of Virginia, in
1865; Mollie became the wife of J. C. Chapman and resides in this county; J.
C. forms the subject of this sketch; G. A. resides in Hamblen county,
Tennessee, where he is engaged in farming; Lou is the wife of W. H. Homer, of
Jefferson county, Tennessee; F. C. is a member of the firm of J. C. Rugel &
Co.: and Bettie, wife of J. F. Chapman, is deceased. Mrs. Rugel lives in
Hamblen County, Tennessee, and is now sixty-six years of age.

J. C. Rugel was educated at Morristown, at what is called Ragan’s High School,
and at the age of twenty-one started out in life for himself. He asserted his
majority by immediately emigrating to this State. He settled in the vicinity
of Mesquite and engaged in teaching school, which occupation he followed seven
years, and during that time was considered one of the best instructors in this
part of the country.

After leaving the school room he took charge of Senator R. S. Kimbraugh’s
books, being occupied as bookkeeper eighteen months. He then engaged in his
present business, with T. F. Nash, under the firm name of Hash & Rugel,
dealing in hardware and farming implements of all kinds. Two years later Mr.
F. C. Rugel bought Mr. Nash’s interest, the firm becoming, J. C. Rugel &
Brother.

In 1884 the subject of our sketch was elected Justice of the Peace of Precinct
No. 4, and two years latter, in 1886, was elected member of the Twentieth
Legislature of Texas. He served as Chairman of the subcommittees that prepared
the Railway Commission Bill; was also a member of the regular committee on
Internal Improvements. His services in the Legislature were highly appreciated
by his constituents and were rendered in a manner that reflected much credit
on himself.

Mr. Rugel was married in 1876, to Miss Florence Freeson, a daughter. of Daniel
and Eliza (Ward) Freeson, natives of Mississippi. Mr. and Mrs. Rugel are thee
parents of four children: Pauline, Charles, Daniel and Carrie.

Both he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of
which he is an Elder. He is a member of Scyene Lodge, No. 295, A. F. & A, M.,
and has filled the various chairs in the order; is also a member of the K. of
H. of Mesquite, and is secretary of said lodge.

ADDITIONAL NOTES;  Mr. and Mrs. Rugel are buried at Mesquite Cemetery,
Mesquite Dallas, Texas. Mr. Rugel was a member of Scyene Lodge #269 AF and AM,
Scyene, Dallas County, Texas.