Pleasants County, West Virginia, Biography of J. Frederick Ruttencutter

************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced
in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must
obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal represen-
ative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with
proof of this consent.
************************************************************************

J. FREDERICK RUTTENCUTTER

J. Frederick Ruttencutter, one of the substantial old farmers of 
Pleasants county, was born in Sistersville, in 1819, his parents 
being Daniel and Mary (Pacracy) Ruttencutter, both natives of 
Germany.  The father was born in Strassburg, where he served an 
apprenticeship at the carpenter and cabinet trades, and came to 
America when a young man.  When he arrived he was quite poor and 
worked at his trade for a living for several years.  The mother upon 
her arrival in America bound herself to service in a family, where 
she remained for several years.  She arrived in America on the 25th 
of December, was married on December 25, and joined the Methodist 
Episcopal church on Christmas day.  After their marriage they moved 
to Sistersville, where they settled and remained about three years.  
At that time Mr. Ruttencutter bought land near  Middlebourne, where 
he raised a family of eight children, all still living and named as 
follows:  J. Fred, Eliza, wife of Greenberry Riggs;  William, Rosina, 
wife of John Taylor;  Joshua, Louisa, wife of a Mr. Robinson;  
Abraham, and Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Porter.  Our subject was 
reared to manhood on the farm, and received a very limited education 
in the old fashioned school-houses of the early days.  In 1841 he was 
married to Mary ann, daughter of Adam and Mary Kester.  This union 
resulted in the birth of fourteen children, of whom ten are living, 
as follows:  William Cooper, Mary E., wife of W. W. Kelley;  Joseph 
Hamilton, Greenberry, Sophia Alice, wife of Rev. J. J. Mason;  Ann 
Eliza, wife of Rev. O. J. Moore;  Abraham M., George Kelsall, Lucy 
Ellena, wife of John Suck, and Kate Inez.  The mother of these 
children was a native of Harrison county, W.Va., and she and her 
husband are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.  Mr. 
Ruttencutter has been a member of the church for forty-eight years, 
having served as steward and class leader for several years.  He 
began life with nothing in the shape of property but an ax and 
mattock, but with these he set to work resolutely, and hewed his way 
to success through all the trials and privations of a pioneer's life.  
He now owns 139 acres of well improved land in Washington district, 
and enjoys the esteem which follows a well spent life.         

From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I; Brant & Fuller, 1891.


(Linda Cunningham Fluharty)