The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-09-23
From the St. Clairsville Gazette.
Death of Hon. Benjamin Ruggles.

From the St. Clairsville Gazette.
Death of Hon, Benjamin Ruggles.
800 The funeral of Hon. BENZ. RUG
GILES took place on Friday last, at 10
O'Clock A. NJ He was buried with Ma
sonic honors by the Brethren of Belmont
Lodge No. l6, Of which he was one of
the charter members charter bear
ing the signature of LEWIS CAss, Grand
Master The masonic funeral services were
conducted by Rev. WILSON, of Wheeling.
There was a very general turn out OF the
Brethren from Wheeling and surrounding
lodges: The procession was a long and
imposing one, and the largest perhaps
ever witnessed in this place. Wenoticed
great many old gray headed men from
different parts of the county, who had
come to pay the last sad offering to one
they had loved and esteemed through an
intercourse of halfa century. fa4s
Our business houses were closed, and
the people turned out en- rnaasse to follow
his remains to their last resting place
A friend has furnished us the following
brief biography: - go.
BENJAMIN RUsGLEs was born in Abing-
ton, Connecticut, on the 21st day of Feb.
1888, and died in ST. Clairsville, Ohio,
on the Cd day of September 1857, aged
IA years His father was respec table
farmer, religious man and an elder in
his church, and during Benjamin's child
hood was in good circumstances, but later
in, life his property was swept from him to
discharge security obligations in which he
had become involved for his brother. His
father died, leaving him a poor boy of the
age of twelve. He had the Connecticut
common school opportunities for educa-
sion; and they we're in his case, as in
thousands OF others Of New England's
sons, sufficient to inspire him with an am
bition for the higher walks of intellectual
effort. Having no property to devote to
t his education, he betOok himself to the
usual resource of aspiring young men IN
THAT. country. He taught school wint
ers, and in the summers spent his winter
earnings in going 20 school. His educa
! tion was academic, in which he was taught
Latin Greek, and the higher branches o
1 an. English education. At an early agt
he applied to Judge Peters, of Hartford
i Connecticut, to be admitted into his Office
as student at law He inquired of th'
Judge what he thought of the project
The Judge replied, s'The Bar here is yer.
much crowded, but Connecticut exports,
i great many lawyers. There is demant
for them in the West" The idea OF ulti
mately trying his fortune in the West wa
not new to Benjamin Ruggles. In hi
, boyhood he had frequently listened to
song which recounted the felicities
Western life, with the cheering refrain
son the banks of the pleasant Ohio" an
t his conviction became .manifest desti
+ ny" that the future of his life was cast i
that region. Accordingly, when he ha
. finished his studies with Judge Peters, an
e was admitted TO the Bar, he immediatel
!. set off for the West.
| For the Vest :, not for any particula
i locality therein, but for the West genera
: ly: and on horseback, for there were n
!, Railroads IN those days, not even lines {
v stages, and the traveller hither provide
e his own means of conveyance. The fir
y point of his landing in Ohio, was Marie
d ia, "On the banks of the pleasant Ohio
J. a perfect stranger in strange land. 4
/ stopped there, and in short time opene
an Office, and was successful in the pra
,, tice of his profession.
I" In the year 1910, he was elected Pres
dent Judge of the Court of Comme
le Pleas for the Third Circuit, extendir
o from St Clairsville to Cleveland, inclu
6 ling both places, but which did not inclu,
a Marietta The law requiilg that tt
President Judge should reside in his Ci
'e cult vas the occasion of his removal
r st. Clairsville, where he resided up to Il
1t time of his death. In 1915 he was elee
le ed by the Legislature a United Stat
y Senator; hewas twice e-elected, and ser
IN ed in that body in all eighteen years.