The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-12-14
Written for The Spirit of Democracy, :,
OBITUARY,

with his son-in-law, j A Daley, PASCAL
RUCKER, in the S6lh year OF his age, and
on the following day was followed by
large procession of friends and neigh
bors to his last resting place in the family
burying ground, on the farm Of Benja-
min Danford.
Father Rucker was born January 20,
1870, in Greenbrier County, Virginia, and
there grew up to manhood and married
young lady by the name Of Mary Rog.
ers, and emigrated in the year 1915, with
his father, to Ohio, and settled on Wills
Creek on the same place where he died.
The county was then all unbroken forest;
the scream of the panther, the growing
OF the bearscould be heard, and the saw
age Indian was often seen travelling
through the forest.
Father Rucker encountered all the
dangers and privations OF the first set.
tiers of this part of Ohio. There were
nine children committed to his care, two
of them died in infancy, and the other
seven he raised to manhood and woman
hood. In 1S45 death visited his family
in an unusual manner, and he was called
to part with his companion and two of
his children within short time of each
other Since that two others have died
and two are living in the far west, leaving
him with an only daughter to lean upon
in his old age For seventy-fve years he
served the god Of this world in intemper-
ate habits, such as going to frolics. dances
and drinking Intoxicating liquors 1t
can be truly said Of Father Rucker that he
was miracle of grace. In 1865 he was
called to part with little grandson whom
he dearly loved. son of James and Nancy
Daily After the death of the child he
got to thinking about his condition.; he
wanted to meet the child in heaven, and
he sorely repented the way he was living
aud determined to do better; and while
he lay on his bed at night, wetting his pill
low with tears, he fell Off to sleep, and in
a dream for trance he was, like John the
Revelator, permitted to enter heaven and
see all its beauties, aud he said it was 80
great that he could not describe it. He
thought he had the little child he had
parted with in his arms, all clothed in
white; and while he was looking at the
child his companion, that he had parted
with so long ago, came up to him and
reached him her hand and called him by
name He was so overjnyed at what he
had seen that he awoke and found himself
again on earth, with full assurance that
his peace was made with God, and that
He, for Christ's sake, had pardoned all
his sins and he was made new creature,
"that old things had passed away and all
things become new" and he shouted
aloud the praise Of God. For msny days
he went from house to house praising
God, and telling his friends and neigh
bors what great things God had done for
him, and telling sinners what dear
Savior he Lad found He Joined the NJ
E Church, and as long as he was able to
90 he attended his class, and was always
happy and had something to say about
Jesus and his love For the past three
years he has not heen able to attend
church but little. He was afflicted with
rheumatism so he could hardly get about :.
but 60 and see him when you would hs
was always happy Your writer often
visited him during his last days and found
him always patient and in the ful emily.
ment of religion. He would often say
with the poet:
'.Oh land of rest, for thee sigh;
When will the moments come
When shall lay nay armor by,
And dwell with Christ at homer"
Father Rucker was always kinda good
husband and father; the poor always
found shelter under his root and some
thing to satisfy their wants. He was a
good neighbor and citizen, and we deeply
mourn his loss, but believe our loss was
his gain He has gone to join his friends
ia that land,
"Far away mid the stars, we are told.
Where they know not the sorrows of time;
Where the pure waters fow through the val
leys Of gold,
And where life is a treasure sublime.
'Tis the land of our God, tbs the home of the
soul,
Where the ages Of splendor etsrnally roll.
When the way.wsary traveller reaches his goal
On the evergreen mountains of life,
Oh, how sweet it will be in that bosutiful land, ,
30 free from sll sorrow and pain,
With songs on our lips and with harps in our
hands,
To meet one another again.
Monroe and Noble County papers
please copy J. MAssIE