The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-05
FUNERAL OF N. r. RUCKLE
WILL BE CONDUCTED BY MASONIC
BODIES OF THE CITY.
where Will Attend-Sudden Death
of Timothy Nj. Bosart.


ing. will be held at D. m. Monday from
st. Paul's Episcopal Church. The services
will be conducted by the Masonic orders.
and each branch of which Col. Ruckle was
member will participate. The burial will
be at Crown Hill
The Masonic bodies at Fort Wayne have
sent word that they will be here to attend
the funeral. and 1t is thought other Ma
sonic bodies from outside the city will also
be in attendance.
Col. Ruckle was married late in life to
Mrs. Jennie Reed. who survives him. His
only child died several years ago. Miss
Kate Ruckle. sister, lives in this city.
Col. Ruckle was probably the best-known
Mason in the State OF Indiana, and was
also widely known on account Of his bust
ness, military and political records. He
was born May s, 1888. in Baltimore, Nd,
and when nine years OF age came to In
diana with his parents. who located at
Madison, where his early education was
acquired. He came to Indianapolis in 1852
and year later entered upon an appren-
ticeship in the composing room of the In
dianapolis Journal, serving in that capacity
until the beginning of the civil war. He
was then a member of the fire department
and one of the independent military COM
panies which entered the government serv-
ice at the first call. The company was as
signed to the Eleventh Indiana Volunteer
Infantry and was under command of Gen.
Lew Wallace. Mr. Ruckle served with the
company sergeant, lieutenant and cap
tain, and was promoted for field gallantry
to colonel of the hundred and forty
aio Ind he md Of
the three months enlistment he continued
his army service until October. 1866. taking
part in many of the noted battle of the
war. He was in the battles of Fort Henry
Fort Donelson and Shiloh, and took part in
the expeditions and skirmishes of the
Transmssissippi army under General Cur
tbs. He was in the ranks at the siege Of
Vicksburg and participated in the battles
of Winchester, Fishers Hill, Cedar Creek
and Halltown.
MASONIC CAREER.
Col Ruckle was made master Mason
In Center Lodge, No. %. in 1866. and in 1871
was worshipful master of that lodge. He
was later master Of Pentalpha Lodge. No.
564. In 1867 he was exalted in the keystone
Chapter, and in 1856 served as high priest.
He knighted by Raper Commandery.
No. !, Knights Templars, in 1861, and served
as eminent commander from 1872 to 1876.
and again in 1880. He was also captain
general of Raper Commandery for several
years.
In the Scottish Rite he received the Thir-
ty-second degree in March, 1867, ard the
honorary thirty-third degree in 1870 He
passed to the active grade in 1888 AMI the
year following was appointed deputy of the
Supreme Council for the district of Indi-
ana, succeeding Eldridge c. Hamilton, of
Laporte, position which he held until his
death He was grand commander of the
Indiana knights Templars in 1875, and
grand master of the Masons in 1891.
Col. Ruckle was acknowledged by all with
whom he came in contact to be a most
strict dsciplinarian, and 1t was because of
this that the Raper Commandery became
so proficient in drill tactics under his direc-
ton. The Indianapolis Light Infantry was
also a winner of prizes in drill contests.
and IL was by reason of the perfect organi-
cation by COL Ruckle.
He was one of the organizers of
the Light Infantry In 1877, and was its first
captain. The company was first called into
service in July of that year account of
the railroad riots, and for several years
was called out by the Governor on account
of riots The company also saw service in
Fountain county during the troubles with
the miners. James r. Ross succeeded Col.
Ruckle as commander of the company in
1888. The organization of the company was
continued, and during the Spanish war
served as Company u of the One-hundred-
and-ffty- eighth Indiana Volunteers, going
out as part of the Second Regiment, In
diana National Guard, under Capt. +. +.
McCrea.
SERVED AS SHERIFF.
Col. Ruckle served as sheriff of Marion
county for two terms, from 1870 to 1874.
and was president Of the police commits
sioners in 1887 and 1883. He was adjutant
general Of the State of Indiana from 1889
to January. 1893. during the administrations
Of Governors Hovey and Chase, and in 1894
was chairman Of the Indianapolis Board of
Public Safety.
During the early seventies Col Ruckle
was identified with many large business
projects and prospered until 1878, when the
panic damaged his interests here TO such
an extent that he was rendered almost
bankrupt He at one time controlled most
of the stock of the Indianapolis Journal,
which was sold to z. B. Martindale and
| the job printing business to 0. H. Hassel-
man & Co. He also owned the old Academy
of Music, at the corner OF Illinois and
Ohio streets. which was destroyed by
| fire. He was part owner of the Southern
Park, later sold to the city and renamed
Garfield Park. After Col. Ruckle disposed
of his interests in business he became SUI
perintendent for the Hasselman Company,
and was also connected with the Baker d
Randolph Printing Company and later with
the Sentinel Printing Company.
Col Ruckle was a Republican and always
| took active part in the campaigns from
the time he came out of the army until
| 1884, when he practically retired from active
participation in political work. He never,
| however. lost interest in the issues. and
| often acted in an advisory capacity. He
| was recognized as a great political or
ganizer and during his active career
probably acquainted with more voters in
| the city and county than any other poll
tician. He was a member of the state and
| city committees at different times, and in
| 1876 was a member of the state central
committee. He was very enthusiastic in the
support of Senator Morton's candidacy and
| took a prominent part in the national con-
vention at Cincinnati in that year. He had
| O. very remarkable memory for matters
which came to his notice in business and
| politics, and his remembrance of events
| and figures often occasioned much sur
prise.
A GENEROUS MAN.
| He was generous to a fault, and IL was
said this trait was in great measure re-
| sponsible for his financial failure. One in
stance OF his liberality as cited was fol-
lowing Decoration day. 1t was before the
| G. a. r. assumed charge of the cere-
mopies. r. o. Hawkins was on the finance
| committee to solicit funds for defraying
| the expenses He had charge Of the con-
tracts. and after all was over it was found