The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1911-02-17
THE LATE T.. v. RUGER.

A letter has been received from Mrs.
E. V. Ruger, who is still sojourning
in Florida, in which was inclosed the
following sketch of the late Capt. T..
V. Ruger, which will be read with a
great deal of interest by the old friends
of the family living in Oroville and
vicinity
"Elias Vaugn Ruger was born the
Both day of September, 1888, on farm
near Penyan, Yates county, New York.
He was reared amid peace and plenty
on beautiful farm, where the old
stone house still stands, although the
bountiful nut and apple orchards have
been gone these many years. He was
married in his early twenties to Miss
Anna Balm, who died within year of
their marriage. Four years later he
married Miss Maria Balm, who died
of pneumonia, in Seattle on December
9, 1903. Twin children were the issue
of this marriage, Mrs. Benjamin G.
Winters, of San Francisco, and Capt.
Emmett " Ruger, commander of the
steamer Samson, plying in the coast
trade out of Seattle.
SAT the beginning of the civil war
he was farming in his native state.
On the lst day of October, 1861, f. V.
Ruger was appointed orderly sergeant
in company G of the Sth regiment of
New York volunteer cavalry. He
made rapid advancement until he be-
came captain of Co. G. Capt. Ruger
was with the gallant Sth New York at
the famous battle of Waynesboro, COM
manded by Gen. H. b. Compson,
fought March =, 1865, when the fa-
nous charge was made that broke the
center of the confederate forces, cap
turing 1850 prisoners, eight battle
flags, six pieces of artillery, 250 wag-
ons, 1900 stand of arms, 300 horses,
ETC., and bringing about defeat of
the cOnfederates, for which Gen. Comp
son received medal of honor from
congress, which took place in klamath
county, Oregon, % 5years after. the war
''Shortly after the close of the war
Capt Ruger moved to Wisconsin and
from there to Kansas, where in 1871,
he was appointed captain of the state
militia by Gov. James M. Harvey.
Later he went to Great Bend, Kans.,
where he engaged in farming, and was
deputy U. S. marshal for four years.
From Kansas he wended his way to
California, living in many parts of the
state in the hope of riding himself of
rheumatism, which he had contracted
in the army from exposure. Capt.
Ruger finally went to Snohomish,
Wash, and engaged in the saw mill
business for some time, later going to
Seattle, where he entered the U. s.
customs service, retiring with the
change of administration. He then
served as deputy U. S. marshal under
Marshal Drake, and was reinstated in
the customs service July l5, 1901, un-
der civil service. He was transferred
III aug uou. ICol, w SHcSdW, w dSIl., W
fill the vacancy left by the death of
Deputy Collector j. Il. Mcdonald. He
remained in Chesaw four years, being
transferred to Oroville, Wash, when
that place became a port in 1905. Capt.
Ruger was great sufferer from rheu-
matism, and after five years service in
Oroville as deputy collector, decided
trying warmer cline in hopes of OBJ
tanning relief from his suffering. His
death was great surprise, as he
seemed to be improving slowly when
the final summons came.
capt Ruger was married Septem-
Der 20, 1899 to Mrs. NJ. A. Mccullough,
of San Francisco, Cal, who survives
him.
He became Mason in 1861, in New
York, and was member of the An
cient Order of United Workmen.
"He was man of high integrity,
capable official, true friend and an
indulgent husband and father"