Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-03-13
LIFE AND SERVICES
OF JOHN RUFF. SR.
President of Old County Court OF
Justices of Peace
MAN OF STERLING CHARACTER
Lived and Died in This Community
Respected by All

the portrait OF John Kun. Sr-.to the BOARD OF gu
pervisors in the Courthouse, Lexington, Va,
March 4, I9I7)
Mr.. Chairman: people who
do not treasure in memory the lives
of their good and faithful dead dc
not deserve, and rarely receive, the
loyal affection of those who follow
them.
The man, whose portrait L have
the honor to present to you, was a
good man, a useful man, and prom
inent citizen in the annals Of Rock
bridge county.
We are told If a canal were cut
connecting tue Athabasca and Sas-
kate hawan Rivers, and another con-
uecting the Red River of the North |
and the Mississippi, an Indian
might enter the mouth OF the Mack
enzie from the Artic Ocean and row
from those ATTITUDES Of ice down TO
the Gulf of Mexico, the regions OF
eternal summer!
So, likewise, the life John Ruff,
Sr., which began in Revolutionary
times and extended down nearly to
the Civil War, constitutes a bridge
spanning the greai chasm between
our own time and the liberty-making
epoch OF the American Revolution.
Mr.. Ruff was born April 8, 1888,
and died September 9, 1888, in his
10th year, typical Scotch-lrishman,
as shown so plainly by the
strong lineaments of his counte
nance in this portrait. He was
prosperous, thrifty farmer, living a
} short distance south of Lexington
He left a considerable estate TO his
A family at his death. The late Judge
William Mclaughlin was one Of his
exectors.
Mr. Ruff was, through his long
= life, an active, useful member of this
4, community, and whilst | have at my
disposal limited data as to detail ]
e shall mention two facts which speak
volumes to show his character, use
S fulness and influence i'm the commu-
e nifty.
II He was a prominent member oil
the Methodist Episcopal Church
e South. In the Valley Star of Sep
TENDER ID, 1858, are published reso
x lutions, adopted then recently by thu
:, Lexington Circuit of the Virgini;
d Conference, expressing their higt
r estimate of his great worth. In fl
IS words they record their gratitude 70
S his useful life; for his prudent coun
ID sci; for his efficient action; for hi
l. constant charity, and for his brigh
B. and Christian example in the va
rious relations Of life. In one Of tn
n closing paragraphs he is describe
as IAN affectionate husband, a
D. honored parent, kind neighbor,
IN dignified gentleman, a valuable an
re- influential member"
ne And, again, it appears from til
ne public records of the county tn;
he for over 10 years he was a membt
Sc of the County Court, and during,
to think, a considerable part OF th
ry time, the honored president of tn
mt Honorable Court. l use the VOL
or Honorable" in this connection n
he in the formal sense alone, for it
ng a fact that our ola County Cour
IN composed of the county justice
ng county gentlemen of characte
mp high standing end influence, W
The indeed a remarkable institution.
m held, and justly held, high place
de the affections of our people. Tru
ees it was composed of men general
ton not learned in the law, but men
cai clear, strong minds, familiar wi
an affairs and of incorruptible int
lis, rity. They undertook to deci
the what was the very right of
sti- cause without giving technical RI
ing sons.
nts Remarkable as it may seem it
&C. been often asserted land so far a
know never successfully denies
for that of all the decisions of the {
,vil County Courts Of Virginia VIII
4. II hnx M