The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-07-19

Oskaloosa friends extend congratulate
tons and best wishes.
RUAN--W William H. X. Ruan was
born April Z, 1899, at st. Croix or San
ia Cruze in the Danish West Indies,
one Of the three islands recently pur-
chased by the United States, He de-
parted this life Tuesday night, July
10. 1917 at the age of IS years. 3
months and days. He came of French
English and German parentage and
from cultured and refined home.
At the age of 10 he went to Scot
land to attend school, completing
three year course in Ayr Academy.
When II years of age. he, together
with his father and two brothers, John
and James, left their Island home,
Drawing the dangers of the seas, that
they might seek their fortune in this
country. They arrived here in the year
1856, after having spent Is long days
and nights upon the deep
The father and sons landed at New
York but soon made their way west
ward, coming to iowa City and loeat.
ing. in Poweshiek County for year
or more. They were men, accustomed
TO living on large estates in the warm
West Indies, now bravely battling with
the rigors of New land, Here they
built a rude house for themselves and
broke the prairie soil. Here they suf-
fered all the terrible hardships of Iowa
winters as well as the privations of
those early Pioneer days. A few years
after coming to- the United States our
departed one became a Naturalized
citizen and was-eyer most loyal to
his country. He was a member of the
Home Guard at the time of the Civil
War under Captain Joseph Jones of
oskaloosa. lately deceased.
Shortly before the opening of the
Civil War he came to Mahaska county
where the remainder of his life WAS
spent, he having lived within the
county for almost so years. He follow
ed mining for several years, later en-
gaging in Farming which he followed
until some few years ago. He was,
however, active and hardworking UNI
til within the past two years when his
unusual health and physical strength
failed him.
In January 1869 he was united in
marriage with Fannie j. Mendenhall.
To this union were born three child
rem, DIR. j. A. Ruan of Beacon; Mary
Eta, who departed this life in her 9Th
year; and Mrs. Coda o. Ruan-Carrell
of Beacon. The wife and mother pre-
ceded him to her Heavenly Home, Dec.
1, 1907.
Besides the son and daughter who
are left to mourn his death there re
main but three of his brothers and
sisters, he having been the oldest OF
family of ten Those remaining are:
John Ruan pe Salem. Oregon. Maria
Ruan- Harrington of Yonkors Place N.
", and Jennie E. Ruan OF E2drcrd,
Virginia.
At the early age of six weeks he was
christened in the Episcopal church or
Church of England, being confirmed in
full membership at the age of IA.
Throughout his entire life he lived
consistent, faithful life. His thought
was never for himself and his pleas
ures or comforts, but always for the
best interests of others. None could
have been more patient or fOrbearing
than he and none more true to that
which he believed to be right. He hat
ed only injustice and wrongdoing and
that when directed toward others rath-
er than toward himself. He had only
love in his great heart for his fellow
men-even for those who did him
wrong. Never did he utter an unkind
word concerning any living soul but
always sought to excuse or overlook
the deed. He was generous, true heart
ed and brave, Even during the awful
suffering of the last few weeks and
days he uttered no word of complaint.
He fought the fight of strong, brave
man and fought it even to the end.
His death was due to complication
of conditions together with an aggre-
waited form of dropsy. After a long af-
ternoon of intense suffering he fell
quietly asleep at S:55 o'clock.
The funeral services We're conducted
from the Methodist church of Beacon
on Thursday afternoon, July IL. by the
Reverend Arthur M. Lewis, Rector of
ST. James Episcopal church of Oska-
loosa, assisted by Edgar II. Stranahan,
the Pastor of the Friends church of
Oskaloosa. Interment was made in the