Rufus Pruitt

Rufus Pruitt is the son of Owen and Millie Pruitt and the youngest of their four children. He is also the husband of Sarah Pruitt and the father of Peter, Joe, Grace, Bridget, Andy, Zach, and Caroline Pruitt. He is a sawmill worker in Jepson Valley, PA. When he met Sarah in 1914, he was immediately taken with her, but feared he wouldn't be enough for her. He was the first to say, "I love you". Unfortunately, in 1915 Rufus was drafted into the war. He and Sarah had to part ways only months after meeting. When he came back on leave, he proposed to Sarah in July of 1917, but Sarah's parents were not very approving of them getting married, so they eloped only two months later, on September 20. Sarah got pregnant shortly after, but Rufus had to go back to his base, and then he was sent overseas. Sarah wrote to tell him about the baby, but Rufus could not come back home for months. When he did, he was greeted by a six and a half month pregnant Sarah. He had to leave again a few weeks later, and Sarah gave birth to Peter in June while Rufus was still away. When was the war was over, Rufus finally came home for good and met his son. Rufus and Sarah have a happy, loving relationship and they hold their family together. Rufus is a loving husband and father, and he takes his role as the protector of his family very seriously. Rufus and his father have a very close relationship, largely related to the fact that Rufus was the son who stayed at the mill and worked with Owen. Rufus has an older brother, Charlie. Charlie is a free spirit and decided to leave home when he was 19 to go out and explore the world, even though Owen was counting on him to take over the mill one day. The responsibility fell on Rufus, and there has always been a rift between the brothers because of this. This is mirrored in the relationship that Peter and Joe have, since Peter let the responsibility of the mill fall on Joe. Rufus has always given Peter a hard time for not wanting to work on the mill, not only because it is a disappointment to Rufus, but because he knows that Joe has to take on the burdens that were supposed to go to Peter. Joe explains this to Audrey when she asks him about his relationship with Peter. Joe tells her that Peter was meant to take over the mill, but one day when he didn't show up to shadow their father, Joe was wound up filling in. When Peter showed up, Rufus grabbed him by the collar and took him out of sight. Joe says that he does not know exactly what Rufus said or did, but it was enough to drive a wedge between Rufus and Peter, and by extension Peter and Joe. This further explains why Peter and Joe have struggled to connect connects with Joe more than any of his other children. Nevertheless, Rufus does love all of his children, including Peter, even if he doesn't always show it. Rufus and Peter have a challenging relationship, which is not resolved until Peter comes back from WWII. When Peter enlists, Sarah blames Rufus, saying he drove Peter away by not being accepting of him. Rufus begins to feel guilty about how he has treated Peter, and when Peter returns Rufus allows himself to have a difficult conversation with Peter, and eventually apologize. Rufus also tells Peter that he is proud of him, which he has never done. It allows for a new beginning for Rufus and his eldest son.

## Rufus Pruitt

### Relatives

Owen Pruitt (father), Mildred Pruitt (mother), Peter Pruitt (son), Joe Pruitt (son), Grace Pruitt (daughter), Bridget Pruitt (daughter), Andy Pruitt (son), Zach Pruitt (son), Caroline Pruitt (daughter), Charlie Pruitt (brother), Mabel Pruitt (sister), Caroline Pruitt (sister), Henry Gibson (father-in-law), Abigail Gibson (mother-in-law), Harry Gibson (brother-in-law), Alexander Gibson (brother-in-law), Amy Gibson (sister-in-law), Peter Gibson (brother-in-law), Owen Pruitt (grandson), Shirley Pruitt (granddaughter), Paul Pruitt (grandson), Sarah Pruitt (granddaughter), Dennis Pruitt (grandson), Josephine Pruitt (granddaughter), Helen Pruitt (granddaughter), Richard Pruitt (grandson), Ralph Reed (grandson), James Reed (grandson), Phyllis Reed (granddaughter), Edith Reed (granddaughter), Sylvia Reed (granddaughter), Keith Reed (grandson), Sally Perry (granddaughter), Patricia Perry (granddaughter), Gail Perry (granddaughter), Victoria Pruitt (granddaughter), Eric Pruitt (grandson), Marsha Pruitt (granddaughter), Curtis Pruitt (grandson), Peter Crawford (grandson), Peggy Crawford (granddaughter), Cecilia Dunn (granddaughter), Alice Dunn (granddaughter)