TFanjilySociety

NEWSLETTERVolume 14 Number3 &4 Sept & Dec 2003

ENGINEERSTEVEN L. RUCKER

1965-2003A MEMORIAL

Engineer Steven L. Rucker died Wednesday,October 29, 2003 while defending a home in thedevastating Southern California wildfires in SanDiego County, California.

Thirty-eight years old, Steve was an eleven-yearveteran of Novato Fire District. He began hiscareer with the District as a Firefighter/Paramedicin 1992. Steve previously worked as a paramedicwith American Medical Response in Concord,California. Rucker was promoted to Engineer in2003 and served as an Acting Captain. He issurvived by his wife and two children.

His story, written by his brother, Bob Ruckerappears on Page 25.

Table of ContentsSteven Liss Rucker p.21, 25-27E. Rucker Agee, Map Collector p.21-25John and Ruth Rucker p.27-28Bill Rucker p.28-29African-American Corner p.30Questions and Answers p.30-31Research Nurse, Steve Rucker p.31-32Another Legend of Peter Rucker p.32In Memoriam p.32-34Miscellaneous p.34A Family Wedding p.35Editor's Note p.36

Ruckct* HQCCfTlap Collecton

By Michael P. Rucker

Investment banker, historian, collector, author,soldier, Boy Scout leader, philanthropist; these arejust a few of the terms to describe Edmund"Rucker" Agee. But he is best remembered as thedonor of a priceless collection of maps and atlasesto the Birmingham Public Library. The RuckerAgee Collection is one of the finest mapcollections in the world. This Birmingham native,who always preferred to be called by his middlename, was a partner and for 66 years a principal ina prominent investment firm. He was born inBirmingham, Alabama on October 22, 1897.

Photo of Rucker AgeeSubmitted by his daughter, Louise Agee Wrinkle

The Rucker Family Society Newsletter Vol 14 No 3 & 4. Sent & Dec 2003

The Rucker Family Society Newsletteris published quarterly—Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec

Editor & President:Jean ("Jeannie") B. Robinson

304 Charmian RoadRichmond, VA 23226

1-804-358-3185<ruckerfs@erols.com>

Annual Membership$10.00 in dividual$5.00 institutional

Copyright 2003. All Rights reserved

Rucker Agee's lifetime passion was collectingmaps. This avocation began as a child when hismother gave him a globe to better study hisgeography lessons. He was an avid scholar and hisinterest in collecting began with seashells. He thenmoved on to stamps. He always believed that acollection should have focus and from the early1930's he concentrated his map collecting to thosethat described areas of pre-colonial North Americawhich later became the southeastern section of theUnited States. He was a respected historian of theregion and occasionally gave lectures on variousaspects of regional history using the maps as afocal point. The southeastern United States wasthe most fiercely contested region of the WesternHemisphere and he would demonstrate, step-by-step through the maps, the progression ofsovereignty of the land from the initial AmericanIndian nations, to the Spanish Conquistadors, theFrench crown, the English and finally the UnitedStates of America.

World War I interrupted Rucker's collegeeducation during which time he served in the U.S.Army as an Infantry Lieutenant. After returningfrom service and graduating in 1919 from theUniversity of Alabama he joined the Birminghaminvestment firm of Ward, Stern & Co., thatbecame Ward, Stern, Agee & Leach in 1937 andStern, Agee & Leach, Inc. in 1964. He served aspresident of the firm.

After nearly forty years of collecting rare andsignificant maps, he determined that it would bebest to donate the collection to an organizationthat would respect and preserve them. Severalimportant libraries in the Northeast appealed tohim to place them in their care. According toYvonne Grumpier of the Birmingham PublicLibrary, "Rucker told me that the folks at theseNortheastern libraries said the people of Alabamawould never appreciate the significance of thecollection. He said that attitude was whatconvinced him to donate them here." It appearsthat he made a good decision. His initial gift in1964 of 600 rare maps and atlases now totals3,675 maps, 700 atlases and 2,533 related volumesas a result of others following his generousexample. His gift included funds for applicationtoward the cost of cataloging the collection. Thisfund, the Rucker Agee Endowment, enables thelibrary to preserve and protect the collection aswell as to continue growing through occasionalacquisitions.

The earliest map in the collection is dated 1540.One of the oldest maps of the New World, it is awoodblock print made by Sebastian Munster(1489-1552) for the King of Spain to indicate hisland claims in the New World. Showing the twoAmerican continents as a single landmass andusage of the name America make this map a majorcontribution to cartographic history. The mapshows the New World discoveries to be locatedbetween India and Africa where mariners andexplorers of the day thought these landmasses tobe located. This 1540 map and the 11 volumes"Blaen Atlas Major" published in Amsterdam in1662 are among the most significant artifacts inthe collection. Willen Janzoon Blaen served asboth the cartographer and the engraver. ThisRoyal Edition Atlas was the property of the Earlof Shaftsbury and was purchased by Agee atSotheby's in London in 1963.

The earliest references in the Rucker AgeeCollection are from a group of atlases by Ptolemyof Greece drawn in the 2nd Century A.D.Ptolemy's maps survived the Dark Ages to be

The Rucker Family Society Newsletter VoL 14 No 3 & 4. Senl & Dec 2003

reproduced during the Renaissance. Several of thePtolemy reprints are included in the collection.Several ancient Chinese maps may also be found.

The Rucker Agee Collection contains more thanmaps. Also included are atlases, scholarly books,and essays on early map making andcartographers, as well as a bibliography section toaid in locating specific material in the collection.Scholars from North America and around theworld access the artifacts in the collection on aregular basis. One focus of the collectionillustrates the history of map-making anddemonstrates the progress of increasing accuracyof the maps over the years.

Collecting priceless early mapsbecame a passion for RuckerAgee. He focused his collectingon maps depicting the area thateventually became the south-eastern United States.

One section of the collection of special interestcontains maps of the War Between the States.Rucker's grandfather, Colonel1 EdmundWinchester Rucker may well have used some ofthese maps during his illustrious service as anofficer of the Confederate army. There is also asection containing treasure maps. These showwhere early explorers and adventurers are thoughtto have lost vast treasures. (The library does notguarantee success in locating such treasures.)

In many of the very old maps the cartography isrecognized today as quite inaccurate, but the

1 Footnote by Louise Rucker Agee Wrinkle:Commonly referred to as General Rucker, ColonelEdmund Winchester Rucker was wearing the star ofBrigade General when captured by Union forces. It isbelieved that he received a battlefield commission at thetime of the Battle of Nashville where he was woundedand subsequently captured.

quality of the artwork is something no one woulddispute. From a graphic art point of view alone themaps are a wonderland of rare, magnificentmaterial. Some are highlighted with gold andsilver. The inaccuracies of the early maps arelargely due to their being drawn in Europe bycartographers who relied on fragmentaryinformation supplied by explorers and soldiers whoreturned and reported their observations andrecollections. Therefore, it is surprising that theseearly maps are as accurate as they turned out tobe. According to librarian Grumpier, "It isinteresting to see the evolution of the improvingaccuracy of the maps of the same areas over theyears." She says that such improvement inaccuracy was a slow process primarily due to theuse of "mother maps." These were maps thoughtat the time to be accurate and therefore copiedover and over with only slight changes asexplorers returned to Europe with betterinformation. She says that even the inaccuracies inthese maps were important in that they stimulatedinterest by other Europeans to search for thepurported riches of the New World.

The mother map of greatest interest in thecollection is "La Florida" drawn about 1584 byGeronino de Chaves, royal cartographer to PhilippII, King of Spain. It shows the Atlantic coastlinefrom the Florida Keys to the present state of South

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from the Florida Keys to the present state of SouthCarolina and refers to Indian towns and landmarksas far inland as Central Tennessee applying thenames commonly found on 16th century Spanishmaps. Chaves based his map on another mothermap, the undated and unsigned so-called deSotoMap that defines the extensive explorations ofFernando deSoto from 1539-1543.

Librarian Grumpier remembers that after hiscollection was opened at the Birmingham PublicLibrary, Rucker Agee would occasionally come toreference the artifacts in the collection. "He wouldalways be immaculately dressed in suit and tie. Hewould always ask very politely if he might see thecollection, as if he were just someone off thestreet. He was always such a gentleman."

In 1982 he donated his extensive collection ofbooks on Alabama history and the War Betweenthe States to his alma mater, the University ofAlabama, accompanied by a significant endow-ment. He wrote a number of articles andmonographs on Alabama history and the CivilWar, some of which focus on the military historyof General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Agee's grand-father, Col. Edmund W. Rucker, commanded abrigade under Forrest. Agee's book, TwentyAlabama Books, published in 1975 is a valuableresearch resource.

He provided leadership to many industrial andcivic organizations. Too many to list here, he wason many boards and committees for businesses,banking and investment firms. He participated indrafting the first municipal bond code for the Stateof Alabama.

His civic involvements were numerous andincluded: President of the Birmingham Boy ScoutsCouncil and recipient of the BSA Silver BeaverAward. He was awarded a Certificate of Merit bythe U.S. Secretary of War for service inrenegotiating contracts of Birmingham OrdnanceDistrict during World War II. In 1947 he was afounding member and president of the Alabama

Historical Society that developed a statewideprogram for highway signage of historical sites. Healso held leadership positions in the BirminghamChamber of Commerce, the United Way, theChildren's Hospital of Birmingham, the NationalRecovery Administration (NRA), the BirminghamDevelopment Board, the Alabama Museum ofNatural History and the Alabama Civil WarCentennial Commissioa In 1975 he was elected tothe Alabama Academy of Honor.

In 1927 he married Margaret Dixon Minge ofTalladega, Alabama. They had two daughters,{Catherine Minge, recently deceased, who wasmarried to Arthur B. Durkee; and Louise Ruckerwho is married to John N. Wrinkle. The Ruckerand Agee families have been members of St.Mary's on the Highlands Episcopal Church, inBirmingham since its founding in 1887. RuckerAgee died November 1,1985 and is buried in OakHill Cemetery in Birmingham.

The University of Alabama has made many of theAgee maps available on the worldwide web. Themaps may be accessed on line at http://www.akbamamaps.ua.edu — Search on "Agee Maps,"for about 127 items from which to select.

Rucker family linage of Rucker Agee:Parents: Walter Claybrook Agee and Louise7

Winchester Rucker (Gen. Edmund6 Winchester,Dr. Edmund5, Thomas4, Benjamin3, John2, Peter1).

Editor's Note: Last spring I planned aresearch trip to Alabama. Ron Payne, aformer resident, suggested I go to theBirmingham Library which was namedafter a Rucker. It turned out that the maproom was named after Rucker Agee! Thelibrary was a gold mine of informationabout the Ruckers in the area. YvonneGrumpier, librarian, showed me thefamily files as well as the Rucker AgeeMap Room. It was very impressive.

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Bibliography:—Yvonne Grumpier, Department Head - TutwilerCollection of Southern History and Literature,Birmingham Public Library, Birmingham, Alabama—Louise Agee Rucker Wrinkle, daughter ofEdmund Rucker Agee, Birmingham Alabama—Birmingham Public Library Publication: "TheRucker Agee Map Collection," Issued on theOccasion of the Twenty-fifth AnniversaryExhibition, Birmingham Public Library, 2100 ParkPlace, Birmingham, Alabama 35203, 1989—Birmingham News, April 5, 1931, "Who's Whoin Birmingham"—Ibid., October 13, 1944, "Rucker Agee givenfirst award to civilian in ordinance division"—Ibid., June 7, 1964, "Library gets rare Ageecartography collection"—Ibid., November 3, 1985, Obituary—Ibid., April 4, 1971, "Explorers' guide to 'yenew Southland'"—Ibid., October 30, 2002, "Library displaysRucker Agee historic map collection"—Birmingham Post Herald, February 13, 1955,"Map Collection Traces Colorful History"—Ibid., November 9, 1964, "Mr. Agee Speaks atVestavia Country Club"—Ibid., November 12, 1964, "Historian RuckerAgee Holds 'Class' On State"—Birmingham Historical Society Newsletter,November 2002: "Maps From the Collection ofRucker Agee" and "Rucker Agee, The ManBehind the Maps"—The Agee Register, A Genealogical Record ofDescendants of Mathieu Agee, compiled by LouisAgee, Gateway Press, Baltimore, Maryland, 1982

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Rucker Agee Homeby Jean B. Robinson

To be continued in the next newsletter

Steve Rucker, con't from p.21

A TRIBUTE TO STEVENLISS RUCKER

October 11,1965 - October 29, 2003

By Robert L. Rucker (brother of Steve)Of Alameda Co., CA

Steve Rucker was destined to become a firefighter.My earliest recollections of his desire date back towhen he was a toddler. We grew up inSunnymead, California, which was served by avolunteer fire department. Every time the whistlesounded to call the firefighters, Steven could befound looking over the back fence to catch aglimpse of the trucks as they headed out on theircalls.

In 1971 a new TV program called "Emergency!"captured his heart with its stories of firefightingheroes. Each day that the show was scheduled tobe on, Steve would run into our parents' room inthe morning yelling "Emergency, Emergency." Weall gathered round the television during theevening so that he could follow the adventures ofhis heroes, Johnny and Roy, firefighterparamedics.

Our family relocated to Fremont, California in1975 and Steve became active in the Boy Scoutsand ultimately earned the rank of Eagle Scout.When Steve was old enough, he also participatedwith the local fire explorer's post until he washired by the California Department of Forestry(CDF) as a seasonal fire fighter in 1985.

That year, Steve experienced his first majorwildland fire on the Lexington fire. This fire grewto more than 15,000 acres and Steve and his crewescaped a close call by taking shelter in theirengine when their position was overrun by flames.

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Fire Fighter, Steve Rucker

In between the fire seasons, he studied fire scienceat Chabot College in Hayward, California andearned a Paramedic Certification from WesternInstitute in Daly City, California. In 1988, hestarted working as a paramedic with RegionalAmbulance (now A.M.R.) while applying atvarious fire departments to realize his dream job offirefighting.

While working for Regional, he was stationed inWest Richmond, California with a unit known asthe "knife and gun club." The unit served an innercity area that resulted in him honing his paramedicskills on a constant flow of gunshot wounds,stabbings and drug overdoses. He served undertrying conditions that included rendering aid tovictims while under gunfire to successfullyresuscitating a 4-pound premature baby that wasnot breathing upon delivery.

Steve met his wife Cathy while working withRegional Cathy was a student at U.C. at Berkeleyand was majoring in chemistry. She later worked

with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration asa forensic chemist. They were married in Oakland,California on August 17, 1991.

Steve finally got his break in 1992 when he washired as a firefighter paramedic with the NovatoFire Protection District. His dedication to pursuinghis dream included enduring painful reconstructivesurgery of his mouth and throat to cure his snoringand investing $8,000 in eye surgery so that hecould pass the Novato Fire physical exam. Sincehe had achieved his goal, he ordered apersonalized license plate for his car that read"FIRERUC."

Steve loved working in Novato where the natureof the calls changed to a wide variety of medicalassistance, structure and wildland fires. Theposition in Novato also opened up opportunitiesfor community service. Steve headed the annualNovato Fire Toy Drive for underprivilegedchildren. He enjoyed participating in various firesafety programs and continued to support the BoyScouts. He also coordinated the Christmas andEaster parties for the Novato Fire families.

One of Steve's defining characteristics wasgenuine compassion for those he served. It wasnot uncommon for him to follow-up and visitpeople he had treated. Just before Steve's son wasborn, he had a call where he was unable toresuscitate a young drowning victim named Evan.Steve gave his own son the middle name Evan inhonor of the young child he could not save.

No one was surprised that Steve volunteered totravel 400 miles south to fight the SouthernCalifornia wildfires this year (2003). He was partof that special breed of individuals that would headtoward danger when logic would tell you to dootherwise. The events of September 11* forevercast the image of what a noble professionfirefighting is. The Southern California wildfireswere no different with more than 15,000 men andwomen heading toward an unprecedented infernoin an effort to save property and lives.

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Novato's Engine 6162 crew was among thethousands of firefighters fighting the 280,000-acreCedar fire. At approximately 12:30 P.M. onOctober 29, 2003 flames overran Novato's Engine6162 crew when the winds suddenly shifted. SteveRucker was killed and the other three members ofhis team were injured, including his Captain, DougMcDonald who was critically burned. Ironically,Steve lost his life very near the spot where elevenfirefighters were killed when fighting the 60,000-acre Inaja fire in 1956.

A memorial service was held on November 12with California Governor Grey Davis andGovernor-Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger amongthe notable attendees. An estimated 2,400firefighters came from as far as New York andTaiwan for the service and 418 fire trucks arrivedfrom throughout California. Mourners slowly filedpast Engine 6162 that still bore signs of the intenseheat of the fire that overran their position.

Governor Gray Davis poignantly memorializedSteve noting: "He was not ordered to go to SanDiego. He volunteered to do so. He put himself inharm's way to protect people he had never met.He faced the worst fire San Diego had even seen,and he did not back down. Rucker did his job withcourage, honor and compassion. He was the bestour nation has to offer. He was a genuineAmerican hero."

Steve leaves behind his wife, Catherine ("Cathy")Carlson Rucker; two children, Kerstin 7, andWesley Evan 2; and his parents, Patricia andDarrell Rucker.

Lineage of Steven10 ("Steve")Liss Rucker (Darrell9L., Robert8 L., John7 R., William6 T., Wilton/Milton5 S, Jeremiah4, John3, Thomas2, Peter1) and(Jeremiah4 Rucker's wife Henrietta5 Stanley,Susannah4 Smith, Margaret3 Rucker, John2,Peter1). Jeremiah is found on p. 179 of SudieRucker Wood's Rucker Family Genealogy.

Editor's note: Many thanks to Bob Rucker for

sending Steve's obit from the Alameda Times StarNewspaper and writing this fine memorial to him.Thanks also to Alice Rucker of Sylmar, CA andMary Estes of Thousand Oaks, CA for sendingnewspaper articles about the fire and Steve'sheroism.

Mike Rucker (our roving reporter) sent a copy ofhis Terry the Tractor books to the children ofSteve Rucker. Mike is also offering his books forsale in this newsletter, with profits going to theSteve Rucker Memorial Fund (see enclosed flyer).Those who wish to contribute to the StevenRucker Memorial Fund may send donations: Bankof Marin, 1450 Grant Avenue, Novato, CA 94945.

If anyone would like to visit the website to see afine memorial and give condolences to the family,see: http://www.novatofire.org/.

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John and Ruth RuckerCelebrate 90th BirthdaysSubmitted by daughter, Mary Rucker Estes

John Willson Rucker and Ruth CunninghamRucker celebrated their 90th birthdays with partiesheld in the Meadows Senior Village in Nashville,Tennessee where they reside. John's birthday July2 was celebrated July 6, 2003 with family andfriends gathered for lunch at the Club House. Allof their six children and many of theirgrandchildren and great-grandchildren came fromDelaware to California. John8 W. (John7 E.,Benjamine6, Joseph5 B., James4, Benjamin3, John2,Peter1) entertained all by answering prepared andimpromptu questions which gave informationabout family history and John's remembrances ofhis early life. Questions ranged from cows to cars,discipline to dating. The afternoon ended witheveryone being better informed about their ownheritage and with John still ready to add more.Ruth added to the remembrances, and assisted in

The Rucker Family Society Newsletter Vol 14 No 3 & 4. Sept & Dec 2003

giving a picture of "life with John."

Ruth's birthday was November 7. The familygathered Sunday, November 9, 2003 again at theClub House for lunch. The Rucker familywelcomed Ruth's Cunningham niece and nephewsalong with cousins from the Rucker side that hadnot been able to be with them in July. John andRuth had chosen a number of songs that weremeaningful to them in their early dating years thatwere led by their son, Tom Rucker. This group hasmany beautiful voices that made the singing adelightful experience. John and Ruth were askedto sing, "When I Grow Too Old to Dream," whichthey did without the help of a printed song sheet.Someone suggested the words should be sung,"When I Grow Too Old to Sing," but that wouldnot be true for them. Grandson Caleb Ruckerplayed beautifully a portion of "The New WorldSymphony" on the guitar. Several familiar hymnswere sung ending the afternoon with "It Is WellWith My Soul."

Editor's note: John and Ruth were marriedSeptember 29, 1934 at the bride's home nearMcMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee.They nave six children (Mary, John, Ed,Evelyn, Tom, and Dan), seventeengrandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren(as of 2001). They will celebrate their 70th

wedding anniversary this year. We wish themthe very best!

P.S. John Rucker was one of the coordinators ofthe 1998 Rucker Reunion in Nashville.

* * *

Ron Payne is willing to help anyone find aRucker in the 1880 census. This is a wonderfulservice to us. Please note that he has changed hisemail address to <huntron@speedfactory.net>.

"Bill Rucken"Written by Cindi10 B. Meyer

(Loralein9 "Lee" Crooke, Lilly8 W. Seaman, S.Rose7 Rucker, Richard6 Morton, Julius5, Abner4,

Anthony3, John2, Peter1)

My husband and I have been traveling the worldfor the past six years without a home base.Imagine my surprise, when we finally bought apiece of property to build upon and two doorsdown was a Rucker neighbor who turned out to bea ninth or tenth cousin (Editor's note: actuallysixth cousins, twice removed). Wouldn't youknow, we would have to go all the way back toimmigrant Peter to have a common ancestor! Thisfamily group can be found on page 260 of SudieRucker Wood's 1932 edition of the RuckerFamily History. It is not in the scope of this articleto prove or disprove lineage of Jasper NewtonRucker, someone out there probably knows betterthan I, since it is not my lineage. But, if SudieRucker Wood's hypothesis is correct, William8

Rucker's line would be Nathaniel7 J. Rucker,Jasper6 Newton, James5, Ambrose4, Lemuel3,James2, Peter1. Any corrections would beappreciated.

William ("Bill") Rucker was born January 12,1938 in Tacoma, Washington to parents NathanielRucker and Gertrude Pilling. He was the last childof Gertrude's, because she died in a whoopingcough epidemic in that same year. Little Williamhad five older siblings (David, Larry, Virginia,Natalie and Shirley) that his father had to worryabout, so William was sent to live with Nathaniel'snephew, Frank Louis Rucker and his wife LeoraBrewer who had a daughter named Shirley.

Bill was married twice and has four children. Hisfirst wife, Donna Dixon was mother to MichaelAlan b. 1962, Lynda Lee b. 1963 and Daniel Royb. 1971. His lovely wife of 30 years, Neva "Jean"Riegle is the mother of David William b. 1974. Billattended school in Bellingham, WA, was in theNational Guard for nine years. He now enjoys

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golfing, pheasant hunting with his black labs, anddoting on his grandchildren. He worked in theinsurance industry for almost forty years. He andhis wife Jean are getting ready to embark on anine-month adventure of traveling the states byRV. Go Billy!

New Discovery: The Jasper Newton RuckerFamily Bible! Here are some birthdates from thefamily bible that is in Bill's possession. It adds tothe information found on page 260 of Sudie'sbook. Most important: there is a hand written notethat this family came to Washington state in 1871(maybe from Ohio or Iowa?), and went on toCanada in 1897. In the 1880 census, they lived inSemiahmoo, Whatcom Co., Washington State.Whatcom County is in the northwest corner of thestate and on the border of Canada.

His children as written in the hand of JasperNewton Rucker in the Bible:1. Dwight Rucker b. June 21, 1880 marriedAgnes Graham Bigger on March 29, 1906 [theyhad seven children and their first born Frank Louisis who raised Bill Rucker].2. Isa Baker was bom on May 29, 1882 and died1957.3. Eva Day Rucker b. Nov 26, 1884, died 1930.4. Edna Varisilla Rucker b. June 5, 1886, d. 1972.5. Minnie Rucker b. Feb 6, 1890.6. Alice Mabel Rucker b. Feb 25, 1892 [omittedfrom Wood's manuscript].7. Nathaniel J Rucker b. Nov 13, 1895.8. Harold John Rucker b. Nov 3, 1898.

In the same Bible was James Rucker (see Wood,p.259), born Jan 18, 1818, Margaret Rucker bornFeb 8 1817, their issue:1. Maria Rucker b. Feb 15 1839.2. Paissilla [sic] Rucker b. April 22, 1841.3. Jacob Rucker b. Jan 25 1843 [not in Wood'sbook].4. Mary Rucker b. April 28, 1844.5. Hariett [sic] Rucker b. Dec 10, 1846.6. Susan Rucker b. Nov 2, 1849.7. Jasper Rucker b. Aug 19, 1851.

James5 Ruckerborn January 18, 1818

Bill has family photos including one of JamesRucker, father of Jasper Newton Rucker taken inElaine, WA. Also one of Margaret Baker Rucker,wife of James, holding her granddaughter Eva.Jasper Newton Rucker appears on the right of theduo of mea And an elderly photo of Jasper's wife,Elizabeth Maria Cain who was bom in Sioux Falls,Iowa in 1857. Jasper and Elizabeth (Lizzie) weremarried in 1879, looks like Sept 17th, but I can'tbe sure. There is a super photo of NathanielRucker in a kilt (!) and a darling photo of GertrudePilling harvesting potatoes.

Bill is also in possession of some copies ofmarriage and death records about his ancestors.He has Jasper Newton Rucker's death certificateand Nathaniel Rucker's and Gertrude Filling'smarriage certificate which adds information to thefamily records.

Editor's note: Look around, you may have aRucker cousin living near you. Driving a carwith license plate "Rucker 1," I frequentlyhave cousins speak to me.

It's great fun meeting new cousins. Thanks toCindi for writing about her find.

The Rucker Family Society Newsletter VoL 14 No 3 & 4. Sent & Dec 2003

African-AmericanCorner

Slave Schedule*

From Ancestry Weekly Digest, 21 June 2003(http ://www. ancestry, com/dailynews):

From "Finding Your African-AmericanAncestors," by David T. Thackery:Available from The Shops @ Ancestry.com at:http ://www. ancestry, com/rd/prodredir. asp?sourceid=1644&key=P2166

"African Americans were enumerated as all otherU.S. residents from 1870 (the first census yearfollowing the Civil War and emancipation)onward. Prior to 1870, however, the situation wasfar different. Although free African Americanswere enumerated by name in 1850 and 1860,slaves were consigned to special, far lessinformative schedules in which they were listedanonymously under the names of their owners.The only personal information provided wasusually that of age, gender and racial identity(either black or mulatto). As in the free schedules,there was a column in which certain physical ormental infirmities could be noted. In someinstances the census takers noted an occupation,usually carpenter or blacksmith, in this column.Slaves aged 100 years or more were given specialtreatment; their names were noted, and sometimesa short biographical sketch was included. In atleast one instance, that of 1860 HampshireCounty, Virginia, the names of all the slaves wereincluded on the schedules, but this happyexception may be the only instance when theinstructions were not followed."

Ancestry.com has images of slave schedules fromthe 1850 and 1860 censuses available tosubscribers to the U.S. Census Records Collection.They can currently be browsed by county at thefollowing. (Browse down to the county level toaccess the slave schedules.)

1850 U.S. Federal Census:http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?sourceid1644&targetid=4519

1860 U.S. Federal Census:http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?sourceid1644&targetid=4598

*|* *1" T* T* *l* T*

Rucker Businesses: From Chuck Berry<cfberry@jps.net>: I have no information on thebusinesses Christopher Rucker solicited, butJoseph7 E. Rucker (Joseph6 E., William5 T.,William4, John3, Thomas2, Peter1) started theRucker Realty Company in 1874 in San Jose,California. It was operated by four generations ofRuckers. Joseph E.'s son, Joseph H., headed theRealty business after his father died, and ownedthe Rucker Mansion, see newsletter article in Vol.13. No. 2, p.l 1-13, June 2002.

* * *

John Rucker, Dispatch Bearer: Where didJohn Rucker die? John was the son of JohnRucker, grandson of Peter. Sudie Rucker Woodon p. 15 said he was born circa 1720 and diedabout 1780. Wood cites several books thatmention Rucker's service: The Colonial Recordsof North Carolina said that John Rucker was adispatch bearer so he probably died in that state.Chris Rucker suggests he died at the Battle ofKing's Mountain or Guilford Courthouse.Hardesty's Historical and GenealogicalEncyclopaedia ofAmherst County [VA] said Johndied in service.

Has anyone done any research on John's Rev.service or willing to do so? Query from FloTrawick email <kitten896@compuserve.com> orphone 1-434-386-5566. Please notify the Editor.

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Franklin "Otto" Rucker: Obituary fromthe Bakersfield, CA newspaper (Sept. 15, 1998)submitted by Alice Rucker and Cindi Meyers whowere researching in Bakersfield, CA. Otto diedSeptember 11,1998 at the age of 92. His claim tofame was as a horseman, winning numerous rode-os, racing events and horse shows. He also raisedand trained hunting hounds and Quarter horses.

Otto was born March 31, 1906 near the town ofMiles, Oklahoma, then Indian Territory. Hegraduated from high school in 1929 in Fargo, OK.He was the Postmaster there for a couple of years.

Otto professionally boxed during the late 1920sand 1930s, losing only one bout in his boxingcareer. During WWII he moved to SouthernCalifornia and worked at McDonald -Douglas forseven years. He lived and worked for 28 years asLoading Dock foreman with the Union IceCompany in Watson, CA. Then he moved toBakersfield, Kern Co., CA where he lived until hedied.

The obituary said he was married, but didn'tmention her name or any children. Does anyoneknow who Otto's identity? There are not manypeople who can top his lifetime pursuits.

2004 Rucker Reunionand Batteau Festival

Our reunion will be held the 3rd weekendin June, the 18, 19 and 20 in Lynchburg, VAalong with the Batteau Festival. Mark thatweekend on your calendars and look formore information in the next newsletter.

Nell Cordick and Ruth Pillow are ourcoordinators. For more information see theRucker web site: http://www.mindspring.com/~jogt/surnames/ruckerfs.htm

For the James River Batteau Festivalweb site, see http://www.batteau.org/

Research Nurse, Steve RuckerFirst Ebola Vaccine Volunteer

By Michael P. Rucker

"I've had better lunches," quipped Steve Rucker.Rucker, a Research Nurse/Study Coordinator atthe National Institutes of Health (NIH), skippedlunch to become the first human volunteer to beinjected with a trial vaccine aimed at curbing oneof the most deadly diseases in the world.

Ebola is rampant in parts of Africa and results in apainful, gory bleeding death in up to 90% of itsvictims. The NIH had advertised for twenty-sevenvolunteers to receive the experimental vaccine, butthe response rate was almost zero-— until Stevestepped forward and became a pioneer in the high-tech eflFort to beat Ebola. There is currently noeffective treatment for this highly contagiousdisease.

"People freak out about Ebola," said MargaretMcCluskey, director of nursing at the NIHVaccine Research Center. No wonder, when oneconsiders the nature and mortality rate of thedisease. However, the new vaccine has proven safein monkey trials and Rucker feels he is not in anydanger. Rucker said he "got religion" about theimportance of vaccines while living in medicine-deprived areas of South America. "It sounds funnyto say I'm excited about an Ebola vaccine, but thisis really an exciting trial," he said after theinjection. "It's so rare in research that you get tohelp with something that's so promising. And thepharmaceutical industry would never do this.There's no profit in this."

Steve has an extensive background in clinicalresearch and is no stranger to trials of newvaccines. He coordinated trials of a therapeuticcancer vaccine for the National Cancer Instituteprior to joining NIH. His primary experience,however, has been with studies of a variety ofdrugs that are now standard treatment for HIV/AIDS.

The Rucker Family Society Newsletter Vol 14 No 3 & 4. Sept & Dec 2003

The vaccine spray-blasted into Rucker' s arm — noneedle necessary — is a new type of trialmedication called a "DNA Vaccine" that holdspromise for controlling other diseases such asAIDS, influenza, malaria and hepatitis. The dosefired several trillion bits of DNA into the cells ofRucker' s arm. When asked on the National PublicRadio program yl// Things Considered whether hewas apprehensive about the injection he replied, "Idid have a little anxiety as I thought about it, butI lived abroad enough to know that not everyonehas the same access to good medical care that wehave." This is one dedicated research scientist.

All I can add about Steve is: this guy has guts!

ANOTHER LEGEND OFPETER RUCKER'S

ARRIVAL IN AMERICA

Jane Decker of Simpsonville, SC inherited thepapers of Cornelia Dillard. She recently sent me acopy of these papers. What is so fascinating aboutthe letters and notes is they were written in the1920s before either Whitley's or Wood's Ruckerbooks were printed. Some of the information inSudie Rucker Wood's book has come from thesepapers. [Jane, I am thrilled to have them andappreciate your sharing them with me.]

One of the letters from Marie Keeble Rucker ofCanton, Miss was actually addressed to Mrs.George S. DuBois of Paducah, KY and copied forMs. Dillard. It has another story of Peter Rucker 'sarrival and the history of Marie's family.Unfortunately there is no date. The story goes likethis:

"The Rising Sun""My great [great] grandfather on the

paternal side was a Frenchman, Peter Rucker.When France and England were at war, France

sent out the war ship "The Rising Sun" which wastaken by the British. The men on board the RisingSun made their way for shore by Jumping overboard, 'Peter Rucker' was one that reached theshore of the United States with great damage tothe body from the effect of the salt water. "

Written by John Wyatt Rucker (James4, Benjamin3,John2, Peter1). This was his grandfather'sgrandfather which is pretty close kin. Anyonewilling to check the records for "The Rising Sun?'Marie Keeble was his wife.

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ANOTHER LEGEND: The Rucker ancestorcame to Virginia "from Alsace, France, in thetime of Captain John Smith. The ship in which hecame was wrecked, and he swam ashore with abottle of French brandy. "

From a publication, submitted by Martha R.Zimmerman, Harvey, IL. The date's off by 100years, but brandy may be better than the barrel ofrum of other stories. Naaaaa!

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IN MEMORIAM

Mary "Doris" Edwards's obituaryappeared in the Grand Rapids Press, February 18,2003, submitted by her daughter, Karen Cernak.Doris died February 16, 2003 at home in GrandRapids, Michigan. She was preceded in death byher husband James E. Edwards and her son JerryI. Edwards. Her children that survive her areDaniel Edwards and wife Pamela of Grand Haven,MI, Karen and her husband Bruce Cernak ofMishawaka, Indiana, James Edwards and his wifeSusan of Jenison, MI, ten grandchildren, sevengreat-grandchildren and her brother FranklinWright of NC. She was buried at Rest LawnMemorial Park.

The Rucker Family Society Newsletter -43-VoL 14 No 3 & 4. Sent & Dec 2003

Doris was one of the "Big Four"* of the Ruckerfamily genealogists. She gathered family groupsheets of the Ruckers and placed them at theVirginia Historical Society in Richmond, VA. Shewas a charter member of the Board of Directors ofthe Rucker Family Society.

Doris8 Wright's lineage: (Joseph7 F. Jr., Louisa6 A.Ham, William5, John4, Mildred3 Rucker, John2,Peter1).

*Note: The Big Four of the early days of theRucker Family Society were Alice Allen of Austin,TX, Mary Snyder of Jeffersonville, IN, DorisEdwards of Grand Rapids, MI and JeannieRobinson of Richmond, VA.

* * *

Courtney Rucker died November 8, 2003at home in Richmond, VA. Her obituary appearedin the Richmond Times Dispatch on November 10,2003.

She was the daughter of Dr. Douglas8 PendletonRucker (Dr. Marvin7 Pierce, Dr. Edwin6 Timothy,Benjamin5 J., Isaac4, Ambrose3, John2, Peter1) andMargaret Field Williams Rucker. She is survivedby her brother, Douglas P. Rucker Jr. and his wife,Marian; her brother, M. Pierce Rucker and hiswife, Leslie; her niece, Meredith Rucker Hunterand her husband Christian and her sister-in-law,Louise M. Rucker.

Courtney graduated from Sweet Briar College inAmherst Co., Virginia after a year of study at TheAmerican Institute in Aix-en-Provence. She beganher teaching career in Paris and established foreignlanguage departments in several French businessschools. She met and married her husband in Paris,France, later separating. Courtney lived in Parisfor many years before moving to Charleston, SCwhere she worked in the hospitality and securitiesindustries. After retirement, she moved back toRichmond and pursued her hobby of painting.

Courtney was an active member of Unity Churchof Richmond where she served as Chaplain. She isburied in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.

* * *

Corine Rucker Williams expired onFebruary 2, 2003 in Northridge, California. Sheobserved her 85th birthday on January 6, 2003. Sheand her husband, Francis E. Williams were married54 years. Corine was a sixty year member of TheAmerican Dietetics Association, a past presidentof the California Dietetics Association and wasone of the first five consultant Dieticians in thenation. Her last ten years of practice includedwork as a professor at the Los Angeles CityCollege along with classes taught at Pepperdineand Los Angeles State University. The CaliforniaState Dietetics Association is currently gatheringfunds for a Corine Williams Memorial ScholarshipFund under the leadership of Linda Dahl, currentlythe C.D.A. Foundation President. She was proudof her Rucker heritage and enjoyed being amember of The Rucker Family Society. Submittedby her husband, Francis E. Williams.

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Death noticesfrom Anne Rucker Loyd

Waynesboro, Virginia<AnneRucker@planetcomm.net>

We have lost several Rucker cousins in recentyears, that I may or may not have told you about.I will list them, and you can let me know if youneed further information.

Charlotte Landon Rucker Leckie, 16 Apr 1996Emily Harris Rucker Smith, 17 Jan 1997Robert Russell Dixon, Jr., ... June 1999William Henry Oglesby, 5 Dec 2002Margaret Louise Rucker Foster, 29 Apr 2002Mary Walker "Mame" Rucker Barley, 10 Feb2003

The Rucker Family Society Newsletter Vol 14 No 3 & 4. Sent & Dec 2003

Also, husbands/wives of Ruckers:Catherine Dandridge Rucker Lester: BenjaminHulen Lester, 7 Oct 1997Joshua Eldon Rucker: Bess S. Thompson Rucker,4 May 1998Charlotte Landon Rucker Leckie: Cabell ThorntonLeckie, 13Feb2000

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Postscript From Allen RuckerRe: the Allen Rucker article by Mike Rucker

(RFSN,Vol. 14, No. 1, March 2003, p.l)

Mike, your piece on "Hard Luck" Nap Ruckerwas terrific. One more correction in my ownfamily history. You wrote that my father, Dr.Ralph Weller Rucker, "lived in Bartlesville,Oklahoma and died in his 50's." He was born inNorman, Oklahoma, did live in Bartlesville, butdied in his mid-30's from a freak falling accident in1948, leaving my mother, Laura Rucker, to raisefour young children on her own.

Also: the third updated edition of "The Sopranos:A Family History" will be released on Sept 2nd,2003. All Rucker descended mob lovers shouldown it, don't you think?

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Bob Easter, Realtor and Author,has written a couple of helpful books to use whenbuying or selling a home. They are: The 14 HomeSelling Secrets at $14.95 and Home Buying Powerfor $12.95 or $19.95 for both. [His first book, TheNumbers Game (about the newspaper business),is no longer in print.] When buying both books,Bob will also enclose three special reports: 10 TipsItems to Fix Before you Sell, 10 Tips before youbuy and 7 Home Improvement Rip-offs to Avoid.

Bob's lineage is through Ann5 ("Nancy") Rucker(Joseph4, Cornelius3, Thomas2, Peter1), b. ca 1784,

who married ca 1805, Champion Easter.

Bob is a real estate broker in the Austin, TX andis a leading advocate for protecting consumerrights. If you are interested in his books, contactBob at <beasterl@austin.rr.com> or 1-800-848-5593. To see copies of his books, check outhis web site at www.easterhome.com.

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GENEALOGICAL TREASURES— A COMMENTARY

by Dean DeBolt <ddebolt@mail.uwf.edu>

Previously published by RootsWeb.com, Inc.,Roots Web Review: Roots Web's Genealogy News,Vol. 2, No. 38, 22 September 1999. RootsWeb:<http://www.rootsweb.com/>

What do you plan to do withyour genealogy papers?

I applaud those folks who are considerate enoughto do what I'm doing — and that is preserverecords. But I also wince when I think about whatwill happen to the bits of materials that good-hearted genealogists have saved. If you get noresponse from a RootsWeb list, do you keep it?Sell it? Toss it?

What I urge folks to do is donate these items to anarchives or historical society — first making surethat the archives or historical society fully catalogssuch items. A key point is whether their materialsare cataloged into OCLC or RLIN. These arenational online card catalogs that make it possibleto find out where information is. I know quite afew historical societies that do good work but noone outside of their building knows what theyhave. But when an organization catalogs on anational online card catalog or database, thousandscan discover family papers and research recordsthroughout the country.

The Rucker Family Society Newsletter -35- Vol 14 No 3 & 4. Sept & Dec 2003

Addison Family PhotoFrom left: David Fonville III and Townshend, sister; Dave Addison Sr., father; Lee and Chad Lesley, bride and groom; MarionAddison, mother; and David Addison Jr., brother.

The marriage of Miss Marion Lee Addison to Mr.Chadwick Parker Lesley, both of Atlanta, GA,took place August 23, 2003 at St. Stephen'sEpiscopal Church in Richmond, VA. Lee, as thebride is called, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.David Dunham Addison of Richmond. Chad is theson of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Lesley of Atlanta.

The reception was held at the home of the bride'sparents and the weather was perfect. (After threemonths of rainy weather, it was a miracle!) Theambiance under the tent with iabulous music froma band from Atlanta playing all the favorites, thedelicious food (shrimp, lambchops, beef tender-loin, crabcakes and assorted other delicacies), thelovely decorations from the arbor over the frontdoor to the beautiful floral arrangements made theevening special.

The bride wore the beautiful Brussel lace weddinggown first worn by her great-grandmother (over100 years ago), and then by her grandmother,mother, aunts, sister and many others (includingyours truly— the Editor).

Lee is a graduate of Mary Baldwin College and isco-founder of Turq Jewelry and Design in Atlanta.The groom graduated from the University ofGeorgia and is a commercial land broker inAtlanta. They will live in Atlanta.

Post note: Lee10 Addison is the great grand-daughter of Sudie Rucker Wood. Her Lineage:Marion9 Lee Wood, Garland8 A., Sudie7 S.Rucker, William6 A., William5 B., George4, John3,John2, Peter1.

The Rucker Family Society Newsletter Vol 14 No 3 & 4 Sept & Dec 2003

Editor's NoteMuch has happened since our last newsletter (June2003). Hurricane Isabel blew through Richmondlike Sherman through Georgia. It left us withoutelectricity for eight days, telephone for five more,cable for a month, with a devastation of debris. Iam still waiting for repairs to my garage, toolhouse and roof of the house. Sorry about the delayof the newsletter, but Hurricane Isabel (Sept, 17,2003) was like WWIII.

This issue is filled with Ruckers in the news. Thefirst happened on October 30, 2003 on the TodayShow. It was announced that during the Californiawildfires, a fireman had been killed. His name wasSTEVE RUCKER, see p.25.

Another Steve Rucker (see p.31) was in the newsshortly thereafter for receiving the first Ebolavaccine. Thanks to Ellen Wagner of Highland, MDfor sending a newspaper article about the event.

Once again, I was awakened to a Rucker relativein the news. January 3, 2004 — Steve Invin,"Crocodile Hunter" was parading his one-month-old son (who is a Rucker) in front of a snappingcroc. He said he did the same thing with his five-year-old daughter, but this one was captured onAustralian televison and shown to the world.Irwin, who said he was sorry, feels he needs toteach his children crocodile savvy because of livingin a reptile park.

From time to time, cousins send me copies ofbooks they have written. Hollis M. Jones ofStafford, Arizona, has submitted a family album ofphotos collected by his grandmother, Grade8

Tennessee Rucker Jones (Nathaniel7 M. Rucker,Silas6N., Mordecaf, James4, Mopdecai3, William2,Peter1). Grade (1888-19811 compiled sevenalbums of family pictures. After-Grade died, it wasdecided to compile an album fbTall to share. Hollishas included family group sheets and newlycollected photos as well. You can see one of theseremarkable pictures in RFSN Vol. 14, No. 1, p.6.

THE RUCKER FAMILY SOCIETY

Jean B. Robinson, Editor304 Charmian RoadRichmond, VA 23226

First Class Mail

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

05176Mrs. Alice J. Rucker13331 Gridley St.SylmarCA 91342-4529