Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889 [page 453-454] ROBERT BRUCE RUTHERFORD was born near Colesville, Wyoming County, New York, May **, 1844, and is a son of JAMES and HETTY (MILLIGAN) RUTHERFORD. JAMES RUTHERFORD was born June 15, 1803, in county Cavan, Ireland, and came to America in 1821. His wife was born December 21, 1801, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, where they were married. They had a family of thirteen children: JOHN, the eldest, died February 24, 1889, in South Africa, where he was em- ployed as an expert in the diamond mines; JAMES is a resident of Bathurst, Australia, where he owns an extensive ranch, and is a proprietor of an important stage route; ALEXANDER is a dealer in mining stocks in California; LUCRETIA is the wife of A. STARBIRD; GEORGE is a capitalist in California; MARY married G. W. APPLETON; ANDREW died of the small-pox in California, at the age of thirty- five years; CATHERINE is the wife of HENRY TAGGART; she died near Cherokee, May 5, 1875; ONIAS died in Japan in 1870; PHEBE ANN died in San Francisco unmarried; HELEN is the wife of JOHN BERRY; she died in Missouri; JOSEPH died in infancy. JAMES RUTHERFORD, Sr. died December 29, 1869, in Branch County, Michigan. Mrs. RUTHER- FORD died in Cherokee County, October, 1881. After their marriage they lived in Buffalo, New York, for ten years; then in Colesville, where ROBERT BRUCE was born; he was fourteen years old when the family removed to Michigan, and at the age of seventeen years he left home and went to Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, where he re- mained until 1864. He then spent four years on Green Lake County, Wisconsin. In the summer of 1870, after taking a trip through Kansas and Missouri in company with his brother-in-law, G. W. APPLETON, Mr. RUTHERFORD located in Diamond Township, four miles south of Aurelia. He bought 220 acres of land, and began to improve a farm. In the fall of 1873 he went to California, intending to engage in the live- stock business in Nevada, but decided to return to Iowa, where he could secure cheaper land. On his return in 1874 he bought 280 acres of his present home and began making improvements. He soon after married and lived on the place three years, when he leased his brother's place, consisting of 1,400 acres, lying in Diamond Township; there he lived a greater part of the next ten years. In 1887 he returned to his own farm one-half mile west of Aurelia. He has since erected a commodious, ten-room house, situated upon a gentle rise of round, commanding a view of the village and surround- ing country. His barn is roomy, and well arranged, being especially adapted to the handling of horses. The dwelling and barn are supplied with an abundance of water by a windmill. These improvements have been made at an outlay of $5,000. The farm now consists of 590 acres, 180 acres lying in the home place, and the remainder in Maple Valley. Mr. RUTHERFORD has been extensively engaged in breeding high grades of horses. Mr. RUTHERFORD was married October 1, 1874, to Miss MARY E. RANDALL, who was born January 13, 1855, in Monroe County, New York. Her parents are JEFFERSON and ELIZABETH (BILLINGS) RANDALL residents of Pitcher Township. The father was born March 8, 1824, in Monroe County, New York, and the mother in Orleans County, New York, April 9, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. RUTHERFORD have an interesting family of four children: GRACE EDITH, born November 2, 1875; GEORGE W., born July 30, 1877; LOUIS R., born July 25, 1879, and HETTIE, born November 13, 1881. ===========================================================================