The Thomas Ruark family of Walla Walla Co. and Garfield Co. Washington
Thomas Ruark (1833IN-1908) married
Mary Adelia Messenger (1835OH-1918) in 1853. They started their family in Wayne County,
Iowa. In 1862, Thomas and his younger brother John, together with their families, moved
to Walla Walla Washington. Thomas moved from there to Brush Prairie, and then in 1870
moved back to Walla Walla County. His final move was to Garfield County, Washington, in
1878. Some of the land he bought there is still in the family, operating as the Ruark
Century Farms, as it has been in the family for over 100 years!
- John Cleveland Ruark (1854IA-1941) - md (1) Kate C. Burgess (2) Rebecca C. (3) Mary Drake (1866-1960)
- Charles Andrew Ruark (1856IA-1910) - md Rosalia Clayton (1862-1935)
- George J. Ruark (1858KS-1928) - md (1) Rachael E. Gwinn (2) Olive Vanausdle
George and Olive had one daughter:
- Elmah Maureen Ruark - md Eugene Williams
- Mary Jane Ruark (1860-1958) - md (1) Frank M. Palmer (1860-1901) (2) Grant Copper
Mary and Frank had 5 children:
- James Clyde Palmer (1879-1954)
- Harry W. Palmer (1881- ) - md Maggie
- Lenna Mae Palmer (1882-1907) - md Thomas S. Morris
- Maggie Palmer (1888-1888)
- Loren Scott Palmer (1889-1974)
- Sarah Jane Ruark (1862-1955) - md Ed Rice
- Edna Rice - md MD Strain
- Sylvan Rice ( -1978)
- William Thomas Ruark (1865-1934) - md (1) Mary Ann Jones (1873-1903) (2) Esther B. Freeburn (1878- ) (3) Lillie Mae Cram (1876-1964)
William and Mary had two boys. Harry was the son of William and Esther.
- Miles William Ruark (1894-1909)
- Lloyd Thomas Ruark (1895- ) - md Ethel Chapman - Descendants Living
- Harry Elvin Ruark (1907-1954) - md Esther Amanda VanAusdale (1909- )
- Ira Newton Ruark (1868-1933) - md Elizabeth Jones (1869-1968)
- Alva Ruark (1891-1980) - md Nettie Ruth Shawley (1892-1969) - Descendants Living
- Itha Ruark (1896-1992) - md Earl Davis (1891-1923) - Descendants Living
- Edward Ruark (1899- ) - md Bernice Schuck - Descendants Living
- Nettie Ruth Ruark (1908-1993) - md (1) Edward R. Cox (1904-1993) (2) Ed Dahmen - Descendants Living
- Martha Elmeda Ruark (1870- ) - md (1) John W. Jones (1863-1922) (2) ___Horton
- Joseph Ruark (1872-1966) - md (1) Edith Galloway (1880-1921) (2) Minta Jane Young (1885-1971)
- Dennis Burris Ruark (1874-1948) - md (1) Nettie Marney (1875-1948) (2) Eva Mills (3) Alice Flett
Dennis and Nettie had 3 kids:
- Mona Ruark (1897-1966) - md Alexander Pedro Croockewit - Descendants Living
- Jack Ruark - md (1) Eleanor (ended in divorce) (2) Edith Setser in 1947.
- Oscar ("Pete") Ruark (1901-1966) - md (1) Delores Markhan (ended in divorce) (2) Jeannette Stratton (1915- ) in 1938.
- Carrie Belle Ruark (1876-1950) - md (1) John Reynolds (2) William Benjamin Smith
If you see anything wrong here, or if you want anything added, PLEASE
LET ME KNOW!
Return to the Wayne Co., IA Ruark page
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E-mail Jim
Ruark Family Genealogy Homepage
last modified: 12 January 2003