Memorial Record of Southwestern Minnesota 1897 Lewis Publishing Company Chicago, Illinois Isaiah Ruble is one of the most intelligent and respected farmers of Kasota township, Lesueur County, Minnesota, and also belongs to that class of men whose ranks are year by year becoming thinned,- that class of men known during the '60s as the "boys in blue." Mr. Ruble is a native of the Buckeye state and claims Buford, Highland county, as the place of his birth, the date being December 26, 1842. John Ruble, his father, was born in Pennsylvania of German parents, his people for generations being noted for their honesty, industry and sterling worth. He was reared in Pennsylvania and Ohio, brought up to farm life, and in Ohio was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Coffman, a native of that state, her parents also being Germans. John Ruble was a farmer all his life, his political views were those advocated by the Democratic party, and in his Christian life he was earnest and consistent, being a member of the Disciple church. He died at his home in Ohio, leaving a w1dow and ten children, and his widow died of fever two weeks after he passed away. In their family were seven sons and three daughters, and two of the sons are veterans of the late war, George and Isaiah. The children named in order of birth are as follows: Jacob, Joseph, Sarah A., Washington, Magdalena, George, William, Wesley, Isaiah and Rachel. Isaiah Ruble, left an orphan at the age of four years, was taken into the home of John Foreman, by whom he was reared to farm life in Pike county, Illinois, being inured to all kinds of farm work in his youth and receiving his education in the log schoolhouses of that day and place. When the great civil war came on he showed his patriotism by going out and fighting valiantly for the old flag. It was in May, 1862, at the age of 19, that he enlisted as a member of Company K, Second Illinois Cavalry, under Col. Hogg and Captain Jones, and with his command went to the front. The brave colonel was killed in Tennessee. Mr. Ruble was all through the siege of Vicksburg, in the engagement at Holly Springs, and in numerous raids and skirmishes, and at the close of the war in May, 1865, was honorably discharged, returning home with a war record in which he has every reason to take a just pride. During his service he contracted both bronchitis and rheumatism, from the effects of which he has never recovered. Returning to Pike county, Illinois, after the war, he settled down to farming there and made that place his home until 1871, when he came to Minnesota and located in Kasota township, four miles east of St. Peter. In 1886 he moved to his present farm near Kasota, his post-office address, and here he is successfully engaged in farming and stockraising. Mr. Ruble was married in Pike county, Illinois, in December, 1866, to Maria Pettis, daughter of Colonel Stephen Pettis, an officer of the war of 1812 and a well-known and respected pioneer of Pike county. Honorable mention of the Pettis family will be found on another page of this work, in the personal sketch of Alexander Pettis. Previous to her marriage Mrs. Ruble was engaged in teaching, and as a teacher attained popularity and success. They have had five children, viz.: Wells A., who was educated in college at Battle Creek, Michigan, is now engaged in teaching; Mrs. Alice L. Collins, who was before her marriage a teacher; William W., attending college in Battle Creek, Michigan; Albert H., who is now at home; and one that died in infancy, a twin of Alice L. Mr. Ruble cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, has ever since supported the Republican party, and in these stirring days of '96 sees no reason to change, his political views. He is a member of A. K. Skaro Post, No. 37, G. A. R., of St. Peter. His church is that of the Seventh Day Adventists, of which he is a stanch and active member. (pages 334-335)