Benjamin Lewis Rue (abt. 1836 - 1921)

Born about Feb 1836 in Saline County, Missouri, USA [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Mary J. Harmon — married 26 Mar 1868 in Denton, Texas, United States

Descendants

Died 23 Oct 1921 at about age 85 in Elwood, Fannin, Texas, USA

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Biography

Benjamin was born in Feb, the year 1836 fitting best with most records, probably in Saline Co, Missouri. His parents were Jacob G Rue and Polly F Weeden. The family moved to Denton County Tex as it was being settled. There Benjamin married Mary Jane Harmon in 1868. (Later Benjamin's younger brother Edmond married Mary's younger half-sister Melissa Jackson.)

Everyone farmed, but in 1870 Benjamin was listed in the census as a wheelwright blacksmith. His daughter Melissa recalled that he would build almost anything, including wooden barrels. (Melissa's husband, Harry Hardy, got tired of hearing about it one time and said, "There isn't anything that man couldn't do," and Melissa laughed.) Probably in the 1880s they moved north to Fannin County, where Benjamin started his fruit orchard. He paid seasonal workers in shares of the crop profits, which worked for people in those more self-reliant time. He was a thin man who lived to 85. As he aged he turned over the orchard to his nearly blind son, Oliver.^[1]

Benjamin served from July 1862 to the war's end with the 29th Regiment of the Texas Cavalry (DeMorse's), in the rank of private.

Sources

1. ↑ Stories from Benjamin's daughter Melissa Rue, recalled by her grandson, Lowell Yates.

• [1] 1850 US census, Benjamin Rue, age 14, in the family of Jacob Rue.
• Alabama, Texas and Virginia, Confederate Pensions, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Austin, Tesas. Applications 1884-1958, Collection # CPA16526, Roll # 136, File Nos· 37714 to 37734, to 37734, Application Years 1919 to 1921. Viewed at Ancestry.com. Application # 36544, for Benjamin Lewis Rue's widow, Mary J. Rue. The application give dates of death (Oct 23, 1921) and marriage (26 Mar 1868).