RUCKER FAMILY SOCIETYNEWSLETTER

Vol. 18.No. I.March2007

2006Wood Fam-ily Reunion

See page 8

Table of Contents

The Antarctica Marathon . . . . p. 1-2Query of the Quarter p. 3Rucker Bench p. 3-4Book Review p. 4-5In Memoriam p. 6-7Rucker Highway Marker . . . . p. 8President's Letter p. 8Letter from the Editor p. 9Wood Family Reunion p. 9Message from Fred Rucker . . . p. 9Road to Salt Lake City p. 10

The AntarcticaMarathon

By Michael P. (Mike) Rucker

It's probably the onlymarathon in which the

participants must avoidtripping over cute penguins,flee from irate territorial furseals, watch out for attacksby ferocious monster seagulls, run a mile up anddown a steep slipperyglacier (twice) and bravewinds up to 40 mph (onthe glacier).

The Antarctica Marathon isunique - and rugged. Runner'sWorld named it "The World'sToughest Marathon." Themarathon and accompanyinghalf-marathon together arelimited to two hundredparticipants. That's becausethe two Russian ships thattransport the runners toAntarctica for the event canaccommodate only 100passengers each. The event

starts at the Russian ScienceResearch Base on King GeorgeIsland, Antarctica.

The 2007 event on February 26stood up to its reputation. Thedreaded Drake Strait is famousfor having the roughest seas inthe world, but our 600-milecruise from Tierra de Fuego,Argentina to Antarctica wasremarkably smooth, althoughmy cabin mate was seasick onboth crossings. We wereintroduced to a new term,"Drake secure," meaning thatanything not properly storedthat could roll around or flyaround our cabins wouldprobably do so. We wereaboard the ship ten days, atwo-day passage each wayacross the Drake, one day forthe marathon, and theremaining five days to cavortwith thousands of penguins,seals and whales. Each shiphad Zodiac inflatable boats totake us ashore and kayaks in

continued on next page

Rucker Family Society Newsletter Vol. 18,No. I.March2007

The Rucker Family SocietyNewsletter

is published quarterly —Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec

Editor:Jean ("Jeannie") W. Brydon

304 Charmian RoadRichmond, VA 23226-1705

1-804-358-3185Ruckerl 0@comcast.net

Copyright 2007.All Rights reserved

President:Chris Rucker

sparklecity chris@aol .com>

Annual Membership$10.00 individual

Please send dues toRebecca D. Fox, Treasurer3915 SW Hidden Cove CircleLee's Summit, MO 64082-

4634<JohnFox@aol.com>

Registrar: Alice Rucker<aliruc(S),ca.rr.com>

Board Members:Frank E. Bazler

Margaret BeesleyJeannie BrydonDorothy Cain

Becky FoxMary Ann Laurence

Maurine Rucker McLeanJoyce Pittman

Roland PittmanKarl Rice

Alice RuckerChris RuckerFred Rucker

which to paddle among theicebergs. The weather wasbeautiful every day but one:marathon day - when a snowand sleet storm set in and thewind blew unmercifully.Perfect: makes for a betterstory. We were allowed to usea toilet at the Russian base, butsince 200 people could not fitinto their "mud room" all atonce we had to change into ourrunning clothes under thebuilding in a sleet storm in stiffwind with the temperature nearfreezing.

The fresh snow made themarathon course beautiful in asavage sort of way but hidpotholes and beach cobblesthat could twist an ankle. Themelting snow made the entirecourse sloppy and muddy withstreams and rivulets of ice-coldwater that could not beavoided. We ran along twobeaches with round stonesabout the size of ping-pong

Mike Ruckerstanding at thefinish line of the

AntarcticaMarathon

balls that rolled with everystep. A misstep on patches ofglaze ice on the glacier couldresult in broken bones. Anexhausting course!

But, the wildlife made theevent unique. The penguinsadded a nice touch, but theangry seal at mile 22 was a realhazard-and fast-faster, at least,than exhausted marathoners.The skuas are huge-a six footwingspan-and attack silentlyfrom behind. Several runnerswere hit by them. Add theglacier, the wind and the sleetand one has what is possiblythe most memorable marathonin the world. At least, I'llremember it forever.

Vol. 18,No. I.March2007 Rucker Family Society Newsletter

Query of theQuarter

Who was Edward A.Rucker of Chicago Title?By Michael P. (Mike) Rucker

Chicago Title. That is one ofthe best-known property titlecompanies in the UnitedStates. It was founded in 1847by Edward A. Rucker.

Chicago was a boomtown in1847. The population wasalmost 17,000 ~ and growingdaily. Edward Rucker was ayoung law clerk in the thrivingnew town and he saw the needfor a method of keeping trackof ever)7 legal document andtransaction concerning realestate ownership. His newmethod saved lawyers thelaborious and error prone taskof searching the extensiverecords of real estate transferswhenever each propertychanged hands.

The young entrepreneurperceived an opportunity andmoved to seize it by hangingout a shingle on the SaloonBuilding at the corner of Clarkand Lake Streets. The nextyear Rucker took a partner inthe business, J. Mason Rees,and the two moved the officeto the Mercantile Building.Then disaster struck Chicago:the Great Chicago Fire of 1871that destroyed a largeproportion of the structureswithin the new communitv.

But Rucker, as well as severaloffshoots of Rucker'scompany, had the presence ofmind to snatch their recordsfrom the inferno at the lastmoment. Soon, these titlecompanies merged in thewestern outskirts of the burntcity and became Chicago Titleand Trust Co. (CT&T).

The next year the Illinois StateLegislature passed the BurntRecords Act that made theCT&T records admissible asevidence in court. Thatestablished CT&T as thepremier title company inIllinois and it soon expandedbeyond the borders of Chicago.During the 1950's CT&T grewbeyond the borders of Illinoisand became the pre-eminenttitle company in the nation.Today nearly one in four titleinsurance policies in the U.S.is issued by CT&T.What is the genealogy of thisEdward A. Rucker?

* * * * *

African-American News

Memorial Comesto Life

By Veronica Akers(Daughter of one of the Twelve)

Submitted byScarlett Rucker-Misikir

The Rucker family has alwayshad a strong belief in God; andit is that belief that keeps ourfamily so close and together allthese years.

Our family has been a part ofSecond Baptist Church (SBC)in Huntsville, MO for over 100years. Our great-grandfatherLafe' Rucker was a foundingmember, and his son WilliamEstel moved his new brideAnna C. to Huntsville, wherethey united with SBC, andfrom that union twelvechildren, six boys and six girlswere born.

The Rucker family startedhaving reunions every otheryear, starting in 1972. Part ofour reunion celebrationincluded having churchservices, acknowledgment ofgraduates, accomplishments,food, fun and activities for thechildren. The family suggestedin 1984 that a stain glasswindow be donated to (SBC)in honor of the Rucker name.The money was collected anddonated to the church, butunfortunately the windownever materialized and monieswere used for other churchexpenses.

Fast forwarding 20 years, it is2005 and plans for the 2006Reunion hosted inMinneapolis, MN were wellunderway. Joyce Williams,(daughter of one of the twelve)the host of 2006 Reunionencouraged the family torevisit the stained glasswindow. Ricardo Harris,(grandson of one of the twelve)was appointed to head up theproject and after research, he

Rucker Family Society Newsletter Vol. 18, No. 1, March 2007

discovered that the windowproved to be too expensive atthat time. The entire reunioncommittee came up with foursuggestions on what type ofmemorial would be placed inthe church. Aunt Esther (last ofthe twelve children of Anna &William) made the finaldecision, and the bench waschosen.

The Rucker family choir cametogether from across thecountry and recorded a GospelCD on Memorial Day weekendof 2006; and put the finaltouches in place for theupcoming reunion inSeptember, but the highlight ofthe weekend was the 90th

birthday party for Aunt Esther,where family members of allages were in attendance to

Rucker Bench

honor her.

The bench was finished andinstalled in November and inthe following week AuntEsther passed away, the last oftwelve. Prior to her passing,she was blessed to see it, andeven sit on it. Pictures weretaken of this memorableoccasion that has become afamily treasure.

I know that my mother(Dorothea Rucker-Akers),aunts and uncles are alllooking down from heaven andsmiling, knowing that theirdream has finally came to pass.

Note from Scarlett Rucker-Misikir: We are thedescendents of Wm. E.Rucker, Sr. and Anna Mae(Carey) Rucker of Huntsville,Randolph County, Missouri.Their twelve children are asfollows: Lillian, Lafayette Jr.,William E., Jr., Esther, Walter,Ruth, Roscoe Sr., Namoi,Russell Sr., Dorthea, Miltonand Helen. There are morethan 200 living, blood/lineardescendents.

See Esther B. Rucker 'sobituary on page 7.

Book Review:

The Best Seat inthe House

By Allen RuckerReviewed by Michael P.

(Mike) Rucker

"Humor?" you ask. "Howcould a book about paralysispossibly be humorous?" Theanswer is Allen Rucker 'suncanny ability to turn anironic phrase around almostany possible situation.

This book, Allen's latest NewYork Times bestseller, willmake you laugh or at least

Vol. 18, No. 1, March 2007 Rucker Family Society Newsletter

Allen Rucker

chuckle occasionally, andwhile it probably won't makeyou cry, it will make youpainfully aware of your ownvulnerability.

Allen was a moderatelysuccessful (although somewhatstressed and anxious) Holly-wood writer when in 1996 atthe age of 51 he suddenlybecame disabled withtransverse myelitis. This rare(one in a million persons peryear) neurological disease lefthim completely paralyzed fromthe middle of his back down.In the course of 90 minutes hewent from being a typical,relatively healthy, mid-liferand recreational runner to atotal cripple.

During the next severalmonths, as he realized that hewould never stand or walkagain and as he suffered

constant new sources ofhumiliation such as his "skinnyfriend the urinary catheter," helapsed into depression. Herecounts, with amazing candor,his spiral into this personalHell. He prevails andeventually achieves anepiphany, realizing that inmany ways, his life afterparalysis is better than it wasbefore. He even achievesgreater writing success thanbefore: writing the best sellingcompanion books for the"Sopranos" televisionprogram. And, in 2006, twoprestigious TV writing awards.

In this tidy book, Allen leadshis readers on a giddy rompthrough a great swath ofAmerican popular culture. Notbeing fully hip on certaindetails of various movie andtelevision culture, I could notrelate to some of Allen'sspecific references, but seldommissed the point he wasmaking, whether poignantpersonal insight or slightlytwisted humor.

Allen does not use this book topreach any particular point ofview, except one that I foundparticularly apropos, stem cellresearch, which might lead to acure for transverse myelitis. Iempathized with his point ofview on stem cell researchbecause my wife, Harriet, (andRucker cousin) has beendisabled for many years withmultiple sclerosis. Allen: "Tomost people who hear about or

debate the stem cellcontroversy, it's a matter ofvalues or religion. To peoplewith disabilities, it's personal.When and if stem cellprocedures are acceptedmedical practice, it will takesomeone with enormousideological conviction to say'No thanks, I think the use ofembryonic stem cells ismorally wrong, so please don'tuse this therapy on my twelve-year-old daughter with type 1diabetes'." That's a hardargument to counter.

Rucker has a message in thisbook for everyone of any age,but he particularly targets hisfellow baby boomers,predicting (with certainty) thatthey will lose their health, stemcell research will go fromethical dilemma to moralimperative and adult diaperswill be designed by RalphLauren in a "rugged, Wyomingrancher motif."

Allen has achieved other recentsuccesses in addition to this bestseller. During 2006, he wasgranted two meritorious awardsfor his TV adaptation of DavidMaraniss's book Two Days inOctober about the Vietnam War.These were the George PeabodyAward and the Emmy Award forExceptional Merit in NonfictionFilmmaking.

We can all learn a lot about lifeand its ups and downs fromthis tough, resilient Ruckercousin. Buy this book! It willmake you think!

Rucker Family Society Newsletter Vol. 18, No. 1, March 2007

In Memoriam

Alice Elizabeth RuckerAllen passed away January22, 2007, in Austin, TX. BornSeptember 10, 1918 in TaylorCounty, TX, Alice was theoldest daughter of JosephHerman (J.H.) Rucker, Sr. andMary Ophelia Fuller Rucker.Lineage: Alice8 Rucker,Joseph7 H. Sr. Joseph6 M.,Reuben5, Reuben4, Peter3,John2, Peter1 (See RuckerHeritage, p.295.)

Alice graduated from AbileneHigh School, and received adegree in Mathematics fromMcMurry College. Shesubsequently attended TexasTech in Lubbock where sheobtained a degree hi HomeEconomics and met her futurehusband, Howard C. Allen,whom she married in Abilene,TX on June 30, 1941. TheAliens first resided hi St.Louis, MO and returned toTexas when Howard enteredWWII. The couple then movedto Lamesa, TX, where Howardwas associated with his fatherin the architectural andbuilding business. In 1966 theAllen family moved to Austin,TX, where Howard wasassociated with the TexasDepartment of Health.

Alice is survived by husbandHoward, son Donald H. Allen,

grandson Austin H. Allen, ofAustin; daughter Wanza E.(Brooks) Grantier of Marshall,MI, and grandchildren CharlesF. Grantier, Marguerite C.(Scott) Grupke, and Elise M.Grantier; daughter Barbara J.(David) Bend of Marble Falls,TX, and grandchildren AaronD. (Cristy) Bend, and HannahE. Bend; and daughter MaryJane (Mark) Phelps ofKingwood, TX, grandchildrenAshley E., Amanda M., andAngela V. Phelps.

She was preceded in death byher older brother, Joe HermanRucker, Jr. of Fresno, CA, andby a younger sister, Ruth R.Hickock of Houston, TX.Surviving brothers and sisters,all of TX, are J. Morris Ruckerof Houston, J. Lloyd Rucker ofMcKinney, Rev. Harold B.Rucker of Richardson, LucilleR. Chessmore of Fort Worth,Juanita R. Marshall ofMidland, and Melba R. Boozerof Abilene. She is survived bynumerous nephews and nieces.

Alice joined the Methodistchurch at a young age, taughtkindergarten classes, sang inthe choir for many years, andwas a member of the SusannaWesley Sunday School Classof FUMC, Austin. Shepublished in 1993 a book ofher Rucker family genealogy,Rucker Heritage, and also TheRucker Family Cookbook. She

was a charter member of theRucker Family Society and aformer board member.

Alice's services were held atthe First United MethodistChurch, Austin, TX, with Rev.John McMullen and Rev.Kathleen Jones, FUMC, andRev. Harold B. Rucker, brotherof the deceased, officiating.Honorary pallbearers wereAlice's grandsons and sons-in-law. She was buried hi AustinMemorial Park.

* * *

Thomas J. Rucker Jr.,age 89, died at home inFakfax, January 24, 2007. Hewas a St. Louis native andgraduated from ColumbiaUniversity in New York. Hewas a high school scienceteacher before entering WorldWar II.

He received a DistinguishedFlying Cross in 1943, while inthe Army Air Forces, forhelping establish air routesacross Africa and the MiddleEast. He transported keypersonnel and material overunmapped terrain wherelanding fields and navigationalaids were practically non-existent. Later in the War, hetrained flight crews atdomestic air bases, readying

Vol. 18, No. 1, March 2007 Rucker Family Society Newsletter

them for the African andEuropean theaters.

He flew for 24 years as acommercial pilot, flying for theold Pennsylvania CentralAirlines, Capital Airlines andthen United Airlines. After hisretirement in 1977, he becamea real estate agent for KeithBarcroft Properties in FallsChurch, VA. He was also avolunteer with Travelers Aid atDulles International Airport formore than ten years.

His wife of 46 years, JuneStones Rucker, died in 1991.He is survived by threedaughters, Suzanne Horstmanof Stuart, FL, Karen Vincent ofParkersburg, WV, and JaniceDeHaven of Centreville, VA;six grandchildren; and threegreat-grandchildren.

From the Washington Post,Feb. 5, 2007, submitted byBob Sealock of Fairfax, VA.

Lost RuckersIf you know these folks and

their new addresses, please let

us know.

#564 Elizabeth R. Douglas

Indian Harbor Beach, FL

#884 Sgt Wade M. Dixon

San Diego, CA

Marjorie RuckerBall

From Frances Willess

I hate to be the bearer of sadtidings again so soon, but therehas been another Rucker death

here in Austin: MarjorieRucker Ball, daughter of TruettRankin Rucker (Page 308 inAlice Rucker Allen's book,Rucker Heritage and her 1st

cousin). The obituary wasprinted in the AustinAmerican-Statesman.

Marjorie Rucker Ball was bornon February 9, 1933 inAbilene, Texas and diedFebruary 22, 2007 in Austin.

She is survived by a son,David Jan Ball and his wife,Shirlene; granddaughterJessica and her husband, Josh;grandsons, Cameron and Tyler.

She studied at Oxford, was agraduate of UT (University ofTexas) Austin and TSU (TexasState University) in SanMarcos with her Masters.Marj worked with AISD(Austin Independent SchoolDistrict) in many capacities,starting in the classroom andeventually becoming Principal.She was active at RiverbendChurch along with showing

her devotion to her grand-

children who were the light ofher life. She enjoyed diningand visiting with her many

o

friends. Her lineage: MarjorieAnn Rucker, Truett7 R.Joseph6 M., Reuben5, Reuben4,Peter3, John2, Peter1.

Esther Blondel Rucker,age 90, died November 17,2006. She was born June 30,1916 in Huntsville, MO, thedaughter of William E. andAnna Carey Moss Rucker.

Esther was a member of theHuntsville Second BaptistChurch where she served aschurch pianist for many years.She also worked in privatenursing care and cared formany children.

She was preceded by hereleven brothers and sisters (seenames on page 4). She issurvived by her daughter,Regina A. Davis of Huntsville,three grandchildren and three

great-grandchildren.

From the Moberly Monito-Index, 20 Nov 2006, submittedby Karl Rice, Moberly, MO.

See article on the RuckerBench on page 3-4.

Vol. 18, No. 1, March 2007 Rucker Family Society Newsletter

The AmherstCounty, VA RuckerHighway Markers

The first photo is not clear, butit shows how the two markers,at Faulconersville, AmherstCo., VA looked before onewas demolished by an out-of-control vehicle. Unfortunately,the damaged sign has dis-appeared so it will have to bereplaced (by us).

Rucker Highway Markers as

originally placed

Photo showing one marker missing

The markers, one for theAnglican Church of AmherstCo., founded by Col. Ambrose

Rucker, and one for the JamesRiver Batteaux invented byBenjamin and AnthonyRucker, were dedicated at the1994 Bedford County, VirginiaRucker Reunion.

Do we want to replace themarker at a cost of $1350?Route 29 has been moved(bypass around this area), sothe signs would not be asvisible as once was.

Please email your comments toChris Rucker at

Sparklecitychris@aol.com

President'sLetter

As I write this, I am makingpreparations to join MikeRucker for this year's BatteauFestival in Lynchburg,Virginia, the launch point forthe float down the James Rivertoward Richmond. You willrecall that brothers Anthonyand Benjamin Rucker inventedthe batteau in the eighteenthcentury to transport tobaccodown river to market, andreturn goods back upstream.Our 2004 Rucker FamilySociety reunion in Amherst

County included a visit to theBatteau Festival, and wewatched as Mike departed onthe Rose of Nelson, his usualride. He will return to her thisyear, and I will be on ThomasJefferson's Spirit of NewLondon, a newly built batteausponsored by the nearby townof the same name. Mr.Jefferson (as he is called by thestudents at "The University,"which is what they call theCharlottesville institution,which he founded) was acontemporary of the Ruckerbrothers and described theirbatteau in his journals. Ourbatteaux will pass just to thesouth of Charlottesville, wherewe will convene for our nextRFS reunion, in 2008.1 hopethat you will make plans toattend. There is a great deal tosee and do in Charlottesville,not the least of which isvisiting Jefferson's belovedMonticello and the Universityof Virginia. I am very excitedat the prospect of returning tomy old college stompinggrounds for our reunion, andlooking forward to introducingits charms to my Ruckercousins.

Vol. 18, No. 1, March 2007 Rucker Family Society Newsletter

Letter from theEditor

I am trying a new format and

would like your comments. Letme know what you think and ifyou have any suggestions.

The Jamestown stamp is forthe 400th reunion of thefounding of Jamestown that istaking place in Virginia thissummer. Our interest is in ourimmigrant ancestor, PeterRucker, who sailed intoJamestown in 1700 two yearsafter the capital had beenmoved to Williamsburg.

2006 Wood FamilyReunion

Richmond, VAAugust 11-13

By Jeannie Brydon

The get-together of thegrandchildren of Sudie Ruckerand William P. Wood wasaccidental. I discovered at theLibrary of Virginia shop,articles for sale, reproducedfrom old seed catalogs of theT. W. Wood & Sons Seed

Company founded by Wm'sfather. We visited Wood

family homes and stores, achurch with two stained glass

windows dedicated to T. W. &Elizabeth Wood and the librarywhere we all purchased items.We ended with a lovelycovered dish lunch on Sunday,at the only family home stilllived in by family members.

Posing on the front porch of 2702Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA

as we did as children.From left: Sudie Mann Wilson, herdaughters, Sue Moore and BeverlySumner; Bettie, Sudie, and Carol

Wood (sisters) and Jeannie Brydon

From left: Sudie Mann Wilson, onthe left is the oldest grandchild (We

celebrated her 80th birthday), MarionWood Addison. Sudie Rucker Wood(youngest grandchild). Price Wood,

our host and Dave Addison

Sudie Rucker Wood's family isfound on Page 55 of her book.

Photo on p.l - grandchildrenof Sudie Rucker Wood:From left: Sudie R. Wood II,Jeannie Brydon, Bettie Wood,Tim Wood, Billy Mann, CarolWood, Bobby Brydon, PriceWood, Ward Wood;Seated: Marion W. Addisonand Sudie Mann Wilson.Missing: Roger Mann (dec'd)and Gar Wood Jr. (was sick).

Message fromFred Rucker

Co-Chairman ofthe 2006

Rucker ReunionThanks for everyone's won-derful concern about myhealth. I am much better,have returned to work andexpect to make a full recov-ery. My back still bothers mesome. I am so sorry I missedthe Salt Lake City reunion butplan to be in Virginia for thenext one. I am very gratefulfor my good wife Carol for allthe work she did with the re-union and keeping our busi-ness going. I would like tothank everyone who came toSalt Lake City and hope itwas a great experience forthem and hope they willcome again.

Thanks, Fred

Rucker Family Society Newsletter Vol. 18, No. 1, March 2007

The Road to Salt Lake City-October 2006

Becky Fox and Jeannie Brydon drove from Kansas City to Salt Lake City for the 2006 Rucker Reunion.Going out, we followed the route where the Oregon trail, the Mormon trail and the pony expressconverged. You can see the wagon ruts created by the heavy traffic. Also the beautiful skies at sunset. Aphoto of Marita Taylor at the Olympic site and other Ruckers at the Kennecott Copper Mine. Anothergroup at the LDS Library. Marita Taylor joined us for the following week in Park City, Utah, and for ourdrive back to Kansas City. The last two photos are Becky, Jeannie and Marita in Park City, Utah.

Rucker Family Society

Jean Wood Brydon304 Charmian RoadRichmond, VA 23226

First Class Mail

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED176 2011Mr. & Mrs. Loren D. Rucker13331 GridleySt.Sylmar, CA 91342 4529