Ephraim RUEBUSH
BIOGRAPHY: Born at Stover's Shop, Churchville, Augusta Co, VA Music teacher and publisher, businessman. After the Civil War, Ephraim, together with Aldine Kieffer, John Howe, and CorneliusHammack, opened a printing office "The Patent Note Company". They were successfulwith their first publication, "The Christian Harp". The company was reorganizedin 1873 under the Ruebush-Kieffer Company name. In 1878 the company was movedto Dayton, to be near the railroad. The Ruebush-Kieffer Companypublished the highly successful "Musical Million" until 1914. Ephraim was closelyallied with the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and School of Music in Dayton, andwas treasurer of the institution. He was president of the Virginia OrganCompany at Dayton. In September 1853, Ephraim went to Mountain Valley (SingersGlen),VA to study music and learn bookbinding and printing under Joseph Funk. Ephraim Taught music in Mineral Co. and Grant Co. West Virginiaduring the Civil War. He was concientiously opposed to slavery and a pacifist,therfore he could not fight for the Confederacy. He refused a lieutenantcy in theUnion Army. An unconfirmed story says Ephraim rode his horse to Washingtonduring the Civil War to personally ask Abraham Lincoln to release hisbrother-in-law Aldine Kieffer from prison. If true, it could have been in May, 1863,When Aldine was captured after the Battle at Chancellorsville, and probablytaken to the Old Capitol Prison in Washington. RELIGION: Recieved in United Brethren Church in 1845; Baptized in 1865(Salem Church) by C.B. Hammack. served Va. Conference in various capacities. SOURCES: Gary M Gloyd, Article "A Joseph Funk Legacy: The Ephraim Ruebush Family"; 1991, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Hist Soc Newsletter Vol13, No 4 -A.J. Fretz, "Brief History of Bishop Henry Funck" p.299,p.865 -Family Photo; 1979 Singer's Glen Music Festival Book, p.32a -Photos of William Howe Ruebush and Ephraim Ruebush c. 1855 donated by Gary Gloyd to Harrisonburg-Rockingham Hist. Soc., Dayton, VA; 1991;HRHS Newsletter Vol 13, No. 3 -John W. Wayland, Men of Mark and Representative Citzens ofHarrisonburg & Rockingham County, Virginia, 1943, McClure Co, Staunton VA, availableHist.Lib. Eastern Mennonite College, Harrisonburg, VA
BIRTH: Born in Warm Springs VA (Now WV) during 1843-1844 return visitof John & Mary Kieffer family to Singers Glen, VA (G. Gloyd) CENSUS: 1850 Rcokingham Co. census shows her as a child of 6 yrs.living with mother in home of grandfather Jos. Funk. (Armentrout p.I-93) RELIGIOUS: Joined the United Brethren Church in early womanhood. Shewas a close student of the Bible, and a pioneer in the Woman's ChristianTemperance Union. MISCELLANEOUS: "Lou" was one of the first women in Virginia to passthrough Confederate military lines, when she went to join Ephraim in Mineraland Grant counties (today WV) during the Civil War. (G. Gloyd) SOURCE: Rev A.J. Fretz, A Brief History of Bishop Henry Funck andOther Funck Pioneers;1709-1899; 1709-1899 ; Elkhart, IN, Mennonite Publishing Co,1899; Reprint, Higginson Book Co, Salem, MA, p.299, 865. -Gary M Gloyd, Gaithersburg, MD -Russell Armentrout, Armentrout Family History 1739-1978, 1985,Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical Society, Dayton VA. p.I-93 - Frances Funk, Joseph Funk A Biography; Pub 1984, Frances Funk, HC72,Box 557, Lake of the Woods, Locust Grove, VA 22508 p.87
OCCUPATION: Bookbinder Reubush-Kieffer, Dayton, VA SOURCE: Fretz, "Brief History of Bishop Henry Funck"; Gary M Gloyd, Article "A Joseph Funk Legacy: The Ephraim RuebushFamily"; 1991; Harrisonburg-Rockingham Hist. Soc. Newletter Vol 12, No. 4 EDUCATION: After the Civil War, Ed attended school in Singers Glen.When he was 16 in 1878 and the family moved to Dayton, he attended theShenandoah Seminary. RESIDENCE: Except for several years spent in Indiana, he spent most ofhis life in Dayton, VA. He and Dora raised their family on High Street. OCCUPATION: Ed devoted most of his life to the Ruebush-KiefferCompany. At one time he was manager of the binding department, and later he servedin the mailing department. RELIGIOUN: Ed was a devoted member of the Dayton United BrethrenChurch. MISCELLANEOUS: He was an avid outdoorsman, never missing anopportunity to hunt or fish.
BIOGRAPHY: Fretz, "Brief History of Bishop Henry Funck" p.298 and Gary M Gloyd, Article "A Joseph Funk Legacy: The Ephraim RuebushFamily"; 1991; Harrisonburg-Rockingham Hist. Soc. Newletter Vol 12, No. 4
MISCELLANEOUS: Married by Reverend Byron H. Dement. EDUCATION: Shenandoah Institute, Dayton, VA. SOURCE: Fretz, "Brief History of Bishop Henry Funck" p.298 -Gary M Gloyd, Gaithersburg, MD
OCCUPATION: Faculty member of the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music.Served one term in Virginia House of Delegates. Composed music for the collegetune "Old Virginia", and wrote the Alma Mater for Tulane University. Armybandsman, directed the 116th Infantry band during WW2. Composer and banddirector. Photos of William Howe Ruebush and Ephriam Ruebush donated by GaryGloyd to Harrison-Rockingham Historical Societ, Dayton, VA. SOURCES: Rev A.J. Fretz, A Brief History of Bishop Henry Funck andOther Funck Pioneers;1709-1899; 1709-1899 ; Elkhart, IN, Mennonite Publishing Co,1899; Reprint, Higginson Book Co, Salem, MA -Gary M Gloyd, "A Joseph Funk Legacy: The Ephraim Ruebush Family";1991; Harrisonburg-Rockingham Hist. Soc. Newletter Vol 13, No. 4 -Harrisonburg-Rockingham Histroical Society Newsletter Vol 13, No.3.
NAME: According to the Ephraim Ruebush family bible record, "the K inAnna K. Ruebush's name stands for Kirkpatrick." (Gloyd) SOURCES: Rev A.J. Fretz, A Brief History of Bishop Henry Funck andOther Funck Pioneers;1709-1899; 1709-1899 ; Elkhart, IN, Mennonite Publishing Co,1899; Reprint, Higginson Book Co, Salem, MA, p.300. -Gary M Gloyd, Gaithersburg, MD
SOURCES:Rev A.J. Fretz, A Brief History of Bishop Henry Funck andOther Funck Pioneers;1709-1899; 1709-1899 ; Elkhart, IN, Mennonite Publishing Co,1899; Reprint, Higginson Book Co, Salem, MA ; p.300. - Gary M Gloyd, "A Joseph Funk Legacy: The Ephraim Ruebush Family"; 1991; Harrisonburg-Rockingham Hist. Soc. Newletter Vol 12, No. 4 -John W. Wayland, Men of Mark and Representative Citzens ofHarrisonburg & Rockingham County, Virginia, 1943, McClure Co, Staunton VA, availableHist.Lib. Eastern Mennonite College, Harrisonburg, VA OCCUPATION: Historian, Publisher, book collector of Virginiana. RELIGION: "lifelong member of the Dayton EUB (Evangelical UnitedBrethern?) Church and taught in the Sunday School department for 40 years."(Obituary)
He married Lucilla Virginia Kieffer 28 Mar 1861 at Singers Glen, Rockingham, Va . Lucilla Virginia Kieffer was born at Warm Springs, Bath, Virginia 23 Jul 1843 daughter of John Kieffer and Mary Funk .
They were the parents of 6
children:
Lineus Edgar Ruebush
born 11 Jan 1862.
James Hott Ruebush
born 19 Oct 1865.
Mary John Ruebush
born 31 Oct 1869.
William Howe Ruebush
born 4 Jun 1873.
Anna Kirkpatrick Ruebush
born 22 Jun 1876.
Joseph Kieffer Ruebush
born 26 Oct 1878.
Ephraim Ruebush died 18 Nov 1924 at Dayton, Rockingham, Virginia .
Lucilla Virginia Kieffer died 23 Jul 1919 at Dayton, Rockingham, Virginia .