RUTH CRAWFORD CALKINS was born September 9, 1809 in Liberty Corners, New York to Stephen Crawford and Ruth Clayson Crawford of Pound Ridge, New York, in Westchester County. Her mother Ruth added the 'y' in her own last name, hence, Ruth Clayson Crawford. Her father, Stephen Crawford was born Sept. 12, 1764. Stephen and Ruth married in 1788 in Greenfield, Saratoga County, New York. He was a mill owner and a farmer. During the Revolutionary War, Stephen was a Lt. Col. in Thaddeus Crane's New York State Militia. He and Ruth were the co-founders of the Congressional Church in Cohocton, Steuben County, New York.
Ruth Crawford married John Calkins in 1826. They removed to Illinois about 1836, and to Wisconsin about 1845, and settled in the town of Arena. John died on the farm in Arena on March 1, 1874. Ruth died there April 18, 1889. She and John are buried in the Mazomanie Cemetery in Mazomanie, Wisconsin beside their son Jermone Calkins who died from wounds suffered at Bayou Creek and Ft. Blakely, Alabama in the Civil War.
On Friday 26 April 1889 the Dodgeville Chronicle, Dodgeville, Wisconsin published the following: "We have to chronicle the death of Mrs. Ruth Calkins, one of the oldest residents of Arena. She died Wednesday night, April 18, and was buried in the cemetery at Mazomanie on Saturday. Miss Ruth Crawford was born in Steuben County, New York in September, 1809, and was married at the age of 17 years to John Calkins. In 1836 Mr. Calkins with his family, moved west and settled in Illinois, and in 1844 he moved to Arena, Wisconsin, where he remained until his death, fifteen years ago. Mrs. Calkins with her son, remained on the homestead until her death. She was an exemplary Christian, having been a member of the M.E. Church since her youth. She was the mother of eleven children, nine of whom are living. One, a daughter, died at the age of 8 years, in Illinois. Another, Jerome, a comrade of the writer, gave his life an offering on the alter of his country twenty-four years ago. Mrs. Calkins was a true wife and mother, a kind neighbor, respected by all who knew her."
(From Crawford/Calkins History Ruth I. Blair Miller)
CHILDREN OF JOHN AND RUTH CRAWFORD CALKINS:
Emily Calkins (Culver); John Franklin Calkins; Marie Calkins (Stearns); Homer Calkins; Orrah Calkins (Tyler/Wyman); Isabel Calkins; Jerome Calkins; Stephen Crawford Calkins; Anson Calkins; Reuben Calkins; Lewis Calkins
(From My Calkins History~ R.I.Miller)