Her siblings: John, David Grove, Dennis, Johnson, Royal, Virgil and twins Orlin and Rolin. Her father moved the family to Iowa in about 1854 when he purchased land in Wayne County.
On 24 Jul 1853, Mary married Thomas Ruark, son of Peter Ruark Jr and Jane Herrin [of Indiana] in Wayne County, Iowa. They eventually had 11 children. The first four children were born in Wayne County, Iowa; the rest of the children were born in Washington territory*. John Clark, Charles Andrew, George Johnson, Mary Jane, Sarah Jane, William Thomas, Ira Newton, Martha Elmeda, Joseph, Dennis Burris and Carrie Belle.
Mary was brought up with a pioneer spirit as her father was one of the early settlers in Wayne Co., Iowa. So it must have seemed natural that in about 1862, Thomas, Mary and their young family moved to Washington territory. They lived in Brush Prairie [near Vancouver] for about 10 years where four more children were born; then lived in Walla Walla for a few years where their last three children were born.
In the 1880 census, the family of nine [seven children still living in the home] resided in Columbia County; in 1889 they were next door to the east in Garfield County; and in 1900 they were living in Coin, Whitman County [just to the north]. At some point they moved back to Garfield County, living in Pomeroy where Thomas died in 1908.
On Mary's death certificate, with personal information provided by her son, George, her cause of death is listed as senility and bronchitis.
*Washington did not become a state till 1889.
Her siblings: John, David Grove, Dennis, Johnson, Royal, Virgil and twins Orlin and Rolin. Her father moved the family to Iowa in about 1854 when he purchased land in Wayne County.
On 24 Jul 1853, Mary married Thomas Ruark, son of Peter Ruark Jr and Jane Herrin [of Indiana] in Wayne County, Iowa. They eventually had 11 children. The first four children were born in Wayne County, Iowa; the rest of the children were born in Washington territory*. John Clark, Charles Andrew, George Johnson, Mary Jane, Sarah Jane, William Thomas, Ira Newton, Martha Elmeda, Joseph, Dennis Burris and Carrie Belle.
Mary was brought up with a pioneer spirit as her father was one of the early settlers in Wayne Co., Iowa. So it must have seemed natural that in about 1862, Thomas, Mary and their young family moved to Washington territory. They lived in Brush Prairie [near Vancouver] for about 10 years where four more children were born; then lived in Walla Walla for a few years where their last three children were born.
In the 1880 census, the family of nine [seven children still living in the home] resided in Columbia County; in 1889 they were next door to the east in Garfield County; and in 1900 they were living in Coin, Whitman County [just to the north]. At some point they moved back to Garfield County, living in Pomeroy where Thomas died in 1908.
On Mary's death certificate, with personal information provided by her son, George, her cause of death is listed as senility and bronchitis.
*Washington did not become a state till 1889.
Inscription
In loving remembrance of Mary A Ruark; She was the sunshine of our home; Our Mother
Family Members
-
![]()
John Clark Ruark
1854–1941
-
![]()
Charles Augustus Ruark
1856–1910
-
![]()
George Johnson Ruark
1858–1928
-
![]()
Mary Jane "Mollie" Ruark Palmer
1860–1958
-
![]()
Sarah A. Ruark Rice
1862–1955
-
![]()
William Thomas Ruark
1865–1934
-
![]()
Ira Newton Ruark
1868–1933
-
![]()
Martha Elmeda Ruark Jones
1870–1956
-
![]()
Joseph Ruark
1872–1966
-
![]()
Dennis Burse Ruark
1874–1948
-
![]()
Carrie Belle Ruark Smith
1876–1950
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
