This file and photo for use on USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County Heritage Pages courtesy of June Groshong, 26 Jan 2006.  Link change or update: 30 Jan 2007

Historical Photographs of Lincoln County, Missouri
Stephen, Susan and Rachel Ruddell Tombstones
Clipping from the collection of June Groshong.

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Rachel Highsmith Woods Ruddell Tombstone (left); Stephen and Susan David Ruddell Tombstone (right)

 

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Back of tombstone on right in top photograph.

Tombstones are in the New Providence Cemetery, Ursa, Adams County, IL.

Front of the double stone shown here states:

RUDDELL

To God's Glory

Susan David Rev. Stephen 1780-1831 1768- 1845

Both Are Buried on Family Farm

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Second stone (on left in photo) states:

RACHEL

Wife of

Stephen Ruddell

Died

July 17,1871

73 Yrs. 9 Mos and 5 Dys.

( not totally sure of the age ..jg)

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Back of Tribute stone of Stephen Ruddell states:

STEPHEN WAS CAPTURED BY THE INDIANS AT AGE 12 IN REV. WAR WHEN RUDDLES STATION, KY. WAS ATTACKED BY THE BRITISH UNDER CAPT. BIRD. HAD ALL " WHITE BLOOD"' WASHED OUT AND WAS MADE A WARRIOR HE MARRIED A SQUAW AND RETURNED TO KY. AFTER THE TREATY. ORDAINED A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL 1810 FOUNDED THE URSA CHRISTIAN CHURCH OTHER WIVES: CATHERINE KINGERY 1797 SUSAN DAVID 1809 RACHEL NIGHTSMITH 1834

Stone at New Providence Cemetery Ursa, IL.

[Contributor's Notes:

Lincoln County Marriages July 21,1819 - Feb.2,1842:

STEPHEN RUDDELL & RACHEL WOODS were md. in Lincoln Co. Mo., 06 April 1834 page 51 by A. GORDON , J.P

I believe she (Rachel) may have been a Highsmith, but I have to go with the Nightsmith as recorded on the stone. She had been married to a Wood / Woods which I have not found, but as you know from a previous correspondence, she was a member at what is now Corinth Christian Church a few years before Stephen Ruddle came back to Lincoln co. to marry her in 1834. He surely stayed in contact with the folks at Burr Oak / Foley as he had already gone up into Pike Co., Mo. in the 1820s and then to Adams Co. IL., to establish Ursa Christian Chruch 1833.

Rachel Nightsmith Woods md. Stephen Ruddell in Lincoln Co.. Apr.6,1834. She was the 4th wife of Rev. Stephen Ruddell who at age 12 (acc.to tribute stone ) was captured by Indians Rev. War when Ruddell's Station, Ky. was attacked by the British under Capt. Bird. Had all "white blood" washed out and was made a warrior He married a squaw and returned to Ky. after the treaty. Ordained a minister of the Gospel 1810. Founded the Ursa Christian Church. Other wives Catherine Kingery 1797, Susan David 1809 Rachel Nightsmith 1834 .

Stephen Ruddell Organized the Ramsey Creek Baptist Church in Pike Co. 1817. Later he came to Burr Oak a little west of what is today, the town of Foley, Mo. Lincoln Co. and started the First Church of Christ of Lincoln County on the Banks of Sandy Creek, now known as Corinth Christian Church. It was started in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Francis Riffle. She was the Susannah McHugh Riffle, the sister of the three McHugh boys; James, William and Jessie who were massacred by Black Hawk and his warriors in 1803 near Sandy Creek. After leaving Lincoln County, Stephen went to Il. and started the Ursa Christian Church in 1833.

In this New Providence Cemetery, Samuel Groshong's daughter Mary "Polly" Groshong Campbell is buried. Stephen Ruddle's son preached her funeral.

Samuel Groshong was a brother to my husband, Pete, Groshong's 3rd gr-grandfather, Jeremiah Groshong. Samuel was an Indian Scout and worked for the government as a spy. He spoke 4 of the 5 Indian Languages of that area . He traveled between Fort Edwards, IL ., now Warsaw, IL. and Alton during this time. He is buried in the Denson Early Pioneer Cemetery in Ursa, IL. He died in the winter of 1827 and was wrapped in blankets and rocks piled on his grave so as to keep the wolves and etc from consuming his body.

Samuel Groshongs wife died in Mo. and history books say Lincoln Co. He was married to Elizabeth Buckalew. Stephen Ruddell was appointed Executor for Garret Buckalew's estate, father of Elizabeth Buckalew Groshong,(Pike Co. Mo.) but he declined. I can't put my hands on the Pike Co. book at the moment ,but it was after Elzabeth Buckalew had died. I believe Samuel had been deceased for some time too. ]

This file and photo for use on USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County Heritage Pages courtesy of June Groshong, 26 Jan 2006.  Link change or update: 30 Jan 2007

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