John Rutherford Jr was a wealthy and prominent man. He was greatly interested in education and became a close friend of a local minister, Reverend R.L. Abernethy. Upon visiting the small village of Excelsior, John at once proclaimed it an ideal spot for a town and gave his friend sufficient money to buy 200 acres to build a town. His friend founded Rutherford Academy at that location which later became Rutherford College. The college was later supported by the Methodist Church until it was forced to close in 1933.
John Rutherford Jr. was a man of wonderful information. He had collected one of the rarest and choicest libraries in that part of the state. When he became old and his eyesight failed, he advertised in a northern paper for a wife. He advertised for an Elocutionist, one who could read to him and who loved reading. His ad was answered and he married Elizabeth Camp Dennison Jennings. They lived together 10 years. He died at the age 90 leaving his young widow over $80,000. He left his large and valuable library to Rutherford College. He died 15 Mar 1880.
"John Rutherford Jr., was in many respects a remarkable man. He was somewhat quaint and eccentric. He was well-read in history and light literature. His place (home) was named after the Earl of Bridgewater, (not as many suppose, because he built a bridge crossing Muddy Creek, leading to his residence). With three maiden sisters, he lived a bachelor until he was 80 years old or more. Noted for his hospitality and benevolence, he endowed the college named for him, founded by it's successful president, R. L. Abernethy, who deserves credit, almost beyond words to express, for having given and continuing to give, an education to young men and women, fitting them for any vocation in life (so far as depends upon education), at a price so low as places almost within reach of all, and without, making large personal sacrifices. By his laudable philanthropic exertions, in this cause, he deserves an eulogy more enduring than this brief notice."
"Mr. Rutherford was myopic, what is commonly called near-sighted; so much so that he could not distinguish by form or feature his most intimate acquaintances, and, when meeting them, would never call their names until they had spoken. From long practice, and from the well-known fact that if one of the organs of the body is defective, another is strengthened; correspondingly, he had become very expert in recognizing them either by tone of voice, or enunciation of those with whom he associated, and would soon after speak to them by name. His manner was such as led them to believe that he thought he had deceived them as to his eyesight being defective, and this attempt to deceive was practiced by his own family. In proof of this, one of his sisters was asked by my mother, "Miss C., why don't you induce your brother to wear spectacles? They would be so useful and relieve him from his nearsightedness." She replied." Oh! Mrs. Walton. I would not do so on any account for fear of offending him. He does not know or suspect that we are aware of this defect." W. B. Rust, Esq., a near neighbor and maternal uncle, who, himself was near-sighted and wore glasses, in speaking of this idiosyncracy of his nephew, told me that once being in the room where Mr. Rutherford had been writing a letter at his desk, unfinished, he, Rutherford, left the room. He concluded that if Mr. Rutherford would only put on his (Rust's) specks, being adapted to his eyes and seeing the great advantage they would be to him, he would forego his prejudice against the use of them. Taking off his glasses and laying them on the desk near the letter in such a way as to know whether they had been moved, he left the room and, after remaining out some time, returned. The letter was finished, sealed and directed, the spectacles untouched, lying as he had placed them. This unparalleled singularity was the cause of narrow escapes, "by flood and field", some of which I shall omit. Crossing the bridge, on one occasion, he made a misstep, plunging ten feet into the turbid creek, fortunately but little hurt. Struggling to reach the shore, his wig which was not worn on account of baldness, came off. He never wore another after the loss of this. At the marriage of the Hon. Burton Craig to Elizabeth Erwin, oldest daughter of Col. James Erwin, there were a number of guests gathered from several counties. Mr. Rutherford was one of them. He was fond of the ladies, and owing to his defective sight, when addressing them, usually brought his face very close to theirs. The wedding over, he took a seat near a belle from the valley of the Yadkin, extending his arms as though he purposed to embrace the fair one. Alarmed, she sprang to her feet, crossed the room to a vacant corner, he following close with his long arms extended. Lightly dodging under them, she made her escape, leaving the persistent pursuer, still with extended arms, moving until striking the wall of the house. He found the bird had escaped, and he was left standing, not cheered by the laughter of the merry crowd who had witnessed his discomfiture. Notwithstanding his eccentrics, he was possessed of so many good traits that he was held in the highest estimation by the best people of the county."
John Rutherford Jr. was a man of wonderful information. He had collected one of the rarest and choicest libraries in that part of the state. When he became old and his eyesight failed, he advertised in a northern paper for a wife. He advertised for an Elocutionist, one who could read to him and who loved reading. His ad was answered and he married Elizabeth Camp Dennison Jennings. They lived together 10 years. He died at the age 90 leaving his young widow over $80,000. He left his large and valuable library to Rutherford College. He died 15 Mar 1880.
"John Rutherford Jr., was in many respects a remarkable man. He was somewhat quaint and eccentric. He was well-read in history and light literature. His place (home) was named after the Earl of Bridgewater, (not as many suppose, because he built a bridge crossing Muddy Creek, leading to his residence). With three maiden sisters, he lived a bachelor until he was 80 years old or more. Noted for his hospitality and benevolence, he endowed the college named for him, founded by it's successful president, R. L. Abernethy, who deserves credit, almost beyond words to express, for having given and continuing to give, an education to young men and women, fitting them for any vocation in life (so far as depends upon education), at a price so low as places almost within reach of all, and without, making large personal sacrifices. By his laudable philanthropic exertions, in this cause, he deserves an eulogy more enduring than this brief notice."
"Mr. Rutherford was myopic, what is commonly called near-sighted; so much so that he could not distinguish by form or feature his most intimate acquaintances, and, when meeting them, would never call their names until they had spoken. From long practice, and from the well-known fact that if one of the organs of the body is defective, another is strengthened; correspondingly, he had become very expert in recognizing them either by tone of voice, or enunciation of those with whom he associated, and would soon after speak to them by name. His manner was such as led them to believe that he thought he had deceived them as to his eyesight being defective, and this attempt to deceive was practiced by his own family. In proof of this, one of his sisters was asked by my mother, "Miss C., why don't you induce your brother to wear spectacles? They would be so useful and relieve him from his nearsightedness." She replied." Oh! Mrs. Walton. I would not do so on any account for fear of offending him. He does not know or suspect that we are aware of this defect." W. B. Rust, Esq., a near neighbor and maternal uncle, who, himself was near-sighted and wore glasses, in speaking of this idiosyncracy of his nephew, told me that once being in the room where Mr. Rutherford had been writing a letter at his desk, unfinished, he, Rutherford, left the room. He concluded that if Mr. Rutherford would only put on his (Rust's) specks, being adapted to his eyes and seeing the great advantage they would be to him, he would forego his prejudice against the use of them. Taking off his glasses and laying them on the desk near the letter in such a way as to know whether they had been moved, he left the room and, after remaining out some time, returned. The letter was finished, sealed and directed, the spectacles untouched, lying as he had placed them. This unparalleled singularity was the cause of narrow escapes, "by flood and field", some of which I shall omit. Crossing the bridge, on one occasion, he made a misstep, plunging ten feet into the turbid creek, fortunately but little hurt. Struggling to reach the shore, his wig which was not worn on account of baldness, came off. He never wore another after the loss of this. At the marriage of the Hon. Burton Craig to Elizabeth Erwin, oldest daughter of Col. James Erwin, there were a number of guests gathered from several counties. Mr. Rutherford was one of them. He was fond of the ladies, and owing to his defective sight, when addressing them, usually brought his face very close to theirs. The wedding over, he took a seat near a belle from the valley of the Yadkin, extending his arms as though he purposed to embrace the fair one. Alarmed, she sprang to her feet, crossed the room to a vacant corner, he following close with his long arms extended. Lightly dodging under them, she made her escape, leaving the persistent pursuer, still with extended arms, moving until striking the wall of the house. He found the bird had escaped, and he was left standing, not cheered by the laughter of the merry crowd who had witnessed his discomfiture. Notwithstanding his eccentrics, he was possessed of so many good traits that he was held in the highest estimation by the best people of the county."
John Rutherford Jr was a wealthy and prominent man. He was greatly interested in education and became a close friend of a local minister, Reverend R.L. Abernethy. Upon visiting the small village of Excelsior, John at once proclaimed it an ideal spot for a town and gave his friend sufficient money to buy 200 acres to build a town. His friend founded Rutherford Academy at that location which later became Rutherford College. The college was later supported by the Methodist Church until it was forced to close in 1933.
John Rutherford Jr. was a man of wonderful information. He had collected one of the rarest and choicest libraries in that part of the state. When he became old and his eyesight failed, he advertised in a northern paper for a wife. He advertised for an Elocutionist, one who could read to him and who loved reading. His ad was answered and he married Elizabeth Camp Dennison Jennings. They lived together 10 years. He died at the age 90 leaving his young widow over $80,000. He left his large and valuable library to Rutherford College. He died 15 Mar 1880.
"John Rutherford Jr., was in many respects a remarkable man. He was somewhat quaint and eccentric. He was well-read in history and light literature. His place (home) was named after the Earl of Bridgewater, (not as many suppose, because he built a bridge crossing Muddy Creek, leading to his residence). With three maiden sisters, he lived a bachelor until he was 80 years old or more. Noted for his hospitality and benevolence, he endowed the college named for him, founded by it's successful president, R. L. Abernethy, who deserves credit, almost beyond words to express, for having given and continuing to give, an education to young men and women, fitting them for any vocation in life (so far as depends upon education), at a price so low as places almost within reach of all, and without, making large personal sacrifices. By his laudable philanthropic exertions, in this cause, he deserves an eulogy more enduring than this brief notice."
"Mr. Rutherford was myopic, what is commonly called near-sighted; so much so that he could not distinguish by form or feature his most intimate acquaintances, and, when meeting them, would never call their names until they had spoken. From long practice, and from the well-known fact that if one of the organs of the body is defective, another is strengthened; correspondingly, he had become very expert in recognizing them either by tone of voice, or enunciation of those with whom he associated, and would soon after speak to them by name. His manner was such as led them to believe that he thought he had deceived them as to his eyesight being defective, and this attempt to deceive was practiced by his own family. In proof of this, one of his sisters was asked by my mother, "Miss C., why don't you induce your brother to wear spectacles? They would be so useful and relieve him from his nearsightedness." She replied." Oh! Mrs. Walton. I would not do so on any account for fear of offending him. He does not know or suspect that we are aware of this defect." W. B. Rust, Esq., a near neighbor and maternal uncle, who, himself was near-sighted and wore glasses, in speaking of this idiosyncracy of his nephew, told me that once being in the room where Mr. Rutherford had been writing a letter at his desk, unfinished, he, Rutherford, left the room. He concluded that if Mr. Rutherford would only put on his (Rust's) specks, being adapted to his eyes and seeing the great advantage they would be to him, he would forego his prejudice against the use of them. Taking off his glasses and laying them on the desk near the letter in such a way as to know whether they had been moved, he left the room and, after remaining out some time, returned. The letter was finished, sealed and directed, the spectacles untouched, lying as he had placed them. This unparalleled singularity was the cause of narrow escapes, "by flood and field", some of which I shall omit. Crossing the bridge, on one occasion, he made a misstep, plunging ten feet into the turbid creek, fortunately but little hurt. Struggling to reach the shore, his wig which was not worn on account of baldness, came off. He never wore another after the loss of this. At the marriage of the Hon. Burton Craig to Elizabeth Erwin, oldest daughter of Col. James Erwin, there were a number of guests gathered from several counties. Mr. Rutherford was one of them. He was fond of the ladies, and owing to his defective sight, when addressing them, usually brought his face very close to theirs. The wedding over, he took a seat near a belle from the valley of the Yadkin, extending his arms as though he purposed to embrace the fair one. Alarmed, she sprang to her feet, crossed the room to a vacant corner, he following close with his long arms extended. Lightly dodging under them, she made her escape, leaving the persistent pursuer, still with extended arms, moving until striking the wall of the house. He found the bird had escaped, and he was left standing, not cheered by the laughter of the merry crowd who had witnessed his discomfiture. Notwithstanding his eccentrics, he was possessed of so many good traits that he was held in the highest estimation by the best people of the county."
John Rutherford Jr. was a man of wonderful information. He had collected one of the rarest and choicest libraries in that part of the state. When he became old and his eyesight failed, he advertised in a northern paper for a wife. He advertised for an Elocutionist, one who could read to him and who loved reading. His ad was answered and he married Elizabeth Camp Dennison Jennings. They lived together 10 years. He died at the age 90 leaving his young widow over $80,000. He left his large and valuable library to Rutherford College. He died 15 Mar 1880.
"John Rutherford Jr., was in many respects a remarkable man. He was somewhat quaint and eccentric. He was well-read in history and light literature. His place (home) was named after the Earl of Bridgewater, (not as many suppose, because he built a bridge crossing Muddy Creek, leading to his residence). With three maiden sisters, he lived a bachelor until he was 80 years old or more. Noted for his hospitality and benevolence, he endowed the college named for him, founded by it's successful president, R. L. Abernethy, who deserves credit, almost beyond words to express, for having given and continuing to give, an education to young men and women, fitting them for any vocation in life (so far as depends upon education), at a price so low as places almost within reach of all, and without, making large personal sacrifices. By his laudable philanthropic exertions, in this cause, he deserves an eulogy more enduring than this brief notice."
"Mr. Rutherford was myopic, what is commonly called near-sighted; so much so that he could not distinguish by form or feature his most intimate acquaintances, and, when meeting them, would never call their names until they had spoken. From long practice, and from the well-known fact that if one of the organs of the body is defective, another is strengthened; correspondingly, he had become very expert in recognizing them either by tone of voice, or enunciation of those with whom he associated, and would soon after speak to them by name. His manner was such as led them to believe that he thought he had deceived them as to his eyesight being defective, and this attempt to deceive was practiced by his own family. In proof of this, one of his sisters was asked by my mother, "Miss C., why don't you induce your brother to wear spectacles? They would be so useful and relieve him from his nearsightedness." She replied." Oh! Mrs. Walton. I would not do so on any account for fear of offending him. He does not know or suspect that we are aware of this defect." W. B. Rust, Esq., a near neighbor and maternal uncle, who, himself was near-sighted and wore glasses, in speaking of this idiosyncracy of his nephew, told me that once being in the room where Mr. Rutherford had been writing a letter at his desk, unfinished, he, Rutherford, left the room. He concluded that if Mr. Rutherford would only put on his (Rust's) specks, being adapted to his eyes and seeing the great advantage they would be to him, he would forego his prejudice against the use of them. Taking off his glasses and laying them on the desk near the letter in such a way as to know whether they had been moved, he left the room and, after remaining out some time, returned. The letter was finished, sealed and directed, the spectacles untouched, lying as he had placed them. This unparalleled singularity was the cause of narrow escapes, "by flood and field", some of which I shall omit. Crossing the bridge, on one occasion, he made a misstep, plunging ten feet into the turbid creek, fortunately but little hurt. Struggling to reach the shore, his wig which was not worn on account of baldness, came off. He never wore another after the loss of this. At the marriage of the Hon. Burton Craig to Elizabeth Erwin, oldest daughter of Col. James Erwin, there were a number of guests gathered from several counties. Mr. Rutherford was one of them. He was fond of the ladies, and owing to his defective sight, when addressing them, usually brought his face very close to theirs. The wedding over, he took a seat near a belle from the valley of the Yadkin, extending his arms as though he purposed to embrace the fair one. Alarmed, she sprang to her feet, crossed the room to a vacant corner, he following close with his long arms extended. Lightly dodging under them, she made her escape, leaving the persistent pursuer, still with extended arms, moving until striking the wall of the house. He found the bird had escaped, and he was left standing, not cheered by the laughter of the merry crowd who had witnessed his discomfiture. Notwithstanding his eccentrics, he was possessed of so many good traits that he was held in the highest estimation by the best people of the county."
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