Joseph Rucker was a member of the prominent land-owning Rucker family of Ruckersville, Elbert County, Georgia. He was born January 5, 1788 to John Rucker (1759-1799) and Elizabeth Tinsley. He married Margaret Houston Speer from Cherokee Ford, SC in 1812. His family had migrated ffrom Orange County, Virginia and acquired large land holdings in the 1700's in Georgia. Joseph settled on the headwaters of Van's Creek, Elbert County, Georgia. He named the growing community Ruckersville after his father's hometown in Virginia. At one time, Joseph Rucker owned as many as 12 plantations and was called 'Squire' Rucker. He was also known as 'Georgia's First Millionaire. The Civil War devastated all of Joseph's plantations, including his home plantation called Cedar Grove. Without slave labor, the plantations could not produce crops for sale. Like thousands of other planters in the South, Joseph and Margaret witnessed the end of a way of life. Unlike many, Joseph was cash-rich and probably managed to save some of the family fortune. Joseph and Margaret died during the darkest days of the war; he on August 27, 1864 and she nine days later on September 5. Thus the inscription on their monument is fitting: "United during their long lives and in death they were not divided."
Joseph Rucker was a member of the prominent land-owning Rucker family of Ruckersville, Elbert County, Georgia. He was born January 5, 1788 to John Rucker (1759-1799) and Elizabeth Tinsley. He married Margaret Houston Speer from Cherokee Ford, SC in 1812. His family had migrated ffrom Orange County, Virginia and acquired large land holdings in the 1700's in Georgia. Joseph settled on the headwaters of Van's Creek, Elbert County, Georgia. He named the growing community Ruckersville after his father's hometown in Virginia. At one time, Joseph Rucker owned as many as 12 plantations and was called 'Squire' Rucker. He was also known as 'Georgia's First Millionaire. The Civil War devastated all of Joseph's plantations, including his home plantation called Cedar Grove. Without slave labor, the plantations could not produce crops for sale. Like thousands of other planters in the South, Joseph and Margaret witnessed the end of a way of life. Unlike many, Joseph was cash-rich and probably managed to save some of the family fortune. Joseph and Margaret died during the darkest days of the war; he on August 27, 1864 and she nine days later on September 5. Thus the inscription on their monument is fitting: "United during their long lives and in death they were not divided."
Inscription
In Memory of Joseph and Margaret Rucker -- United during their long lives and in death they were not divided.
Family Members
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