Ruel Edward was born 23 of February, 1878,in Sycamore, Illinois. His father Thomas Ruel was 37 and his mother, Sarah, was 38 when Ruel was born. He spent his early childhood in Illinois. By 1896 the family was living in Anderson, Indiana.

On April 25, 1898, when the United States declared war on Spain. On April 26, 1898, Ruel enrolled as a private in the 160th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, Company L.
He immediately proved to be a good soldier and leader. He was to serve his country for the remainder of his life.

Ruel was mustered out of service on April 25, 1899. He returned to Indiana and on May 5, 1900, Ruel married Mary Gertrude Thayer. Together they were to have three children, Paul, Carmen and Jack.

Ruel became chief of the Detroit area immigration border patrol. After only two years in that position, Ruel was asked by the Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins, to come to Washington as supervisor of both the North and South Border Patrol Services. He spent a great deal of time traveling the borders of our country. He often patrolled the borders on foot or horseback. He dearly loved his country and was deeply dedicated to protecting its borders.

Following his work in Washington he returned to the Detroit area. He retired from service July 30, 1942, with the rank of colonel. He and Gertrude moved to Lewiston, Michigan, and Ruel became the head of the draft board for that area. He lived his retirement in a log cabin home in Lewiston, Michigan, moving there in about 1945.

Ruel died June 15, 1961. He is buried next to his wife, Gertrude, in the Lewiston Cemetery.

Biography from the book A Journey Through Time with the Davenport Family of New York and the Midwest by Emma Sue Davenport.

Ruel Edward was born 23 of February, 1878,in Sycamore, Illinois. His father Thomas Ruel was 37 and his mother, Sarah, was 38 when Ruel was born. He spent his early childhood in Illinois. By 1896 the family was living in Anderson, Indiana.

On April 25, 1898, when the United States declared war on Spain. On April 26, 1898, Ruel enrolled as a private in the 160th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, Company L.
He immediately proved to be a good soldier and leader. He was to serve his country for the remainder of his life.

Ruel was mustered out of service on April 25, 1899. He returned to Indiana and on May 5, 1900, Ruel married Mary Gertrude Thayer. Together they were to have three children, Paul, Carmen and Jack.

Ruel became chief of the Detroit area immigration border patrol. After only two years in that position, Ruel was asked by the Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins, to come to Washington as supervisor of both the North and South Border Patrol Services. He spent a great deal of time traveling the borders of our country. He often patrolled the borders on foot or horseback. He dearly loved his country and was deeply dedicated to protecting its borders.

Following his work in Washington he returned to the Detroit area. He retired from service July 30, 1942, with the rank of colonel. He and Gertrude moved to Lewiston, Michigan, and Ruel became the head of the draft board for that area. He lived his retirement in a log cabin home in Lewiston, Michigan, moving there in about 1945.

Ruel died June 15, 1961. He is buried next to his wife, Gertrude, in the Lewiston Cemetery.

Biography from the book A Journey Through Time with the Davenport Family of New York and the Midwest by Emma Sue Davenport.