War of 1812 veteran—private, Maryland Militia. Richland County, Ohio, entryman and pioneer.

George Ruhl, a son of Anna Mary (née Sechrist or Siegrist) and Revolutionary War veteran Georg Wilhelm Ruhl, was born 27 January 1786 in Cordorus Township, York County, Pennsylvania.

George Ruhl and Elizabeth Prosser were married on 15 January 1807 in Baltimore County, Maryland, at the house of John Harps, a minister who performed the marriage ceremony. The couple would become the parents of seventeen children. (Fourteen of these children were named in their father's 1842 will.)

In the War of 1812, George Ruhl enlisted as a private in the Maryland Militia on 16 August 1813 in Baltimore County. Earlier that month, British forces had landed on Kent Island in Maryland's Eastern Shore, and raided nearby towns. Private Ruhl served in Captain Charles Gore's Company, and was discharged on 14 September 1813 in Baltimore. He was described in his enlistment papers as being: "a farmer thirty years of age, born in York Co. Pennsylvania about five feet, ten inches high black hair black eyes light complexion and of light build." After his military service, George Ruhl and his family resided in Baltimore County.

In fall 1814, the family of Elizabeth and George Ruhl moved to Richland County, Ohio, where a son, Charles, was born in December 1814. George Ruhl entered 160 acres in the county's Perry Township, and obtained the patents in 1831 for the northeast quarter of section 23. He farmed in that township until his death on 12 November 1842 at Bellville, Richland County

In 1871—nearly 58 years after George Ruhl's discharge from the Maryland Militia—his widow Elizabeth Ruhl received a warrant for 160 acres of Federal land for his military service. In 1878, Elizabeth Ruhl applied for a widow's pension, the records for which confirm their marriage on 15 January 1807, his militia service, and his death and place of death.

Notes

Georg Ruhl, son of Wilhelm Ruhl, was born on 27 Jan 1786 and was christened on 26 Mar 1786 at Saint Jacob's (Stone) Church, Broadbecks, York Co., Pennsylvania. ("Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V2FC-JQ7 : accessed 11 December 2014), Georg Ruhl, 26 Mar 1786; Christening, citing SAINT JACOBS STONE LUTHERAN AND REFORMED CHURCH, BRODBECKS,YORK, PENNSYLVANIA; FHL microfilm 1,414,855.)

Cordorus Township borders Baltimore County, Maryland.

"George Ruhl, was born about the year 1788, in Pennsylvania, and migrated to Richland Co., and settled on Sec. 13, Perry Township, in the fall of 1812; he had seventeen children—Washington, Levi, Amos, Jeremiah, Adam, Charles, Isaac, David, William, Sarah, Hannah, John, George, Henry, Elias, Elizabeth and Elijah. He entered the land upon which his son [John] now resides; he came from York Co., Penn., in a wagon, and was obliged to cut his road from Bellville to the place he settled. The Indians frequently visited his cabin, and borrowed cooking pots, dishes and other things, which they always returned according to promise." (Bio. of John Ruhl in: History of Richland County, Ohio (Mansfield, Ohio: A. A. Graham & Co., 1880), p. 862.)

• It is possible that George Ruhl visited Ohio in 1812, but he did not relocate there until fall 1814. Son Adam was born in January 1813 in Pennsylvania; son Charles was born December 1814 in Richland County, Ohio.

1810 U.S. Census, Baltimore Co., Maryland. Two George "Rule" households: one in Mine Run Hundred, one in Pipe Creek and North Hundred.

• Charles Gore, who later commanded the company in which Private Ruhl served, enumerated in Pipe Creek and North Hundred.

"George Ruhl, of Richland County, Ohio," received on 28 Nov 1818 the patent to the southeast quarter of Section 36 of Township 19N, Range 20W—now in North Bloomfield Twp., Morrow Co., Ohio. (U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records; images of original patents.)

• Sons Amos and Jeremiah Ruhl later farmed this land.

1820 U.S. Census, Perry Twp., Richland Co., Ohio; first page, second-to-last line: George Rule. Household of 11 persons, including 7 males under age 10.

Perry Township, Richland County List of Property Subject To Taxation, 1828: George Rhule.

1830 U.S. Census, Perry Twp., Richland Co., Ohio; line 2, p. 43 (printed), p. 1 (written). Household of George "Rhule," male aged 40 to 50.

"George Ruhl, of Richland County, Ohio," obtained on 1 July 1831 patents on two 80-acre plots: the east and west halves of the northeast quarter of section 23, Perry Township, Richland County. (U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records; images of original patents.)

"Elizabeth Ruhl of Richland County, Ohio" received on 6 August 1834 the patent for 80 acres in Section 30 of Township 19, Range 20, then in Richland County, Ohio's, Bloomfield Township, now in Morrow County, Ohio's, North Bloomfield Township. (U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records; image of original patent.)

1840 U.S. Census, [Perry Twp.] Richland Co., Ohio; line 15, p. 222 (printed). Household of George Ruhl, male aged 50 to 60.

• Perry Township is not marked on the census sheet, but location confirmed by other township entrymen and landowners.

Will of "George Ruhl of Richland County and State of Ohio," 8 Nov 1842. Levi Ruhl and William Ruhl, executors.

"9th. At the death of my wife the real estate aforesaid and such part of the said personal property or proceeds thereof [...] and all moneys and effects I give and devise to my children or their heirs to be equally divided amongst them to viz Levi, Amos, Jeremiah, Adam, Charles, Isaac, William, Sally Ann, Hannah, John, George, Henry, Elizabeth & Elijah [...]" ("Ohio, Probate Records, 1789-1996," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-31305-3743-26?cc=1992421&wc=M934-FFZ:n293648443 : accessed 15 Dec 2013), Richland Administration records 1838-1844 vol 3-4 image 439 of 703.)

"Elizabeth Ruhl widow of George Ruhl Private Captain Gore's Company Maryland Militia War of 1812" received on 25 Apr 1871 a warrant (number 107161) for 160 acres in Bayfield Co., Wisconsin. William E. Rogers was the final assignee. (U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records; image of original warrant.)

Given that the birth and death dates appear to be accurate, George Ruhl was aged 56 years, 9 months, and 16 days when he died.

Elizabeth Ruhl submitted a War of 1812 Claim of Widow for Pension form on 24 Apr 1878 in Holt Co., Missouri. She stated: "that her said husband George Ruhl, died at Belleville, in the State of Ohio, on the 12th day of November, A. D. 1842, and she further declares that the following have been the places of residence of herself and her said husband since the date of his discharge from the Army, viz: Baltimore County Maryland till the fall of 1814. Moved to Richland County Ohio and remained till March 21st 1868 and have remained here since. "

• Bellville is in Richland County's Jefferson Township, which borders Perry Township.

Regarding the spelling of George's surname, "Ruhl" appears on his most authoritative primary-source records: baptism, military, land patent, will, land warrant granted to his widow for his military service, and widow's application for a pension. The name is spelled "Rule" in the 1810 and 1820 U.S. Censuses, but census records are secondary sources. A fundamental requirement of all F-A-G memorials is that they be respectful. Consequently this F-A-G memorial is marked with the spelling preferred by the deceased and his descendants, rather than the spelling used by an unknown stonecutter.

Reviewed 12 April 2023.