Kentucky:  A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 3rd ed.,
1886.  Barren County.

REV. JAMES J. RUDDELL was born August 21, 1829, in Maury County, Tenn.,
and in early childhood removed with his parents to Lincoln County, and
in 1846 to Todd County, Ky., and in 1858 to Hopkins County. In 1854 he
was licensed to preach at Mount Pleasant Church in Todd County, and in
1860 became a member of the Louisville Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South, and as an itinerant minister was, in 1860,
stationed at Hopkins County; in 1863 in Crittenden County; in 1866 in
Warren County; in 1868 in Hardin County; in 1871 in Scottsville; in
1874, on account of throat trouble, he ceased to travel, and in 1875
located in Barren County, where he has since resided, sustaining a
supernumerary relation to his confidence.  His father, William H.
Ruddell, a native of Bedford County, Tenn., was born in 1805, and died
in Hopkins County in 1859.  He married Elizabeth E., daughter of
Benjamin and Birchett Hester, of Bedford County (born 1810, now living),
and from their union sprang James J., Stephen H., Minerva J. (Lyon),
Benjamin, Martha P. (Moore), and Penelope (Moore).  Rev. Mr. Ruddell has
been twice married; first, in 1850, to Elizabeth, daughter of James S.
and Priscilla (Harris) Lyon, of Logan County (born in 1827, died in
1857), and to them were born Elvira P. A. (Reece) and Mary F. Rhoades.
He next married, in 1859, Mary E., daughter of James and Mary M.
(Griffin) Bruce of Lincoln County, Tenn.  She was born February 19,
1835, and from this union there is no issue.  In 1881 Mr. Ruddell
commenced business as a general merchant and dealer in leaf tobacco, and
has met with encouraging success in his venture.  His itinerant career
left him in poverty and with shattered health, but by industry and a
close attention to business, he has secured a comfortable competency.
He owns 103 acres of productive land, dwelling house, storehouse,
warehouses, and stock of goods.  He is a Mason of the Royal Select
degree of the Council; also a member of the I. O. F. F., and in politics
is a Democrat.

Ruddell Griffin Hester Harris Lyon Moore Reece Rhoades Bruce
=
Bedford-TN Crittenden Hardin Hopkins Lincoln Lincoln-TN Logan
Louisville-Jefferson Maury-TN Todd Warren

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/barren/ruddell.jj.txt