WILLIAM DAGGETT RUBY BIOGRAPHY AS RECORDED IN: COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND
OF MANY PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903 P. 930
WILLIAM DAGGETT RUBY. This influential citizen of Willington, Tolland county, successful beyond ordinary measure in business, a farmer of large estate, thoroughly familiar with the affairs of the world, a leading spirit in local politics, enterprising and public spirited, is the representative of an old Connecticut family. Mr. Rubys great-great grandfather James Ruby married Abigail Smith Adams, the daughter of John Adams, second President of the United States. James Ruby, Jr., the great grandfather of William Daggett, was born in Nova Scotia. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He married June 19, 1777, Esther Howe who died Nov. 17, 1834. To James and Esther (Howe) Ruby were born six children, namely: James, who married Mary Lamb, of Ashford, Conn.; Thomas, twin brother of James and the grandfather of William Daggett; Polly, who married Jason Ferry; John; Esther, who married Chauncey Ferry; and Lucinda, who married Daniel Steers. Thomas Ruby, grandfather of William Daggett, was born in Union, Conn.,
Sept. 28, 1778. He was a life long farmer and a man of active temperament.
He married Feb. 11, 1801, Betsey Fuller of Stafford, daughter of William
Fuller a soldier of the Revolutionary war. A family of fourteen children
were born to Thomas and Betsey Ruby, namely: (1) Orvilla, who married Paris
H. Bowers, of Thompson, Conn.; (2) Amanda, who married a Mr. Howard of
Palmer, Mass.; (3) Betsey, who married Nathaniel Sibley; (4) Annis, who
married Daniel Steers; (5) James, father of William Daggett; (6) Esther
who died young; (7) Thomas Howe, who married Almeda Potter, of Willington;
(8) Ariel Fuller, who died aged eighteen years; (9) Achsah, who married
William Harvey of Palmer, Mass.; (10) Edmund, who died young; (11) Julianne,
who James Ruby, the father of William Daggett, was born in Union, Conn.,
May 13, 1807. In his younger days he engaged in the work then common among
ambitious and energetic young men, that of peddling tinware through the
New England States. His life pursuit however, was farming in connection
with which he engaged in lumbering to some extent. In politics he was a
Democrat, but he never sought office. In Union, however, he was elected
to a number of the town offices. He married Feb. 3, 1831, Nancy W. Daggett,
who was born in Thompson, Conn., March 8, 1808, daughter of Jesse and William Daggett Ruby, was born June 14, 1844, in the Willington residence
which he now occupies. He was a lad of eleven years when his father died
and business responsibilities fell upon his willing shoulders at a very
early age. His education was received in the Willington schools but when
sixteen years old he bade good-bye to school books and entered upon that
active career which has made him one of the most prominent men of Willington.
He continued on his own account the lumbering business which his father
had carried on and extended it to great proportions. For many years he
had a contract with the railroad and he supplied the Stafford factories
with large quantities of wood for fuel. He has bought and sold land quite
extensively. He early took up the care of the home farm of 200 acres and
has since purchased several hundred additional acres of woodland. Using
a modern term, Mr. Ruby would be called a hustler and it is
his energy and indomitable will that have won for him a signal financial
success in life. He has throughout his conspicuous career ever been ready
to put his own shoulder to the wheel, and while at times the employer of
many men Mr. Ruby married March 13, 1872, Sarah E. Barrett, of Tolland, daughter of Corlis and Rhoda (Doolittle) Barrett. Six children have been born to Mr. And Mrs. Ruby, as follows: Lottie B., born Dec. 31, 1872, married Benjamin Arnold, of Harwich, Mass., and died June 10, 1897; James W., born March 9, 1874, died May 22, 1892; Wilbert C., born June 18, 1875, married Alice B. Fenton, of Stafford, and is engaged in business with his father; Alphonso M., born May 2, 1877, is engaged in lumbering in Yantic, Conn.; Herman D., born Oct. 22, 1879, died Jan. 27, 1882; Hazel M., born Oct. 28, 1899, is at home. Mr. Ruby is in politics a staunch Republican and has been prominently
identified with his party in town affairs. He has served as a member of
the board of selectmen since 1885, and has also been on the board of relief.
For four years he was tax collector, and he has served as constable. He
represented the town in the State Legislature in 1875, serving on the committee
on Highways and Bridges. He is prominent in fraternal circles and is a
member of the F.&A.M., and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen of
Stafford, Conn. He is an attendant at the M.E. Church of Moose Meadow, Reproduced by: Linda D. Pingel great-great granddaughter of Cyrus White of Rockville, Ct.
Biographies of Tolland County |