HIS HEART FAILS HIM
	GILBERT J RUGG  DIES
	SEATED IN A CHAIR

	END COMES AT HOME OF 
	HENRY FRASER
	END MAN GOES AS AN
	APPRAISER.

	While seated in a chair in the sitting room of the home of Mr. and Mrs.Henry Fraser on Olean Street, Tatnuck, yesterday afternoon shortly after 3 o'clock, Gilbert J. Rugg, vice-president of Worcester five cents savings bank, ex-alderman and ex-representative, was seized with heart failure and died almost instantly.  He was 70 years old, 10 months and 10 days.

	Mr. Rugg went  to the home of the Frasers to get a value on certain property for the bank.  The house is a short distance from the trolley car line, and Mrs. Fraser says that when Mr. Rugg arrived there, he looked tired.  When she remarked to him that it must have been hard for him to walk through the snow, she says he replied that he didn't mind it a great deal, because he had walked slowly.

	After a moment's further conservation, Mrs. Fraser said she stepped into another room, and when she returned less than two minutes later, she found Mr. Rugg with his bowed, upon his breast.  Upon trying to revive him, she discovered he was dead.

	She then hurried to the nearest telephone and wired the news to the Worcester five cents savings bank.  Assistant treasurer Frederick B.  Washburn and Accountant Myron F. Converse went to Fraser's house in a carriage, and upon their arrival Medical examiner.H. Baker was summoned.  He pronounced death to be due to heart disease.

	Last night the body was removed to Mr. Rugg's home,809 Main Street.

	Up to the moment of the fatal shock, Mr. Rugg was apparently in good health.  He hadn't complained of illness.  Yesterday forenoon he accompanied his daughter, Mrs. Alice Howard, Harrisburg,Pa. to the union passenger station on her departure for home.

	In church among fire insurance men and with amateur sportsmen, as well among business and political leaders and representatives of the Masonic fraternity in Worcester,Mr. Rugg was prominent.  For several years he was foremost among Worcester county trap shooters and won several championships.

	About 20 years ago he served two terms as alderman, and in 1905 and 1906 he represented old Ward 6 in the lower branch of the legislature.  In the last republican caucuses he was defeated by Lucian B. Stone.

	After an active connection with the concern for 50 years, Mr. Rugg retired from the woodworking machinery business, Rugg and Richardson Co. consolidated with Hobbs manufacturing Company.  After the merger Mr. Rugg retained a place on the directorate but took no further part in the management.

	Born in Lancaster, son of Abel and Hannah.(Jones) Rugg, Mr. Rug came to Worcester at the age of 17 years, and made the city his home continuously .  He was an indefatigable worker and a firm believer in the policy of close application to every task, however hard it might seem to be.  With the exception of a six weeks' trip to California in the spring of 1902, he took no long vacations until after his retirement from the woodworking business.  Since that time he devoted himself largely to the interest of the Worcester five cents savings bank.

Upon his arrival in Worcester he engaged with Willard Williams & Co., with whom he learned his trade.  He remained there eight years, and later was given charge of the machine work when the firm became known as Ball & Williams.

In1861 he entered the employ of Ballard Rifle Co. and in 1864 formed a partnership with L. B. Witherby and S. M. Richardson, to make woodworking machinery, the firm taking the name of Witherby, Rugg & Richardson.

In 1900, following the death of Mr. Richardson, a stock company was formed, and Mr. Rugg was elected president and George T. Witherby, son of L. B. Witherby, who died in 1891, was chosen secretary.

Mr. Rugg was a former treasurer, a trustee and life member of Morning Star lodge, A F. and A. M., and Worcester commandery, Knights templar, trustee of the permanent fund of Worcester commandery, and a trustee of the Masonic fraternity.

He was also chairman of the trustees of First Universalist church, trustee of Worcester Mutual Life Insurance Co., and a member of Worcester sportsmens club.

He leaves, beside his wife, two daughters, Mrs. Florence Mason, wife of Robert A. Mason, Worcester, and Mrs. Alice Howard, Harrisburg, Pa., and one granddaughter, Miss Hazel Rogers, Worcester; also two sisters, Mrs. Aaron Whittaker, Westboro, and Mrs. Harriet Fitch, South Hadley Falls."


Source:  "Worcester Daily Telegram" 13 Feb 1907, obituary of Gilbert J. Rugg, found in Peter Gredler's personal papers.