Past & Present of Bureau County, IL  1906

WILLIAM RUCK

William RUCK is one of the citizens of worth in Fairfield township, where for the past eleven years he has served as assessor, and the fair and impartial as well as prompt manner in which he has discharged his duties is manifest in his long continuance in the office. His business interests are those of a farmer and stock-raiser, and his farm is on sections 9 and 16, Fairfield Township, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land. This has been well improved

largely by Mr. RUCK, who has resided upon this place since March, 1899. He had formerly made his home near Thomas, in Fairfield township, and his residence in this township altogether covers a period of twenty-six years.

Mr. RUCK is a native of Dover township, born in 1858, his father being George RUCK, who died in April, 1902, at the age of seventy-nine years. He came to Bureau county in 1852, and after working for a year in Dover township at farm labor he removed to Fairfield township and purchased eighty acres of land near the village of Thomas. To this he added as  his financial resources increased, until he owned three hundred and sixty acres in Fairfield township and one hundred and sixty acres in Tampico township, Whiteside county. His life furnishes an excellent example of business activity and integrity. He served for many years as highway commissioner, and gave his politcal allegiance to the democracy. As a man and citizen he enjoyed to the fulles txtent the confidence, good will and respect of all who knew hhim. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth STALLARD was born in Gloucestershire,. England, which was also the birthplace of Mr. RUCK. They were married in that country and one child had been born unto them ere their emigration to the new world. For a brief period they tarried in New York, but soon afterward came to this county. Mrs. RUCK survived her husband for about four years and died in January, 1906, at the age of seventy-eight. This worhty couple were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are yet living, and all were reared upon the old home farm in Fairfield township. These are: Mrs. Annie GOEMBEL, of Prophetstown, Illinois; William, of this review; Fred, now a retired farmer, living in Tampico; Mrs. Alic KOPP, of Audubon county, Iowa; John, of Bailey, Michigann; Joseph, of Kenton, Michigan, and Lottie, who is living in Peoria. Charles and Mrs. Bessie Holwett also of this family , both passed away several years ago.

William RUCK was reared in Fairfield township, where he has spent the greater part of his life, and the work of the afarm early became familiar to him and has been to him a source of livelihood since he attained man’s estate. He was married in Kewanee, Illinois, to Miss Elizabeth MOON, of Henry county, Illinois, a daughrter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen MOON, early residents of this state.Her father died in 1872, but her mother is still living. In their family were six children: Seth, who resides in Annawan, Illinois; Thomas, whose home is in Henry coutny; Mrs. Ellen BOOTH, also fo Henry county; Hannah, at home; and Mary, the wife of Fred RUCK of Tampico, a borther of our subject. Unto Mr. and Mrs. William RUCK have been born two sons: Eugene W., who at the age of twenty-tow years is an electrician in Rock Island, Illinois, and George Stephen, who was eighteen years of age on the 5^th of October, 1906, and is attending Brown’ Business College at Moline, Illinois.

Politically, Mr. RUCK is an independent prohibitionist, who believes firmly in the principles of the party, but knowing how impossible it is to elect its candidates, he frequenly votes for the best candidates of  other parties. He has erved for eight years as highway commissioner of Fairfield township, and has for years been a school trustee. Matters relating to the public welfare and those interests which are of general moment elicit his attention and receive his indorsement. (sic) Socially he is connected with th Modern Woodmen camp att Yorktown, and the family are all members of the Christina church thre. They are prominent, too, socially, and have many warm friends in this part of the state.