Note: The marriage license for Mr. William E. Rutencutter of Mason, West Va. and Miss Sadie (Sarah) F. Jarrott of Mason, West Va. was ascertained by J.P.R. B. Smith, Clerk of the County Court of Mason County, West Virginia on March 3, 1885. William was 27 years, and Sadie was 26 years. He was born in Pleasants County, Virginia; she was born in Kanawha County, Virginia. The Minister's Return or Endorsement: I J. Engle a Minister of the Gospel in the M.E. Church do certify that on the 4 day of March 1885, at the residence of Lemuel Jarrott, in Mason County, State of West Virginia, I united in Marriage, the above named and described parties, by authority of the foregoing License.
The State Gazette published a large Business Edition for the entire county in January, 1894. In the list of businesses in Mason City (population 1,500): Mason and Pomeroy Brick Co. [closed by 1900]
Hope Salt and Coal Co. [mined coal to fuel their furnace for saltmaking] W.E. Ruttencutter. Opposite O.R.R. [Ohio River Railroad] Depot. Cash dealer in drygoods, notions, fancy goods, hardware, paint, oil, varnish, glass, window glass, queensware, fancy and staple groceries, provisions, flour, feed, etc.[a flourishing general store] In 1888, it was announced in the State Gazette:
W.E. Ruttencutter has added very much to the appearance of his store at Mason by the addition of a glass front. This enables him to show up to good advantage his stock of goods to which he has annexed a room of special Christmas goods."
In a later item we learn: July, 1890. "Saturday two men called at Wm. Ruttencutter's store as if to make purchases. After they had stepped out, Miss Mary Jarrott, William's sister-in-law and one of the clerks, missed several items. She went in search of and found one of the men and told him she would search him. He could not resist as he had a shirt under his arm, but she found a pocket-book, and after that there were several pocketbooks found on this person. Everything was recovered except one pair of socks. No arrests were made."
Note: In Nov. 1896, a story told of a meeting of the Grand Lodge I00F of West Virginia at Hinton. At this meeting W.E. Ruttencutter of Mason was elected Grand Warden. The comment, "This is a worthy compliment, and no one could bear the honor more modestly than the jolly, accomodating citizen of Mason City."
Note: It seems that W.E. Ruttencutter's intellect & expressive qualities were known about town.
March 1898. A cake was chanced off at the joint debate at Mason City last Friday night, and Prof. Virgil A. Lewis was the lucky man. His number, 426, was the one that "took the cake." It was made by Mrs. E. Bletner and donated to the Union College Society. ....
A debate followed, and judges were Prof. L. W. Philson of Racine, Rev. A. Merrils and W.E. Ruttencutter of Mason, E.C. Davis of Pomeroy, and J. Morris Chapman of Hartford. The question was: Resolved, that nature has more to do with the formation of character than education. The decision of the judges was in favor of the negative, taken by the Pomeroy boys.
Note: Will, 57, and Sadie, 52, had their two daughters at home. Katie was 24, and Willie was 20. Both of the young women were listed as single, although Katie had married Will Foglesong in 1908 and was pregnant with Evelyn. Will Ruttencutter's occupation was merchant of a general store.
Note: HONORED BY MASONS FOR FIFTY YEARS OF SERVICE
Clifton Lodge, a. F. & A. M. at Mason, met Saturday evening January 11th., Roy Hoffman, Worshipful Master, and honored one of their membership, Mr. W. E. Ruttencutter, who has achieved 50 years of continuous membership and service. This honored and highly beloved Free Mason, and citizen, is 82 years of age and is still vigorous in both mind and body. He looks many years younger.
Charles Jamison of Huntington, in behalf of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia, presented Mr. Ruttencutter with the Fifty-Year Service Button. Responding, Mr. Ruttencutter that, though 82 years old, he is in good health, has neither aches nor pains and was never sick a day in his life. He is active in the affairs of his lodge.
At the conclusion of the happy occasion a delicious lunch was served to all present. [I wonder who made the lunch!]
I just received your letter which contained a beautiful birthday card, and also, a check for $5.00, which, also looks good to me. I want to assure you all, of my high appreciation of both. But there is something else to be considered--the kindly spirit which prompted this very kind and generous deed. The near approach of my eighty second birthday finds me enjoying my usual good health, for which I am truly thankful to God. During my long life I have never had any sickness. Isn't that very remarkable? Your letter finds us all well, and looking forward to a pleasant Christmas.
In closing I want to assure you all that, you have my sincere wish for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Note: WILLIAM EDWIN RUTTENCUTTER--became a resident in Mason county, West Virginia, in 1874, having passed the first years of his life in Pleasants County, this State, where he was born December 8, 1858. His parents, Joshua and Sarah (Bailey) Ruttencutter, came to Mason county in 1874. William Edwin Ruttencutter is now clerking in Mason, Mason county, West Virginia, and may be addressed through the postoffice of that city.
Note: In 1894, a writer heaped a little praise on Mason, as a Chamber of Commerce might do today, and in so doing, gave a little to Mr. Ruttencutter.
"Mason City has not only the advantage of a building site not surpassed in her state, but has all the advantages to offer as a great commercial center with her unlimited coal fields and salt beds, with the finest clay in this section for brick manufacture, with cheap fuel and cheap building sites, it is destined yet to come out of the woods. Among many good people there, we cannot help but admire the pluck and energy of her leading merchant, W.E. Ruttencutter, whose business house is located near the O.R.R. depot at Mason. While he has for many years had a store experience, it was only as an assistant clerk in a company store at Mason City or New Haven where he only received a small salary, and though having no bad habits, yet he was unable to accumulate any capital. In the meantime, he was married to Miss Sadie Jarrot, and they demonstrated the old adage of two heads better than one, and while Mr. Ruttencutter clerked in New Haven, night found him home, and he opened a store in a room 10' by 12', which at small cost he made out of a coal house, and with $35.00 capital began merchandising on their own responsibility, Mrs. Ruttencutter taking charge of the store in the absence of her husband."
"Today they own one of the best store buildings between Parkersburg and Point Pleasant. It is full of saleable goods, dry goods, notions, boots, shoes, and groceries. Mr. Ruttencutter, in acknowledging his success, paid a pretty tribute to his wife, whom he said had helped until the success of the enterprise was assured."
Historical Notes
Note: Company stores
In the early years in Mason they had company stores for the coal and salt miners and workers. People had to spend their wages in the company's store. William worked for one of the company stores before he started up his own business.
Publication: Collection of miscellaneous information, including DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) papers.
Note: After his wife Sadie died in 1910, Katie and Will Foglesong moved in with Papa. Later on, he lived with them until his death in 1948. "During all of those 38 years he sat at the head of the table. Mom and Dad just put up with him. Papa didn't have a conversation at the dining table; he expounded. At every meal he carried on the conversation, and the rest of the family listened. He repeated things which he had read to impress it on his memory. Everything he read had notes in the margins. He was a scholar. He talked a lot about politics."
Note: Papa used to give me a nickle when I'd give him a glass of water. One time Jimmy pulled the onions out of Papa's beautiful vegetable garden. Jim remembers Papa saying to his son-in-law Will Foglesong, Jim's grandfather, "Now, Will, there's nothing that child could do that you should speak to him in such a tone."
Publication: Collection of miscellaneous information, including DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) papers.
Note: Papa used to say "Be not the first by which the new is tried; neither yet the last to lay the old aside." He was a great follower of William Jennings Bryant, who may be the author of this saying.
Note: Grandson Harold Brown: "Papa Ruttencutter had the nicest garden in town. He was the best gardner I ever knew." [Harold was a good vegetable gardner himself.]
Note: Papa said to grandson Don, "Donald the day will come, and you will see it, when the world will see that the greatest exercise is walking." He was a great walker, but he didn't like to talk while he walked.
Memories
Note: Oral tradition has it that Papa taught himself seven languages. Likely he learned German, French, Italian and Spanish. If you count English as one, what were the other two--Latin and Greek?
Note: Mom and Auntie were away, so Brownie (Harold Brown) and I were supposed to make lunch for Papa, our grandfather. We made something for him, including coffee. Papa said, "Boys, I like hot coffee and I like cold coffee; but I cannot stand coffee that is half way in between!"
Note: Papa's store wasn't very successful because he had no ambition, and his wife Sadie had died. He did run for Sheriff once. He was a Democrat. The Democrats had a majority, and he thought he could win; however his party ran against him because he wouldn't do what they told him to do. "You cannot be true to your convictions and be a politician," said Papa.
Publication: Collection of miscellaneous information, including DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) papers.
Note: Will ran for Sheriff, but withdrew. There was no way he could be true to his principles and be in politics. He was not able to compromise his principles.
Note: Shortly before Papa died, Donald, his grandson gave him a shave. "I've had a rougher shave and a worse shave than this, but I can't remember where or when."
Note: Papa was never an invalid. Katie Foglesong, his daughter, found him fully dressed, in his room sitting in his chair waiting for his breakfast. What a wonderful death!
William E. Ruttencutter, died in Mason WV Waggener district, 19 July 1948. Buried Adamsville. Born December 1856, age at death 89-7-11 Occupation: merchant. Born WV, Father Joshua Ruttencutter, Mother Sarah Taylor, widowed, cause of death: myocarditis, burial Adamsville, Undertaker W.H. Foglesong, physician E.R. Keig, informant Katharine Foglesong Aug 2, 1948
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