History of the Reeves-Ruder Farm
This evening, Grandma and I were going through some old family history to ensure accuracy of the "sesquicentennial farm" status. In doing so, we pieced together a bit of family history and the origins of the house and this little corner of the town of Wheatland. The story that i've pieced together goes something like this:
It's the mid 1830's and a father, brother, and young son of the Nooks family moves to "6 south 1 west" and help establish the town of Wheatland in the same-named township (which, by 1845, consisted only of a general store, two churches, and a dozen or so families). Young Sarah Nooks (sister to the young son) continues living in New Jersey with the main family. 15-or-so years go by and Sarah is now married to Augustus Reeves. They look to establish their budding family in the new state (it's only twenty years old at the time!) so they travel from New Jersey to Michigan, by way of Canada, and find their way to Hillsdale County. The year is 1855 and Augustus makes a purchase of 30 acres here in Wheatland Township. Sarah and Augustus have only one son, Frank Augustus Reeves, who adds a ten acre parcel to his property. Frank marries (although, I do not remember this gal's name. She is a gal from Grand Rapids) and they have only one daughter, Lonita Reeves. And, in a nutshell, Lonita marries George Ruder, who then takes possession of the farm; they have one son and four daughters; the son, William Augustus Ruder (my grandfather), takes over the farm. As of his passing last year, the farmhouse and 30 acres are still in possession of his wife, Teresa.
HOW INTERESTING! Can't wait to dig deeper into the Hillsdale history books to find more information!
It's the mid 1830's and a father, brother, and young son of the Nooks family moves to "6 south 1 west" and help establish the town of Wheatland in the same-named township (which, by 1845, consisted only of a general store, two churches, and a dozen or so families). Young Sarah Nooks (sister to the young son) continues living in New Jersey with the main family. 15-or-so years go by and Sarah is now married to Augustus Reeves. They look to establish their budding family in the new state (it's only twenty years old at the time!) so they travel from New Jersey to Michigan, by way of Canada, and find their way to Hillsdale County. The year is 1855 and Augustus makes a purchase of 30 acres here in Wheatland Township. Sarah and Augustus have only one son, Frank Augustus Reeves, who adds a ten acre parcel to his property. Frank marries (although, I do not remember this gal's name. She is a gal from Grand Rapids) and they have only one daughter, Lonita Reeves. And, in a nutshell, Lonita marries George Ruder, who then takes possession of the farm; they have one son and four daughters; the son, William Augustus Ruder (my grandfather), takes over the farm. As of his passing last year, the farmhouse and 30 acres are still in possession of his wife, Teresa.
HOW INTERESTING! Can't wait to dig deeper into the Hillsdale history books to find more information!