CHARLES ARTHUR RULAND
Birth: 20 Mar 1868
Death: 24 Nov 1956
(age 88 years, 8 months, 4 days)
(Quotations are from C.A. Ruland’s journal, which he kept
from 1888 to 1937)
Charles Arthur Ruland, my grandfather, came to Parker County from Wisconsin in 1886 with his parents, Amos and Mary Ruland. Amos was a Union soldier in the Civil War. The couple settled in Cresson with their four children: Delbert, Charles, Etta and Pearl.
“November 17, 1890 – Left home for the first time, had $125 in money and two horses.”
Charlie was a farmer and stockman all his life. In the 1890’s after his father’s death, he worked on his mother’s ranch in Cresson.
“May 2, 1895 – Jeff Coats put in pasture 25 steers at 30cts per head a month.”
In 1898 Charlie was 31 years old and unmarried. He had seen some of the world, made some observations, and drew some conclusions. “The saloon and racetrack are two bad places for a young man. Both will corrupt his morals and sink his soul in perdition.”
On the first day of December of that year he entered into his journal, “A new way of getting into the hole” and listed numerous items obviously purchased to set up housekeeping in anticipation of his forthcoming marriage to Mollie Catherine Braselton on March 19, 1899.
My grandmother was the daughter of Walter Marion and Lucinda Braselton. W. M. Braselton came to Parker County from Georgia around 1870. He was a Confederate soldier in the Civil War. Mollie’s earliest ancestor in America was John Brazelton who emigrated to Frederick County, Maryland around 1730. Her great-great grandfather Jacob Braselton, John’s son, fought in the Revolutionary War and his grave in Jackson County, Georgia is marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mollie had two brothers, Gus V. and Stephen, and three sisters, Emma, Malissia, and Lillie.
Charlie and Mollie were living in Cresson in 1900 when my mother Allie was born. They continued living there until after the birth of Jim.
“Monday night October 7, 1901, the long drought on Bear Creek broke up. Rained last on the 27th day of May. Was dry 133 days – feed scarce and high…”
In 1904 they moved to their home place ten miles North of Weatherford. Andy, Custer, Jewell, Bud, and Lucille were born there. The Ruland family prospered and their children began to grow up.
“Don’t see how much you can spend foolishly, but how much you can save judiciously if you wish to be a rich old man.”
Allie married George Nicholson and moved to Brownfield in 1937. Jim married Lillie Jones and lived on the Braselton place for 46 years. Custer married Marie Parker and lived in Parker County all his life. On the first day of January 1928 Andy and Bud headed west to Colorado. Andy married Lucille Morris and settled in Montana. Bud married Marge Thompson and settled in Greeley, Colorado. Jewell married Roy Thomas and their home is in Fort Worth. Lucy married Hugh Eagle and their home is in Azle.
“September 15, 1936, drought broke – four months, two days – one inch rain.”
The Rulands were well known for their Saturday night dances at their ranch when neighbors and friends gathered and cousins came for the weekend.
“My religion consists of treating everybody as near right as I know. C.A.R.”
In 1942 Charlie and Mollie sold their ranch and moved to Weatherford. He died on November 25, 1956 when he was 89; she died four months later on March 21, 1957 when she was 79.
“Be good to your wife, be good to yourself, be good to your neighbors, be good and do good and you will be happy. C.A.R.”
Written by Annie Nicholson Drake (granddaughter of Charles Ruland)
Photo Courtesy of Robert Lang (great grandson of Charles Ruland)
Charles Arthur Ruland, my grandfather, came to Parker County from Wisconsin in 1886 with his parents, Amos and Mary Ruland. Amos was a Union soldier in the Civil War. The couple settled in Cresson with their four children: Delbert, Charles, Etta and Pearl.
“November 17, 1890 – Left home for the first time, had $125 in money and two horses.”
Charlie was a farmer and stockman all his life. In the 1890’s after his father’s death, he worked on his mother’s ranch in Cresson.
“May 2, 1895 – Jeff Coats put in pasture 25 steers at 30cts per head a month.”
In 1898 Charlie was 31 years old and unmarried. He had seen some of the world, made some observations, and drew some conclusions. “The saloon and racetrack are two bad places for a young man. Both will corrupt his morals and sink his soul in perdition.”
On the first day of December of that year he entered into his journal, “A new way of getting into the hole” and listed numerous items obviously purchased to set up housekeeping in anticipation of his forthcoming marriage to Mollie Catherine Braselton on March 19, 1899.
My grandmother was the daughter of Walter Marion and Lucinda Braselton. W. M. Braselton came to Parker County from Georgia around 1870. He was a Confederate soldier in the Civil War. Mollie’s earliest ancestor in America was John Brazelton who emigrated to Frederick County, Maryland around 1730. Her great-great grandfather Jacob Braselton, John’s son, fought in the Revolutionary War and his grave in Jackson County, Georgia is marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mollie had two brothers, Gus V. and Stephen, and three sisters, Emma, Malissia, and Lillie.
Charlie and Mollie were living in Cresson in 1900 when my mother Allie was born. They continued living there until after the birth of Jim.
“Monday night October 7, 1901, the long drought on Bear Creek broke up. Rained last on the 27th day of May. Was dry 133 days – feed scarce and high…”
In 1904 they moved to their home place ten miles North of Weatherford. Andy, Custer, Jewell, Bud, and Lucille were born there. The Ruland family prospered and their children began to grow up.
“Don’t see how much you can spend foolishly, but how much you can save judiciously if you wish to be a rich old man.”
Allie married George Nicholson and moved to Brownfield in 1937. Jim married Lillie Jones and lived on the Braselton place for 46 years. Custer married Marie Parker and lived in Parker County all his life. On the first day of January 1928 Andy and Bud headed west to Colorado. Andy married Lucille Morris and settled in Montana. Bud married Marge Thompson and settled in Greeley, Colorado. Jewell married Roy Thomas and their home is in Fort Worth. Lucy married Hugh Eagle and their home is in Azle.
“September 15, 1936, drought broke – four months, two days – one inch rain.”
The Rulands were well known for their Saturday night dances at their ranch when neighbors and friends gathered and cousins came for the weekend.
“My religion consists of treating everybody as near right as I know. C.A.R.”
In 1942 Charlie and Mollie sold their ranch and moved to Weatherford. He died on November 25, 1956 when he was 89; she died four months later on March 21, 1957 when she was 79.
“Be good to your wife, be good to yourself, be good to your neighbors, be good and do good and you will be happy. C.A.R.”
Written by Annie Nicholson Drake (granddaughter of Charles Ruland)
Photo Courtesy of Robert Lang (great grandson of Charles Ruland)