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MR. & MRS DANIEL ROWLAND	ELMER E. ROWLAND is a most public spirited citizen who ever has the interest of the community at heart, and he is also numbered among the substantial farmers of Huron county owning and operating a tract of one hundred and twenty-eight acres, in Clarksfield township.  This farm was located by this paternal grandfather, Aaron Rowland, in 1818, he having removed to this place from Connecticut.  When he settled here, this district was all wild and unimproved and much of the land was still in possession of the Indians and wild game of all kinds was abundant.  He possessed a sturdy character and with energy and determination at once began to develop and improve his farm.      DANIEL ROWLAND, the father of our subject, was reared to farm life and after reaching years of maturity, wedded Miss Harriet Chaffee.  They reared a family of four children, one son and three daughters, the sisters of our subject being: Emma who died Mar. 30, 1853, aged two years and seven days; Celia, now the wife of Dorr Twaddle, a resident of Clarksfield township; and Carrie, who died Nov. 18, 1870, aged eleven years, ten month and twenty-four days.  Eventually the father came into possession of the old home farm and through many years was identified with its cultivation.  Like his father, he took a very prominent part in community affairs and the early development and progress of Clarksfield township is due in large measure to their efforts.  Daniel Rowland departed this life Sept. 24, 1881, and he was survived by him but a few years, her death occurring on the 1st of June, 1889.      Elmer E. Rowland was born on the farm which is still his home, Mar. 20, 1854, and was early trained to the duties that usually fall to the lot of the farm lad.  In the winter months, he attended the district schools and later spent two years in study at Oberlin College.  He then returned home and to the present time his given his time and attention to general farming and stock raising, his tract consisting of one hundred and twenty-eight acres.  The land is rich and arable, and the place is supplied with substantial buildings, everything being kept in the best repair.      Mr. Rowland has been married twice.  He first established a home of his own by his marriage on the 25th of October, 1877, to Miss Eva Lee, a daughter of John and Sarah (Rood) Lee.  To them were born two sons, Ray and Ralph.  Both sons are married, the former making his home in Clarksfield township, while the latter is engaged in business in Wellington.  After a happy married life of twenty-three years, the wife and mother was called to her final rest, her death occurring June 2, 1900.  For his second wife Mr. Rowland chose Miss Theresa J. Woodruff, whom he wedded Oct. 29, 1902.  She is a daughter of Joel and Lavina (Stout) Woodruff, and by her marriage has become the mother of a little daughter, Ruth May, born Aug. 2, 1906.      A republican in politics, Mr. Rowland takes a deep and active interest in all public affairs.  For one term he served as justice of the peace, while for a number of years he has served on the township board of education and for some time was president of the board.  He is especially interested in good schools that his children and those of his neighbors may receive the best possible instruction to fit them for the responsibilities of life.  His record in public service has ever been one of unremitting and tireless toil, while his farming interests are also carried on with a determination and persistency of purpose that has led so well merited success. Source: History of Huron County, Ohio - Vol. I - By A. J. Baughman - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publ. Co. - 1909 - Page 402
MR. & MRS. W. S. RUGGLES	WILLIAM S. RUGGLES, who is the owner of a sawmill and one hundred and thirty-two acres of land in Peru township, on which he lives, was born on this farm, Mar. 31, 1853.  He is a son of George W. and Mary Elizabeth (Snyder) Ruggles.  His grandparents, Joseph and Mary Ruggles, came to Huron county from the state of New York, traveling overland with a yoke of oxen in 1815, bringing with them the several children who had been born unto them in the east.  They resided about a half mile east of the place on which William S. Ruggles now makes his home, and for a few years they lived in a little barn on the Henry Adams farm, which they converted into a rude dwelling, occupying it until Joseph Ruggles purchased the place which is now the home of our subject.  It was a tract of timberland when it came into his possession but he at once began to clear away the trees and the brush and, in the midst of the forest built a log house.  It was about 1817 that he established his home there and as time passed he vigorously prosecuted the work of the farm, transforming the tract of forest land into richly cultivated fields.  Subsequently he built and operated the first cidermill in the county and was closely associated with the work of early development an d improvement.  He died in 1849 at the age of sixty-nine years, while his wife passed away in 1850.      George W. Ruggles, the father, also lived in Peru township and for many years made his home above the old cidermill.  In the early days he pursued his studies in one of the schools of the township wherein but a few branches of learning were taught.  Although his educational opportunities were limited his training in farm work was not meager and throughout his entire life he continued to actively till the soil.  His lack of early educational advantages was obviated by the fact that he remained throughout his entire life a great reader and thus added continuously to his knowledge.  His wife was born in Milan, Ohio, a daughter of William and Mary (Norris) Snyder, who were early settlers of Huron country, coming to Ohio from Pennsylvania.  The death of Mrs. Ruggles occurred July 1, 1905.  She was the mother of five children, namely: Mary B., the wife of James Clifford of Findlay, Ohio; William S., of this review; Walter and Charles, both deceased; and Loretta E., the wife of Frank Schlagater, of Bronson township.      William S. Ruggles has always lived upon the home place, the district being known as Ruggles Corners.  He attended the schools of the neighborhood in his early days and throughout his entire life has carried on general farming and has also operated a sawmill for about twenty years.  He married Miss Alice J. Owen, a daughter of Lafayette and Mary J. (Clark) Owen, of Greenfield township, the wedding being celebrated on the 30th of August, 1876.  Mrs. Ruggles was born in Greenfield township, where her parents lived until they were called to their final rest.  Unto our subject and his wife have been born two children: J. C., whose birth occurred Feb. 2, 1885, and who married Ethel Baxter, their home being now in Peru township; and Harry, who was born Feb. 19, 1889, and is still under the parental roof.      As he prospered in his undertakings William S. Ruggles purchased the old homestead from his father and has since made many substantial improvements upon the place.  He has built a fine barn, has remodeled the house and has added all of the accessories and conveniences known to the model farm of the twentieth century.  In 1892 the sawmill which he owned near his home was destroyed by fire and he then built a steam sawmill on his farm, which he operated until 1902.  In that year he sold out and two yeas later installed a gasoline engine and again entered the business of sawing lumber, which proves a profitable source of revenue to him.  His fields, too, are carefully cultivated and return rich crops which find a ready sale on the market.      Mr. Ruggles has been somewhat prominent in community affairs.  He served as township trustee for five years, having been elected on the republican ticket by a majority of twenty-nine in a township which usually gives over one hundred democratic majority, his election, therefore, plainly indicating his personal popularity and the confidence and trust reposed in him.  He has also served as school director and as road supervisor, and he withholds his cooperation from no measure or movement which he deems essential to the public good.  He is a trustee of the Universalist church of Peru township and for twenty years has been a member of the Royal Arcanum of Norwalk.  He represents one of the oldest families of the county, the name of Ruggles having ever stood in this community for progressive citizenship and for enterprise in business.  The record of William S. Ruggles is in harmony with that of the others of the name and he is now numbered among the representative and valued citizens of Huron county. Source: History of Huron County, Ohio - Vol. II - By A. J. Baughman - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publ. Co. - 1909 - Page 300
	CHARLES A. RUSSELL, proprietor of Maple Hill farm in Wakeman township, was born Oct. 18, 1867, and is a native of the township in which he resides.  He is a son of William H. and Emerette (Palmotier) Russell.  The father was a native of Huron county and his grandfather, Isaac Russell, came from Scotland as a boy with his parents, who settled in Conneaut.  At eighteen yeas of age Isaac came to Wake man, where he was married first to a Miss Sisson, who lived but a year and was the mother of William H.  Isaac Russell was a shoemaker in Birmingham, Erie county, Ohio, for many years, but farmed after coming to Huron county.  William H. Russell learned the cooper's trade and later engaging in the lumber business, at present resides in Shiloh, Richland county, a purchasing agent for a large lumber company.      Charles A. Russell was educated in the Wakeman public schools, supplementing that knowledge by a term at an academy at Collins.  He learned the trade of tinner, which he followed five years, spending a like period of time as a clerk in a clothing store in Wakeman.  In  1881, yielding to the call of the great west, he went to Lincoln, Nebraska, where, for two years, he worked on a stock ranch, with a shorter period in a store in the city.  Returning to Wakeman in 1883, he again engaged in clerking, and put in some time at his trade.  He then married and settled down, clerking for two years, and then located on Maple Hill farm, where he has since resided.  This is one of the choice farms of Wakeman township, containing one hundred and seventy-five acres of splendidly improved land, with substantial and roomy buildings, all new and modern.  His residence is lighted with acetylene and supplied with water throughout, as are also all the barns and stables.  He engages in general farming, specializing in Merino Delaine sheep, being both breeder and feeder.  He has been very successful, handling large flocks at all times.      Mr. Russell was married Dec. 17, 1889, to Miss Bertha D. Rowland, a daughter of Samuel Betsey (Wall) Rowland, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.  Children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Russell as follows:  Iona E. and Gladys A., born of whom are still inmates of the home.      Mr. Russell takes an active interest in the affairs of his home community, supports republican principles, and he served for three yeas as presiding judge of the township board of elections and also as a member of the republican county central committee.  He and his family are members of the Congregational church and are quite active in all its interests.  She was educated in music at the Oberlin Conservatory.  Her public appearances, which are frequent throughout the county, leaving nothing to be desired in the warmth of her reception.  A splendid home-keeper,  she deserves credit for much of her husbands success.  Mr. and Mrs. Russell are prominent in the social life of the community and are popular with friends and neighbors. Source: History of Huron County, Ohio - Vol. I - By A. J. Baughman - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publ. Co. - 1909 - Page 401

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