Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameFrances May Ruttan 
Birth1 Nov 1875, Walker, Linn Co, IA
Census1880, Franklin Twp, Jackson Co, KS
Memoroll#383, ED 108, Sht 17
Census1900, Leavenworth, Leavenworth Co, KS
Memoroll #486, ED 94, sht 4
Census1 Mar 1905, Kansas City, Wyandotte Co, KS
Memoroll#ks1905_177, ln 1
Census1910, St Joseph, Buchanan Co, MO
Memoroll#771, ED102, Fam 209
Census1920, St Joseph, Buchanan Co, MO
Memoroll#908, ED 131, sht 8, ln 57
Census21 Apr 1930, St Joseph, Buchanan Co, MO
Memoroll#1179, pg 9
Census17 Apr 1940, St Joseph, Buchanan Co, MO
Memoroll#2089, pg 14
Death19 Aug 1969, St Joseph, Buchanan Co, MO
OccupationTeacher
FatherHenry Kirkpatrick Ruttan (1849-1887)
MotherGertrude Valeria Wiggins (1855-1925)
Misc. Notes
Referred to as "Aunt Frank" by Frances Holland.
Listed with her mother in 1900 as a teacher. After their marriage in Leavenworth and Gertrude’s birth in Kansas, she and Harmon moved to St Joseph and lived there the rest of their lives. Her mother moved in with her in St. Joseph, after her father's death. Listed as widowed with her step-Daughter living with her in 1940, where she is listed as having completed 2 yrs of college.
(text from National Register of Historic Places nomination form for the Thompson-Brown-Sandusky House in St Joseph 1981)
On December 8, 1904, the house was purchased by Frances M. Sandusky, the wife of Harmon W. Sandusky, thus concluding 40 years of ownership by the Brown Family. Mrs. Sandusky, born 1876, was a native of Troy Mills, Iowa. She grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas and at the age of 18 began teaching school in Marysville, Montana. In less than two years she was principal of the school. In 1902, she married Sandusky who was a widower with two children. His daughter, Ada lived at the Cliff Street residence until her death in 1966. Sandusky, who was listed in several City Directories as a farmer died in 1932. In 1928, Mrs. Sandusky was Secretary of the St. Joseph Travelers Aid Society and in April of that year was one of the first of two women elected to the St. Joseph School Board. Mrs. Sandusky served as both vice-president and president of the School Board before retiring from it in 1934. She was appointed to the Missouri State Social Security Commission by Governor Guy B. Park. In the late 1930's and early 1940's she was a member of the Buchanan County Welfare Commission as well as several other boards and commissions in the city and county. She was a life member of the YMCA, serving on the Board beginning in 1939 and as President from 1945 to 1948. She died in 1969 at the age of 93. The Sandusky's elder daughter, Gertrude retired from a business career and returned to St. Joseph, living at the Cliff Street home until her death in 1971. In 1971, the current owners purchased the home from the Sandusky estate and have systematically renovated and restored this frontier residence.
Listed with her mother in 1900 as a teacher. After their marriage in Leavenworth and Gertrude’s birth in Kansas, she and Harmon moved to St Joseph and lived there the rest of their lives. Her mother moved in with her in St. Joseph, after her father's death. Listed as widowed with her step-Daughter living with her in 1940, where she is listed as having completed 2 yrs of college.
(text from National Register of Historic Places nomination form for the Thompson-Brown-Sandusky House in St Joseph 1981)
On December 8, 1904, the house was purchased by Frances M. Sandusky, the wife of Harmon W. Sandusky, thus concluding 40 years of ownership by the Brown Family. Mrs. Sandusky, born 1876, was a native of Troy Mills, Iowa. She grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas and at the age of 18 began teaching school in Marysville, Montana. In less than two years she was principal of the school. In 1902, she married Sandusky who was a widower with two children. His daughter, Ada lived at the Cliff Street residence until her death in 1966. Sandusky, who was listed in several City Directories as a farmer died in 1932. In 1928, Mrs. Sandusky was Secretary of the St. Joseph Travelers Aid Society and in April of that year was one of the first of two women elected to the St. Joseph School Board. Mrs. Sandusky served as both vice-president and president of the School Board before retiring from it in 1934. She was appointed to the Missouri State Social Security Commission by Governor Guy B. Park. In the late 1930's and early 1940's she was a member of the Buchanan County Welfare Commission as well as several other boards and commissions in the city and county. She was a life member of the YMCA, serving on the Board beginning in 1939 and as President from 1945 to 1948. She died in 1969 at the age of 93. The Sandusky's elder daughter, Gertrude retired from a business career and returned to St. Joseph, living at the Cliff Street home until her death in 1971. In 1971, the current owners purchased the home from the Sandusky estate and have systematically renovated and restored this frontier residence.
Spouses
Birth25 Mar 1849, Clinton, Hickman Co, KY
Death19 Oct 1932, St Joseph, Buchanan Co, MO
OccupationLive Storage dealer
Misc. Notes
Son of John Sandusky and Assenath Wynn.
Left school to join the army in the Civil War. One of youngest to carry a musket in the war. Served as a Private in Co H of the 30th Kentucky Infantry 22 Oct 1863 - 9 May 1864 Louisville, KY; then reenlisted in Co D of the 12th Kentucky Infantry 14 Apr 1864 - 11 Jul 1865 and was discharged at Greensboro, NC.
His first wife was Mary Branche Lefevel (b. May 1851 Franklin Co, OH) whom he married in 1874, and who apparently died just after the 1900 census for Kansas City, KS where he is listed as a live storage dealer.
After his second marriage to Frances, he is listed in the 1905 Kansas census with wife Frances, his son Earl (23) and daughter Ada B. (21) from his first marriage, and daugher Gertrude (1). Shortly thereafter, they moved back to St Joseph, MO where he had lived previously.
Apparently well off as he owned his own house free and clear in 1910 and was reported as living off his own income and was listed as a fruit farmer in 1920. His marriage to Frances was his second, as daughter Ada B. from the 1st marriage was living with them in 1910.
In 1923 he was admitted to the National Home for Disabled Soldiers in Leavenworth. Notes listed symptoms of arteriosclerosis, chronic conjunctivitis, and pyorrhea alveolaris.
Widower for 9 yrs before his 2nd marriage.
Left school to join the army in the Civil War. One of youngest to carry a musket in the war. Served as a Private in Co H of the 30th Kentucky Infantry 22 Oct 1863 - 9 May 1864 Louisville, KY; then reenlisted in Co D of the 12th Kentucky Infantry 14 Apr 1864 - 11 Jul 1865 and was discharged at Greensboro, NC.
His first wife was Mary Branche Lefevel (b. May 1851 Franklin Co, OH) whom he married in 1874, and who apparently died just after the 1900 census for Kansas City, KS where he is listed as a live storage dealer.
After his second marriage to Frances, he is listed in the 1905 Kansas census with wife Frances, his son Earl (23) and daughter Ada B. (21) from his first marriage, and daugher Gertrude (1). Shortly thereafter, they moved back to St Joseph, MO where he had lived previously.
Apparently well off as he owned his own house free and clear in 1910 and was reported as living off his own income and was listed as a fruit farmer in 1920. His marriage to Frances was his second, as daughter Ada B. from the 1st marriage was living with them in 1910.
In 1923 he was admitted to the National Home for Disabled Soldiers in Leavenworth. Notes listed symptoms of arteriosclerosis, chronic conjunctivitis, and pyorrhea alveolaris.
Widower for 9 yrs before his 2nd marriage.
Marriage1 Jan 1902, Leavenworth, Leavenworth Co, KS
Marr Memoby Rev Wm Foukler of First Pres Church, Kansas City KS
ChildrenGertrude Assenath (1904-1971)
Frances Wilma (1908-2000)