Archibald H. Rutherford
Archibald H. Rutherford, a leading citizen of Concord Township, owns about 512 acres of fine Ohio land, 100 of which is situated in Morrow County, 262 acres in Liberty, and 150 acres in Concord Township, Delaware County. Mr. Rutherford was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, September 23, 1833, and is a son of Henry and Ruth (Vanmitre) Rutherford. His paternal grandfather was Archibald Rutherford, who settled in Fairfield County prior to 1821. Archibald served as a soldier in the War of 1812.
Henry Rutherford was born in Virginia in 1801, and grew to manhood in that State, where he married Ruth Vanmitre, who was born there in 1804. After removing to Ohio. they settled in Fairfield County, where they remained for a number of years. Subsequently they removed to Delaware County, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1892. His wife was aged 82 years at her death in 1890. Their children were: Mary Ann, who married Thomas Hess, is deceased; Abraham, who is deceased, is survived by his widow; Isaac, who married, first, Sarah Webster and, secondly, a Miss Merrill; and Archibald H.
Archibald H. Rutherford came to Delaware County about 1848 and through boyhood and manhood assisted his father to clear the pioneer farm. The father, who was a shoemaker by trade, needed the help of his sons when the heavy clearing of the land became a necessity, and the subject of this sketch remembers that he hewed every log that went to the building of the first house on the farm. The present residence, which succeeded the old log one, was built about the close of the Civil War. For a few months the subject of this sketch attended the district schools. On the death of his father, which occurred in 1892, Mr. Rutherford inherited one-half of the home farm. He earned his first money by raking wheat for his grandfather Rutherford, working by the day and month at fifty cents per day, and afterwards receiving $10 to $12 per month until his marriage. He then bought 50 acres of wild land and set to work to bring it into a state of cultivation. His entire time since has been spent in farming and stockraising, and as already noted, he has attained a gratifying success. Each year has seen the amount and value of his possessions increased, and he is the more to be congratulated in that his present prosperity is the result of his own persevering industry backed by sound judgment.
On September 29, 1858, Mr. Rutherford was married in Concord Township, to Eliza Jane Glazer, a daughter of William and Matilda (Warner) Glazer. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and her mother in Maryland. They settled, at an early day, near Norton Center, in Delaware County, and both subsequently died there. Of their children to reach mature years: William, now 80 years of age, resides at Norton Center; Bennett is deceased; Mary Ann is the widow of Lewis Case and lives at Cleveland; Marian, wife of James Mark, lives in Missouri; and Eliza J. is now Mrs. Rutherford. Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford have been the parents of the following children: Mary Ann, who married Marion Jones, resides in Concord Township and has seven children—Martha. Ruth, Henry, John, Mary Etta, and May and Jay (twins); Eugenia, who married Edward Kent, resides in Concord Township and has two children—Lura and Esther; John, who married Mary, daughter of James Mattox, resides in Morrow County and has four children—Harry, Lloyd. Archibald and Charles; Martha, who married William Hall, resides in Liberty Township and lias two children—Bessie and William; Thomas, who married Edith Blaine, resides at Hyattsville and has two children—Frederick and Paul; Jessie, who married Frederick Harter, has two children—Dalton and Morris; Lee, who married Eva McComber, resides with his father and they have one child—Marshall; and Bennett, Peter and Ruth, are all deceased. Until after the birth of four children, Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford lived in Liberty Township. He purchased his farm in Concord Township during the Civil War. He has continued to buy land, considering it one of the safest of invesments.
In politics, Mr. Rutherford is a Democrat. For a time he was connected with the Grange but at present belongs to no fraternal organization. He is a citizen of high standing in Concord Township and his judgment is consulted when matters of importance to the community are brought forward.
20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908