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RULOFSON, Rulof Isaac Allen (4758)

Parents

Birth

  • Born on October 18, 1822 in Hampton, Kings Co., NB

Death

  • Died on October 26, 1899 in Strattanville, Clarion Co., PA
  • Buried in Strattanville Cemetery in Strattanville, Clarion Co., PA

Marriages

Children

Notes

  • Occupation: Lumberman
  • Obituary: Rulof Isaac Allen Rulofson. One of the Most Progressive, Public Citizens of Clarion County. A Man of Honor and Integrity, Passes Quietly Away and we Will See Him No More. - Ruloff Isaac Allen Rulofson, the name that was given him at his baptism, but who for the sake of brevity in his business transactions, simply signed his name R. Rulofson, died at his home in Strattanville, Pa., on last Thursday morning at 9 o'clock, October 26,1899. His age was 77 years and a few days. There is scarcely a man or woman in the county or a child in the town that did not know Mr. Rulofson. He was popular for the simple reason that he believed in his fellow men and to old and young was both friendly and kind. He was not a native of this country, as he was born in New Brunswick, British North America. He was a man, who almost from his boyhood's days, was thrown upon his own exertions as he was left an orphan when but a child. Nature, however, had endowed him with a business capacity, intelligence in larger measure than is given to most people and he made good use of his gifts. At the age of twenty-one years, he started out in life as a Millwright and came to Milltown, Maine, and built the first successful live gang saw-mill which was erected in the United States. Some little time after this, his first success, he married Miss Amanda J. Emerson, who sustained him with loving care and wifely duty until last December, when she grew weary and quietly went to the rest the Lord provides for those who serve Him. This was a hard blow to the loving husband whose devotion to his wife was known to all his friends. In fact, Mr. Rulofson was a man whose home was his kingdom and the happiest moments of his life were spent in the family circle. There can be no evil in a man who treasures home first and above all other pleasures. After his marriage he moved to Elk county, this state, bringing along a large lot of mill machinery, erected mills and operated them there. For some reason he was not satisfied and removed to Strattanville, three miles east of Clarion in 1858 and associating some other business men, built and operated a mill at the mouth of Millcreek, in the firm name of Marvin, Rulofson & Co. They purchased ten thousand acres of fine timber land. This mill has been improved and enlarged a number of times and large sums of money amounting to millions of dollars has passed through Mr. Rulofson's hands. Some of the original partners have gone to their last home, but the firm has carried its name for almost fifty years with honor among men from the large lumber dealer down to the hands on the mill. Mr. Rulofson has had in his life many incidents of a character that few men are ever called upon to experience. He was an experienced and fearless hunter and his different experiences in that field alone would require more space than we have to relate it. At one time he caught a deer by the horns while standing on some floating timber and held it until help came from a distance and killed it. His home and office are filled with many trophies of the chase. He was a man of fine intellect and was thoroughly conversant with ancient and modem history. When called on to address an audience or any large gathering, he was always ready and to hear him once created a desire to hear him often. The writer had the pleasure of hearing him at the dedication of the new school at Strattanville where he had been invited and entertained by Mr. Rulofson. A man who had spent the greater part of his life in the woods among the cutters and mill hands would naturally be supposed to acquire, in a measure, some of their language, but Mr. Rulofson was an exception. His language was always, and on all occasions refined and pure. We have heard him respond to toasts at several gatherings and when he spoke, every ear was strained to catch his beautiful thoughts as they flowed from the heart to the lips. He was liberal to all calls of benevolence and withheld his hand at no time from a worthy object. He was a lover of fine horses and was generally the first to come to town in a sleigh behind his handsome team. Though elegant in his manners he was approachable to all, while his kindly smile was an open invitation for conversation. Some ten years ago he was taken into full membership in the Methodist church at this place and it happened to be on the day that the new church was dedicated. For more than fifty years Mr. Rulofson was a mason. He entered his name in Clarion Lodge No. 277 on February 15, 1860, but he had been a member for some years previous to that time. He wrote a paper entitled "A Mason for Sixty Years" which is said to be a masterpiece. During his term as a mason in Clarion Lodge No. 277, he held the honorable position of Worshipful Master, for five successive years. He was also a member in good standing in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for the same length of time and was District Deputy Grand Mater of that order for fifteen years in this county. The funeral which occurred from his late residence in Strattanville at 2:30 last Saturday afternoon, was largely attended not only by relatives and friends, but by the Masons of Clarion and the Odd Fellows, from Corsica, Clarion, Shippenville and his home lodge. The funeral services were in charge of Rev. B. F. Delo, assisted by Rev. Mead, the present pastor of the M. E. Church at this place and by Rev. Peters who was the pastor of the church when Mr. Rulofson was taken in as a member. The entire choir of the Methodist church of this place were at the funeral and added solemenity [sic] with their voices singing to God on High. Beautiful floral gifts covered the remaines [sic] and the room where the body lay was strewn with the most lovely of nature's offerings. The remains were carried from the house to the cemetery. The pall bearers were Jno. F. Brown, Geo. F. Kribbs, Samuel H. Lowry, R. B. Thomas, G. F. Vowinckle, and C. A. Rankin, with a relief consisting of Ed. M. Wilson, F. G. Keatley, Lewis Streng, F. Sloan McComb, B. H. Frampton and A. W. Corbett. The order from the home to the cemetery was as follows: Clarion Lodge, No. 1 277 F. A. and A. Y.M., pall bearers with remains, the members of the family and friends, the different orders of Odd Fellows and neighbors. At the grave the services were taken charge of by the Clarion Lodge of Masons and the ritual of the Masons was used. After the services at the grave were concluded the orders mentioned escorted the members of the family back to the home left desolate. Among those present at the funeral from a distance who came to pay their last tribute of affection to the deceased, were Mr. Charles Neil, and Robert Brown, of Kittanning, Hon. A. C. White, of Brookville and R. N. Marvin, of Jamestown, N.Y. Mr. Marvin was deeply affected and made the remark that Mr. Rulofson could not be replaced. The following children survive their parents: Mrs. S. R. Strattan, of Washington, D.C., Mrs. G. W. McCaslin, of New York City, Mrs. D. M. Clover, Mrs. T. H. Hoover and W. R. Rulofson, of Strattonville
  • Historical Information: In 1843, Rulolf R Rulofson erected in the state of Maine the first "gang" saw mill ever operated in the United States. He came to Elk Co PA in 1851 and in 1858 to Strattanville, where he built a fine residence and engaged in the lumber business until his death at a very advanced age. He was a member of the Masonic Order for fifty-three years, and an Odd Fellow, prominent in both orders. He married in Maine, Amanda Jane Emerson, born in Rhode Island.

Sources

  • Findagrave.com: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/184433087/rulof-isaac_allen-rulofson

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