Isaac Ruffner

Latrobe Bulletin, Friday, May 23, 1913,

Isaac Ruffner, notice of whose death was given in yesterday's Bulletin, was the second oldest member of St. Vincent's
congregation.

His father, George Ruffner, who in 1787 emigrated from Goshenhoppen, near Philadelphia, to the wilderness of Westmoreland
county, and he later took a prominent part in establishing the first Catholic church in this vicinity. He located on a farm near New Alexandria, and it was there, on the 21st of July, 1821, that Isaac Ruffner was born.

It was there, also, that Isaac Ruffner died, Wednesday night, his entire life of nearly 93 years having been spent upon the ancestral farm. His mother's maiden name was Susan Sindorf.

In 1849 a romance sprang up, between Mr. Isaac Ruffner and Miss Mary Anna O'Connor, daughter of Mr. Francis O'Connor, who with six brothers had given once happy homes in Sunny Ireland, then undergoing oppression, and had come to America to find happiness in a strange and foreign land.

The romance ended happily, and from their marriage nine children were born. Three of the nine preceded their father to the grave. They were James Francis, Sister Joseph Anna Ruffner and Josephine.

On Wednesday evening, the patriarch passed peacefully away without any pain or struggle but with a happy smile on his face, the reflection of his good and noble life; at the ripe old age of 92 years and ten months. During the last few years of his life he was tenderly and affectionately taken care of by the loving hands of his daughter, Amanda McGuire, who sacrificed much to make his last days happy and peaceful. He is survived by six children: Mrs. Margaret E. Kent [error in print, should be Kintz rather than Kent her husband was Thomas C. Kintz], Lloyd Ave., Latrobe; Mrs. Elizabeth Nessler, of Dennison; Sister Evangelist Rose Ruffner, O. S. B., of North Dakota; John W. Ruffner, of Walnut street, Latrobe; Mrs. Amanda McGuire, at the family homestead; Mrs. Amelia Sheehan, of Lloyd Avenue, Latrobe; 35 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.

The last respects of his children and grandchildren and a host of friends will be paid to him Saturday morning, when the funeral
cortege will leave his homestead at 8:30 a. m. and repair to St. Vincent's church, where Solemn High Mass of Requiem will be sung by Father Sigemond O. S. B., followed by sermon. The interment will follow in St. Vincent's cemetery.
 

This obit was furnished by Mary, whose husband Russell Henry is the g-g-grandson of Isaac Ruffner.