Condensed by David Arne Sisson from the book: "The Rutherford Family of Cass County Michigan, by author David Arne Sisson. See our Cass_donations page for David' s email address. There is so much more in this book, but I will note some of the events which occurred with this family, mostly in Cass County, Michigan.
Catherine (Barraford) Rutherford, daughter of George Albion BARRAFORD and Catherine MacPHERSON, of Edwards, St Lawrence County, New York. Her parents had recently immigrated from Britain between 1815 and 1818. Catherine was born in 1818 in Edwards. She died 14 November 1895 in Volinia Township, Cass County, Michigan and was buried in Charleston Cemetery, Volinia Township, Cass County. At the time of Catherine?s move to Michigan about 1853, she said to be 35, and after her second marriage there, she had three more children.
Her son Andrew RUTHERFORD, Jr., never knew his father, Andrew, Sr., who had disappeared a few months before the son was born, possibly murdered after selling cattle in Canada, across the St. Lawrence River from St Lawrence County, New York. The son Andrew was born 23 April 1836 in Edwards. He died 9 August 1895 in Wayne Township, Cass County, Michigan and was buried in Crane Cemetery, Cass County, Michigan.
Catherine also married (2) Abram WELCHER, son of David WELCHER and
Keziah WINGATE, after 1853 in Cass County, Michigan. Abram was born 12 Oct 1806
in New York State. He died 20 Sep 1888 in Volinia, Cass County, Michigan and
was buried in Charleston Cemetery, Volinia, Cass Co., Michigan.
They had
the following children:
***** Frances Elnora WELCHER was born 3 May 1857
and died 23 Dec 1916.
***** Adelbert WELCHER was born about 1860 in
Michigan.
***** Keziah WELCHER was born about 1862 in Michigan.
*****
Catherine WELCHER was born after 1870. She died in Owosso, Shiawassee Co.,
Michgian. She married a man named PERRY.
In the 1860 US Census ?A. [Andrew] Rutherford,? 23, appears with his mother ?C. [Catherine (Barraford) (Rutherford)] Welcher? (40), her husband Abram Welcher (52), a farmer, in Cass County, Michigan. Catherine and Abram?s children are listed as ?M.B.? (14) (a child of Abram?s first marriage?), ?F.E.? (Frances Elnora, 5), and ?D.L.? (Adelbert?, 2 months), along with Daniel W. Little (43) and Rebecca Little (41). The Rutherfords and Welchers were born in New York, except for the two youngest Welcher children who were born in Michigan. The Littles were born in Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively.
Andrew married Eleanor LAPORTE, daughter of Isaac LAPORTE and Rachel
Lamb JOHNSON, on 12 June 1864 in Cassopolis, Cass County, Michigan. Eleanor was
born 12 November 1844 in Bellefontaine, Logan, Ohio. She died 26 January 1922
in Dowagiac, Cass County, Michigan, and was buried in Crane Cemetery, Volinia
Township. See the LaPorte page on this site.
The 1870 census gives a
snapshot of the family:
***** Andrew Rutherford (31), farmer, $9000 real
estate, $2000 personal, born in New York, father of foreign birth, US citizen
***** Eleanor, (26), keeping house, born in Ohio
***** William (5),
born in Michigan
***** Thomas (4) born in Michigan
***** Isaac (2),
born in Michigan
***** Eleador (5 months), born in February in Michigan
***** James Reeves (27), farm laborer, born in Michigan, US citizen
Andrew's household follows his parents-in-law, Isaac and Rachel LaPorte,
in the census listing. The 1880 US Census lists Andrew (43), farmer, and
Eleanor (36), keeping house, with Thomas (14), Isaac (12), Eleador (10), Newton
(6), Mila (4), Mary (2), and Ezra (2 months). Andrew?s father was born in
Scotland and his mother in New York. The 1900 US Census shows Eleanor
Rutherford (55) in Dowagiac, with Newton (26), Ezra (20), and Catherine (14).
In 1910 Eleanor (65) appears in the US Census with her eldest surviving son
Thomas (45) and his sons Guy (16) and Marion A (11), and Eleanor?s youngest son
Ezra (30). The 1920 US Census shows Eleanor (75) on her son Thomas?s farm with
his son Marion (21). Sometime between then and her death, Eleanor moved owned
by her son Isaac on Cross Street, Dowagiac.
Andrew and Eleanor had the
following children:
***** William RUTHERFORD was born 27 March 1865 in Wayne Township, Cass
County, Michigan. He died 18 May 1872 in Cass County, Michigan and was buried
in Crane Cemetery, Cass County, Michigan.
***** Thomas RUTHERFORD was born
21 May 1866 and died 10 October 1940.. Thomas married Mary Mamie WELLS on 25
September 1892 in Volinia Township, Cass County, Michigan. Mary was born 21 May
1873 in Ridgeway, New York. She died 18 November 1898 and was buried in Volinia
Township.
***** Isaac RUTHERFORD was born 6 May 1868 and died 3 October
1915. Isaac married Huldah Belle MEANS, daughter of John MEANS and Elizabeth
Mary FRESHOUR, on 10 June 1888 in Dowagiac. Huldah was born 10 July 1868 in
Pokagon Township, Cass County, Michigan. She died 2 August 1944 in Dowagiac,
and was buried August 1944 in Riverside Cemetery, Dowagiac. Isaac and Huldah
appear on the US Census at 306 Wayne Street, Dowagiac, in 1900. Isaac, a marble
cutter, is 32 years old, Huldah is 31. She has had three children of whom three
are living, but the third child (LaVerne) is not listed, though Cecile, at
school, age 11, and Warren M., age 4, and boarder Etta Smith, age 19 are. Etta
probably was more than a boarder, more likely a ?mother?s helper.? They appear
again in the 1910 US Census, in the 2nd Ward of Dowagiac, at 306 Wayne Street.
Isaac, a ?dealer,? is 41, Huldah 41, Warren M. 14, and LaVerne H. 9. In 1912,
Huldah and Isaac moved to 216 Pennsylvania Avenue, Dowagiac. Both Isaac and
Huldah died there. The house was torn down about 1996.
***** Eleador
RUTHERFORD was born 6 February 1870 in Wayne Township, Cass County, Michigan.
She died 5 March 1953 in Kalamazoo, Michigan and was buried in Mt. Everest
Cemetery, Kalamazoo. Ella married William A. HANKINS on 1 June 1888. William
was born 24 June 1866. He died 16 June 1933 in Kalamazoo.
***** Marcus
RUTHERFORD was born October 1871. He died 14 May 1872 in Wayne Township, Cass
County, Michigan. Although not recorded in any of the Rutherford Reunion
records, the death of Marcus Rutherford is to be found in Cass County death
records. The cause of death was ?Spinal Fever.?
***** Jesse RUTHERFORD was
born 25 October 1872 in Wayne Township, Cass County, Michigan. He died 6
October 1873 in Wayne Township, Cass County, Michigan and was buried in Crane
Cemetery, Volinia Township, Cass County, Michigan. The cause of death was
?Cholera Infantum.?
***** Newton H. RUTHERFORD was born 8 March 1874 in
Wayne Township, Cass County, Michigan. He died 26 January 1918 and was buried
29 January 1918 in Crane Cemetery, Volinia Township, Cass County, Michigan.
Newton married Amy HUFF, daughter of John HUFF and Eliza Jane WRIGHT, on 31
March 1907 in Dowagiac, Cass County, Michigan. Amy was born 18 May 1873 in
Volinia Township, Cass County, Michigan. She died 21 March 1963 and was buried
24 March 1963 in Crane Cemetery, Volinia Township. Newton was living with his
mother at the time of the 1900 US Census. In 1910 Newton (36) and Amy (36) were
living with her parents John (76) and Eliza J. (63) Huff in Volinia. Both John
and Newton were farmers.
***** Mila RUTHERFORD was born 11 March 1876 and
died 18 May 1963. Mila married (1) Charles EDWARDS on 16 May 1891. Charles was
born 16 May 1872. He died 24 February 1914 and was buried in Watervliet,
Berrien County, Michigan.
***** Mary RUTHERFORD was born 11 December 1877
in Dowagiac. She died 19 September 1919 in Canon City, Fremont County,
Colorado, and was buried there 20 September 1919 in Lakeside Cemetery. Mary
married Albert J. AUSTIN, Sr. on 2 August 1898 in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Albert was born 27 August 1854 in New Hampshire. He died 29 September 1913 in
Watervliet, Berrien County, Michigan, and was buried in Watervliet.
*****
Ezra RUTHERFORD was born 7 April 1880 in Wayne Township, Cass County, Michigan.
He died 24 July 1957 and was buried in Paw Paw, Van Buren County, Michigan.
Ezra married Nettie FORSYTH on 1 November 1913. Nettie was born 23 August 1888
in Gilman, Iroquois County, Illinois. She died 18 November 1966 in Cass
Township, Cass County, Michigan, and was buried in Crane Cemetery, Volinia
Township. He was a graduate of Michigan State Normal College in 1905, taught
school for 16 years, held the principalship at Eau Claire and Baroda. He was
Cass County Treasurer for 10 years and later became a farmer. Nettie was
bookkeeper at Duncombe General Mercantile Store and Post Office. Later was
Deputy County Treasurer. For 6 years she was head payroll clerk for the Baker
Vawter Company's four factories."
***** Edith RUTHERFORD was born 7
October 1883 in Silver Creek, Michigan. She died 14 August 1896 and was buried
in Crane Cemetery, Volinia Township, Cass County, Michigan. A picture of Andrew
and Eleanor?s family shows Edith sitting on her mother?s lap. Edith looks as
though she might have had Downs Syndrome.
***** Catherine RUTHERFORD was
born 17 October 1885 in Dowagiac. She died 5 November 1973 in Walla Walla,
Grant County, Washington, and was buried 9 November 1973 in Hartline, Grant
County, Washington. Catherine married Harry W. HATHAWAY, son of Abner Alton
HATHAWAY and Ella WARNER, on 5 October 1906 in Coulee City, Grant County,
Washington. Harry was born 22 October 1882 in Volinia Township, Cass County. He
died 5 March 1931 in Loon Lake, Stevens County, Washington, and was buried 8
March 1931 in Hartline, Grant County, Washington. In 1940 Katie was living in
Almira, Washington. The 1910 US Census taken 6 May shows Harry W. and Catharine
Hathaway, 27 and 24 respectively, in Coulee City, Grant County, Washington,
with their daughter Ella, three months old. Harry is a farmer. The 1920 US
Census taken 24-26 January records Harry W (37) a farmer, and Kate R. (34), in
Pine Creek Precinct, Latah County, Idaho, with Ella (10), Ray R. (3 and a
half), and Clyde A (2 years and 4 months).