Rudolph
The Rudolph Family History
The Rudolph brothers, John, Peter, and Jacob, migrated to America from their home in Germany, settling first in North Carolina, then Tennessee. David C. Rudolph, an old and prominent citizen of Waverly, Tennessee was born there March 24, 1824, the son of Elijah and Susan Stewart Rudolph, natives of the state. The father was descended from Jacob Rudolph, who settled in Montgomery County, Tennessee about 1760. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Other children of Jacob Rudolph were: Elijah who married Susan Stewart, Nancy Rudolph married John Stewart, Peggy Rudolph married Richey Anderson, Polly Rudolph married Billie Hogan, Betsy Rudolph married Wiley Hogan. Elijah was a farmer who lived near Old Reynoldsburg, the first county seat of Humphreys County, Tennessee.
Several of Elijah and Susan Rudolph's children moved to Collin County and settled near McKinney. One daughter, Jane Bernice Rudolph, and her husband, John Cloyd came to Texas in a covered wagon and brought a nephew, John Randolph Parker. In later years Elijah and Susan moved to McKinney to be near their daughter, Jane Bernice Rudolph Cloyd. Elijah and Susan Rudolph are buried near the front gate of Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney.
The children of Elijah and Susan were: Mary S. who married Johnnie Caruthers of Boliver, Tennessee; Jacob Rudolph who died at age 10; Robert M. married Elizabeth Kirkpatrick; and Josephine who married William S. Parker.
The Rudolph Family
The members of the Rudolph family who came to McKinney from Waverly, Tennessee during the middle of the 19th century made important contributions in skilled mechanical workmanship, musical talent, and newspaper knowledge to the life of the community. After four of their children had settled in McKinney, Elijah Rudolph (1794-1870) and his wife Susan Steward Rudolph (1793-1877) moved to McKinney and made their home with their daughter, Jane Bernice Rudolph Cloyd, and her husband, John B. Cloyd. A letter written to his son, Dave of Waverly, Tennessee, gives a clear picture of what life was like in frontier McKinney. (1869).
The first of the family to arrive in McKinnney were Abe and Harriet Rudolph Hall, in 1852. Abe operated a blacksmith shop near the square on Louisiana Street for twenty years before moving northwest of McKinney to a farm, for which he paid $1600. in gold. During the Civil War when Collin County was isolated by blockades, he operated a train of wagons, carrying cotton from the area to markets in Mexico.
Another daughter, Elizabeth Rudolph Batson (1833-1912) and her husband, Thomas Batson, came to live in McKinney in 1860.
A son, Thad L. Rudolph (1835-1874) was a talented musician. With John P. Lillard, he furnished music for the ball held at the Cannon Hotel in McKinney on August 14, 1868, in celebration of the nomination of Seymore and Blair as candidates for the Democrats for President and Vice-president of the United States. In the Civil War he served as 3rd Lt. in Company K, which was organized in McKinney in 1862.
Robert M.Rudolph, another son (1818-1880), whose wife was Elizabeth Kirkpatrick Rudolph, was a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He operated a wagon and machine shop during the week and also served as one of the first District Clerks of Collin County.
The sons of Robert and Elizabeth Kirkpatrick Rudolph were prominent in the life of the community of the last half of the nineteenth century. The four brothers, Sam K. Rudolph, Lige K. Rudolph, Jim K. Rudolph, and Hugh K. Rudolph were fine musicians and had their own band, which they called The Silver Cornet Band. They became quite famous over the state and were called upon to play at political rallies and at the Governor's mansion in Austin. Sam Rudolph headed a locally famous Barbershop Quartet which entertained customers at the Northside Barbershop. Their favorite songs were "Sweet Adaline" and "I'll take you home again Kathleen."
The Rudolph brothers were connected with newspapers. Lige, Sam and Jim. Lige began working for Thomas H. Bingham when he was only 12 years old and at 15 was foreman of the shop in publishing the "Advocate." The three brothers published "The Collin County Mercury" in 1887. The Mercury entered the statewide fight for prohibition and Lige wrote stirring editorials on the subject.
A daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Rudolph, Betty Rudolph and her husband, Paul Gallis, owned and operated the "Opera House" at Greenville.
The Rudolph brothers, John, Peter, and Jacob, migrated to America from their home in Germany, settling first in North Carolina, then Tennessee. David C. Rudolph, an old and prominent citizen of Waverly, Tennessee was born there March 24, 1824, the son of Elijah and Susan Stewart Rudolph, natives of the state. The father was descended from Jacob Rudolph, who settled in Montgomery County, Tennessee about 1760. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Other children of Jacob Rudolph were: Elijah who married Susan Stewart, Nancy Rudolph married John Stewart, Peggy Rudolph married Richey Anderson, Polly Rudolph married Billie Hogan, Betsy Rudolph married Wiley Hogan. Elijah was a farmer who lived near Old Reynoldsburg, the first county seat of Humphreys County, Tennessee.
Several of Elijah and Susan Rudolph's children moved to Collin County and settled near McKinney. One daughter, Jane Bernice Rudolph, and her husband, John Cloyd came to Texas in a covered wagon and brought a nephew, John Randolph Parker. In later years Elijah and Susan moved to McKinney to be near their daughter, Jane Bernice Rudolph Cloyd. Elijah and Susan Rudolph are buried near the front gate of Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney.
The children of Elijah and Susan were: Mary S. who married Johnnie Caruthers of Boliver, Tennessee; Jacob Rudolph who died at age 10; Robert M. married Elizabeth Kirkpatrick; and Josephine who married William S. Parker.
The Rudolph Family
The members of the Rudolph family who came to McKinney from Waverly, Tennessee during the middle of the 19th century made important contributions in skilled mechanical workmanship, musical talent, and newspaper knowledge to the life of the community. After four of their children had settled in McKinney, Elijah Rudolph (1794-1870) and his wife Susan Steward Rudolph (1793-1877) moved to McKinney and made their home with their daughter, Jane Bernice Rudolph Cloyd, and her husband, John B. Cloyd. A letter written to his son, Dave of Waverly, Tennessee, gives a clear picture of what life was like in frontier McKinney. (1869).
The first of the family to arrive in McKinnney were Abe and Harriet Rudolph Hall, in 1852. Abe operated a blacksmith shop near the square on Louisiana Street for twenty years before moving northwest of McKinney to a farm, for which he paid $1600. in gold. During the Civil War when Collin County was isolated by blockades, he operated a train of wagons, carrying cotton from the area to markets in Mexico.
Another daughter, Elizabeth Rudolph Batson (1833-1912) and her husband, Thomas Batson, came to live in McKinney in 1860.
A son, Thad L. Rudolph (1835-1874) was a talented musician. With John P. Lillard, he furnished music for the ball held at the Cannon Hotel in McKinney on August 14, 1868, in celebration of the nomination of Seymore and Blair as candidates for the Democrats for President and Vice-president of the United States. In the Civil War he served as 3rd Lt. in Company K, which was organized in McKinney in 1862.
Robert M.Rudolph, another son (1818-1880), whose wife was Elizabeth Kirkpatrick Rudolph, was a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He operated a wagon and machine shop during the week and also served as one of the first District Clerks of Collin County.
The sons of Robert and Elizabeth Kirkpatrick Rudolph were prominent in the life of the community of the last half of the nineteenth century. The four brothers, Sam K. Rudolph, Lige K. Rudolph, Jim K. Rudolph, and Hugh K. Rudolph were fine musicians and had their own band, which they called The Silver Cornet Band. They became quite famous over the state and were called upon to play at political rallies and at the Governor's mansion in Austin. Sam Rudolph headed a locally famous Barbershop Quartet which entertained customers at the Northside Barbershop. Their favorite songs were "Sweet Adaline" and "I'll take you home again Kathleen."
The Rudolph brothers were connected with newspapers. Lige, Sam and Jim. Lige began working for Thomas H. Bingham when he was only 12 years old and at 15 was foreman of the shop in publishing the "Advocate." The three brothers published "The Collin County Mercury" in 1887. The Mercury entered the statewide fight for prohibition and Lige wrote stirring editorials on the subject.
A daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Rudolph, Betty Rudolph and her husband, Paul Gallis, owned and operated the "Opera House" at Greenville.
letter to Waverly, Tennessee written 1869
December 27, 1869 - McKinney, Texas
My dear children, This morning I write you a few lines to inform you that we are all well at this time, hoping you and yours are in good health. This is Sabbath morning after Christmas. The Christmas times are over. Times seem to be quiet. I think all hands will settle down to work before long. The winter is now and has been tolerable light - no snow yet. Some cold winds from the north, and south very cold. Not much rain but people can travel nearly all the time.
Pork time on hand, fine and fat at $5.00. Beef as fine at 2 1/2. Corn at from 25 to 30 cts. Oats in the bundle at $1.00 per hundred. Hay plenty, all delivered. The price of land ranges from 2 to 1- dollars per acre. Dr. Patterson bought on yesterday, within three miles of town, a fine farm and dwelling house and other outbuildings for 9.00 dollars per acre. Mules and good horses high. Some men have as high as 50 to hundred head of large cattle stalling for market. Jefferson is the point to sell and then to New Orleans. Hogs, sheep, and goats all in abundance. These are driven to market. Some large droves sent to Kansas. There are more good wagons bought and sold in Texas than any country that I ever knew anything about.
Blacksmithing here is on this wise. Horse shoeing two dollars a round: buy your shoes at two bits a pair: Your plow slab at 12 1/2 and bar the same; horse bar the same; band iron the same. Nails are higher (nails, horse nails). The smith will iron a two horse wagon for 30 dollars in cash. We have the turning plow in use and the gang plow attached to wheels. The people are greatly in favor of raising cotton. Wheat not much in play. Too far off.
Myself and wife can sit in our room and talk again and again and think. And then we will start afresh and talk how we might have done and how we ought to have done when we had strength of body and mind. To have spent all our lives long in as poor a country as Humphreys, and our thought run from Buffalo to the Cumberland river. Then think of but small streaks of land on the creeks and they so gravely that they can hardly be cultivated. Just turn your eyes to Trace Creek, Blue Creek, Richland, and Whiteoak and the tributaries, and sharp hollows all spouting in to each creek. When you want wood and rails you must lock your wagon before and behind and then get down the best you can. I say when the old lady and myself call all these things up and turn them over again and again, we can but say with my old friend, "Hail, what a fool." Texas is a better country, a better climate, more good health, better prospects for living, better prospects for society, better institutions, better chance to make money, to raise produce, to run machines, railways, wagons, plows, presses, factories, mills and anything you will let your mind fall on.
The town is well supplied with mild and butter, eggs, and potatoes of all kinds, fruit, melons, pumpkins, fish, squirrels, some hams, deer skin pants and coats -- all the products of the Lone Star State. We have eaten more in steak, both beef and deer, since we have lived in Texas than before in our lives. We think we would be in our own light to think of wanting to go back to our old condition in life. it cost us nearly all we had to get here. No more on that subject.
Our dear D. C. we now think if you could not write then would be some excuse for so long a delay. Last New Year, 1868, was the date of your last letter. No communication since that date from your friendly hand. It seems hard that I can't have some of your kind thoughts. We need council from you in the very evening of life. We are situated with our best fiends in the flesh. We do not lack for anything in this life We may say peach and plenty awaits us. We have a friendly call in the morning and as friendly at night. So we think we are favored by the Lord. We think you are well situated with peace and plenty.
We still troy to do something. I work a little in the shop. I serve some on the jury. I have a good two horse wagon and two small ponies and some harness. I (E. Rudolph) have a small lot under contract, 30 ft. in front and 100 back, a small house, 14 by 12, a shop that I., L. W. Parker has a shoe and bott shop. I make wheel barrows and file wheels and so on. The old lady sews, knits, and spins - never satisfied without doing something. She and Mr. Cloyd raised chickens this last year till we all soured on them. Neacy has a fine gang of ducks and plenty of chickens.
A. J. Hall has left town and moved three miles off. Has a good form for which he paid 1600 dollars in gold. Old Brother U. Smith is blind and his wife has lost hear health almost entirely. W. Williams is in good health. All work. Wesley preaches all he can. R. R. Dunlap is married to William's daughter. R. D. is a fat as a pig in the pen. So times pass along. So it will till the end of time.
Now is conclusion I say "write." In the commencement I said "write." If you do not write it shall not be my fault. Give our love to all our old friends. Give Bro. Drummond and wife our love in truth. Tell them that I heard from Frank but never saw him. Tell John Walls and wife that I would loved to hear from them. If old Sister Faulkner is living give her our respects. I want to here from Dr. H. Marable- and how times are in general - how heavy your taxes are. I want to tell you that I have paid poll tax for two years which amounted to five dollars. I had the money. As a jury man my dues on the county is about $45. That enabled me to pay my poll tax. I will tell you that I own a small amount on my ponies. Not in Debt in Texas, only our obligation to Mr. Cloyd and Neacy [possibly short for Bernice?]. I would love to hear from Bro. W. McDivain - whether he is dead or alive. We send our love to you, Mary, Dode, and the boys all jointly. Mr. Cloyd, Neacy send their respects to all and say "write."
E. Rudolph to D. C. and wife
December 27, 1869 - McKinney, Texas
My dear children, This morning I write you a few lines to inform you that we are all well at this time, hoping you and yours are in good health. This is Sabbath morning after Christmas. The Christmas times are over. Times seem to be quiet. I think all hands will settle down to work before long. The winter is now and has been tolerable light - no snow yet. Some cold winds from the north, and south very cold. Not much rain but people can travel nearly all the time.
Pork time on hand, fine and fat at $5.00. Beef as fine at 2 1/2. Corn at from 25 to 30 cts. Oats in the bundle at $1.00 per hundred. Hay plenty, all delivered. The price of land ranges from 2 to 1- dollars per acre. Dr. Patterson bought on yesterday, within three miles of town, a fine farm and dwelling house and other outbuildings for 9.00 dollars per acre. Mules and good horses high. Some men have as high as 50 to hundred head of large cattle stalling for market. Jefferson is the point to sell and then to New Orleans. Hogs, sheep, and goats all in abundance. These are driven to market. Some large droves sent to Kansas. There are more good wagons bought and sold in Texas than any country that I ever knew anything about.
Blacksmithing here is on this wise. Horse shoeing two dollars a round: buy your shoes at two bits a pair: Your plow slab at 12 1/2 and bar the same; horse bar the same; band iron the same. Nails are higher (nails, horse nails). The smith will iron a two horse wagon for 30 dollars in cash. We have the turning plow in use and the gang plow attached to wheels. The people are greatly in favor of raising cotton. Wheat not much in play. Too far off.
Myself and wife can sit in our room and talk again and again and think. And then we will start afresh and talk how we might have done and how we ought to have done when we had strength of body and mind. To have spent all our lives long in as poor a country as Humphreys, and our thought run from Buffalo to the Cumberland river. Then think of but small streaks of land on the creeks and they so gravely that they can hardly be cultivated. Just turn your eyes to Trace Creek, Blue Creek, Richland, and Whiteoak and the tributaries, and sharp hollows all spouting in to each creek. When you want wood and rails you must lock your wagon before and behind and then get down the best you can. I say when the old lady and myself call all these things up and turn them over again and again, we can but say with my old friend, "Hail, what a fool." Texas is a better country, a better climate, more good health, better prospects for living, better prospects for society, better institutions, better chance to make money, to raise produce, to run machines, railways, wagons, plows, presses, factories, mills and anything you will let your mind fall on.
The town is well supplied with mild and butter, eggs, and potatoes of all kinds, fruit, melons, pumpkins, fish, squirrels, some hams, deer skin pants and coats -- all the products of the Lone Star State. We have eaten more in steak, both beef and deer, since we have lived in Texas than before in our lives. We think we would be in our own light to think of wanting to go back to our old condition in life. it cost us nearly all we had to get here. No more on that subject.
Our dear D. C. we now think if you could not write then would be some excuse for so long a delay. Last New Year, 1868, was the date of your last letter. No communication since that date from your friendly hand. It seems hard that I can't have some of your kind thoughts. We need council from you in the very evening of life. We are situated with our best fiends in the flesh. We do not lack for anything in this life We may say peach and plenty awaits us. We have a friendly call in the morning and as friendly at night. So we think we are favored by the Lord. We think you are well situated with peace and plenty.
We still troy to do something. I work a little in the shop. I serve some on the jury. I have a good two horse wagon and two small ponies and some harness. I (E. Rudolph) have a small lot under contract, 30 ft. in front and 100 back, a small house, 14 by 12, a shop that I., L. W. Parker has a shoe and bott shop. I make wheel barrows and file wheels and so on. The old lady sews, knits, and spins - never satisfied without doing something. She and Mr. Cloyd raised chickens this last year till we all soured on them. Neacy has a fine gang of ducks and plenty of chickens.
A. J. Hall has left town and moved three miles off. Has a good form for which he paid 1600 dollars in gold. Old Brother U. Smith is blind and his wife has lost hear health almost entirely. W. Williams is in good health. All work. Wesley preaches all he can. R. R. Dunlap is married to William's daughter. R. D. is a fat as a pig in the pen. So times pass along. So it will till the end of time.
Now is conclusion I say "write." In the commencement I said "write." If you do not write it shall not be my fault. Give our love to all our old friends. Give Bro. Drummond and wife our love in truth. Tell them that I heard from Frank but never saw him. Tell John Walls and wife that I would loved to hear from them. If old Sister Faulkner is living give her our respects. I want to here from Dr. H. Marable- and how times are in general - how heavy your taxes are. I want to tell you that I have paid poll tax for two years which amounted to five dollars. I had the money. As a jury man my dues on the county is about $45. That enabled me to pay my poll tax. I will tell you that I own a small amount on my ponies. Not in Debt in Texas, only our obligation to Mr. Cloyd and Neacy [possibly short for Bernice?]. I would love to hear from Bro. W. McDivain - whether he is dead or alive. We send our love to you, Mary, Dode, and the boys all jointly. Mr. Cloyd, Neacy send their respects to all and say "write."
E. Rudolph to D. C. and wife
