Remembering A Grand
Reunion
by Melissa Ruffner, 2003 Ruffner Reunion Chairman
Prescott Arizona won't soon forget the reunion of the Ruffner family in June 2003! Fourteen states were represented with 16 attending from Illinois, 9 from Ohio, 8 each from Arizona, California, and Florida, 6 each from Colorado and Virginia, 3 each from Pennsylvania and Washington, 2 each from Idaho, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, and one each from Connecticut and South Carolina.
On Friday morning, as cousins began arriving at the historic Hotel St. Michael on Prescott's tree shaded Courthouse Plaza, new friendships were forged, and old ones renewed. We visited Sharlot Hall Museum (founded by the first female to hold public office in the Arizona Territory, and close friend of several Ruffner generations) where we were welcomed by director Richard Sims. The archival staff, especially Lorri Carlson, assisted in the preparation of the spiral bound print-out of all the reference cards relating to Ruffner archival material in the collection. Senior Curator Norm Ressman displayed and allowed us to photograph historic Ruffner artifacts, including the bridle and martingale presented to George Ruffner on the occasion of his being the first man on record in the Arizona Territory to bulldog a steer. This leaping off a running horse to bring a horned critter to the ground soon became a scheduled event at the world's oldest rodeo, which George helped to organize.
Mary Ward Ruffner, wife of Lester, and the first public school music teacher in the territory, and Mary (Mollie Birchett Ruffner, wife of Sheriff George Ruffner, are memorialized in the museum rose garden along with other women who have lived in the Arizona Territory, which became a state in 1912.
In the afternoon, we gathered in the beautiful St. Michael Hotel ballroom to hear presentations on our Ruffner ancestors. Elisabeth Ruffner presented a slide lecture titled, "Catherine White and Harrison Newton Ruffner and their Descendants in the West." Melissa Ruffner spoke on Morris Andrew Ruffner and Jim Lockwood, a member of the Arizona Rangers who study lawmen and outlaws of the territory, gave an illustrated lecture on George C. Ruffner. These presentations were followed by the first of two auctions of items donated by Ruffner cousins - the proceeds of which go to the Ruffner Family Association for special projects.
Many Ruffners used their reunion booklet to take the self-guided walking/driving tour of Ruffner historic sites. Later Melissa guided a walking tour of Prescott's downtown assisted by her granddaughter Faith Leahy of Connecticut. The tour concluded at the site of an historic plaque marking the site of the Ruffner Plaza Stables funded jointly by the City of Prescott and the Ruffner Family Association. Mayor Rowle Simmons and City Councilman Robert Behnke welcomed the group to Prescott.
In the pictures from left to right (click on individual
pictures to enlarge)-
#1) Melissa Ruffner leads tour of downtown Prescott
#2) Prescott Mayor Rowle Simmons with Melissa Ruffner and Elisabeth Ruffner at
the site of the historic plaque
#3) Outgoing RFA president Sam McNeely, Prescott Mayor Rowle Simmons, and
incoming RFA president Dan Ruffner at the site of the historic plaque
The gala banquet and association annual began with an elegant dinner at the Hotel St. Michael ballroom where we welcomed new President Dan Ruffner, after thanking outgoing president Sam McNeely. After dessert, we were entertained by the Granite Creek Band and a dance caller who had most of us on the floor for the better part of three hours. Cousin Virginia Rigg, age 99, was seen tapping her feet and everyone had a ball!
Pictures of each table at the gala banquet (click on individual pictures to enlarge)
Elisabeth Ruffner and her daughter Melissa Ruffner. Melissa Ruffner
served as the 2003 Ruffner Reunion Chairman.
Bob Sheets presents outgoing RFA president Sam McNeely with a gift at the
banquet. Current RFA president Dan Ruffner looks on.
The closing activities on Sunday included an authentic cowboy chuckwagon lunch plus family group photos taken with the latest technology allowing us to view them on the spot. The second auction was conducted by Melissa, ably assisted by Gary Ruffner, resulting in a grand total of $1041 paid by generous family members.
In the pictures from left to right (click on individual pictures to
enlarge) -
#1) Scene of the chuckwagen lunch
#2) Melissa Ruffner conducts the auction
#3) RFA Board Member Bob Sheets sporting a western look
#4) The Benjamin Ruffner line from Peter poses for a picture
#5) Some of the Ruffner Family Association that are part of the youth board
Many, many thanks to all who helped with every aspect of planning the production of this memorable gathering. Wouldn't our forebears be proud to see this large and loving family in action? I can hardly wait to see you in Mary Steinman's country - Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 2005.
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