Our Beloved Ruby Lee Rouse

Ruby Lee Rouse

It is a fortunate thing when someone touches your life in such a way that  memories sustain you throughout your life.  For me, that special person was  my grandmother, Ruby Rouse Giddens.  She was wise, loving, kind and held a quiet strength that carried her through some pretty difficult times. In other words, she was a great role model for her family.   I hope this edition will convey how special Ruby was to everyone who knew her.

I wasn't sure what I would uncover for her ancestry.  I am happy to report that I have been able to uncover quite a bit.  The interesting thing is that of all the loved ones I have researched so far, Ruby's family has the largest number of different families intertwined to create her story.  Kind of like a patchwork quilt. How fitting.
 Those who knew Ruby, know she was quite the quilter, so why not tell her story as if it were a quilt? The first pieces of this quilt will be items and documents I have found online or in books.  The other pieces of the quilt will be photos, conversations, and memories provided by family members .  All of these will be sewn together to create a biographical quilt I will call:

 "Ruby's Quilt"
A Patchwork of a Life Well-Lived

Ruby's Father's Heritage:
Rouse
Rouse Name Meaning
    English: nickname for a person with red hair, from Middle English, Old French rous ‘red(-haired)’ (Latin russ(e)us). Americanized spelling of German Raus.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press

The Rouse family can be traced back to Ruby's great grandfather, Joseph B. Rouse, Jr. (abt. 1820 - 1888). Joseph married twice.  His first wife was Nancy Burton (abt 1824 - abt 1854).  The 1850 census shows that they lived in Macon, GA.  By that time, they had 5 children: James Joseph, Nancy Margaret, Elizabeth, Martha, and Susan.  Jessie and Jonathan (Ruby's grandfather) would be born in 1851 and 1853, respectively. 

1850 census.  Family of Joseph B. Rouse with first wife Nancy Burton

By 1860, the Rouse family would live in Sumter, GA with Joseph's 2nd wife, Sarah J. Contin(sp)?.  Some family records state that they married around 1856.  Sarah would bring 4 children to the marriage, James H., Mary E, William B., and Henry O.  Joseph and Sarah then expanded the family with 4 more children: Fannie, Robert, Emma, and Ida.  Since Joseph B. was a farmer, I guess he had to keep the farmhands coming!  

1860 census.  J.B. would be married to his second wife Sarah J Contin(sp?)

In 1875,  Joseph and Nancy's youngest son, Jonathan, married Mary Elva Pounds.  Together, they had 8 children: Claudius, James Joseph (J.J.), Eva, Mela, Masy E, Fannie, Roy and Jonah.  The 1900 census shows that the family lived in Dougherty, GA. 

1880 census shows Jonathan and Elva living with her parents James and Nancy Pounds. 

1900 census shows the Rouse family living in Daugherty, GA.  Eldest son Claudius is listed as head of household.  It is believed that Jonathan died around 1888.

Ruby's Mother's Heritage:

 Fletcher
Fletcher is a surname of English, Scottish, and Irish origin. The name is an occupational name for an arrowsmith or seller of arrows, derived from the Middle English, Old English "Fulcher" or Old French flech(i)er (in turn from Old French fleche "arrow").
Fletcher (surname) - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher_(surname)

John Fletcher's Ancestry:

Fletcher Family History

source: History of Irwin County by J.B. Clements pg.418. William was Ruby's great great grandfather

According to the book, History of Irwin County by J. B. Clements, John W. Fletcher, Jr. (1861-1942) was born in Irwin county to John W. Fletcher Sr. and his 2nd wife, Martha Slaughter (1835-1891). They were descendants of William Fletcher, explained here:

John W. Fletcher, Sr. was Ruby's maternal great grandfather.  His first wife was Mary Ellen Paulk.  His 2nd wife was Martha Slaughter, not Parson. source: History of Irwin County by J.B. Clements, pg.432

 

Picture of a John Fletcher and wife.  Not sure if this is John W. Fletcher Sr, but he is kin.  FYI, Micajah Paulk (#3) is an ancestor of Ruby's maternal grandmother, Catherine as well as my mother's family Gibbs.  All Pioneers of the area. The family quilt keeps getting bigger!

1870 census in the household of John W. and Martha Fletcher. I love reading these, especially when they list lots of other family members who lived nearby.

Ruby's grandfather John Fletcher, Jr was a farmer who raised cattle and crops on his farm in Berrien County.  John married Catherine Paulk (1862-1940) on    April 12, 1883. They had 2 daughters: Sarah and Margaret.

Ruby's grandfather, John W. Fletcher, Jr

Catherine Paulk's Ancestry:

Paulk
    Variant spelling of Scottish Polk, a reduced form of Pollock. Shortened form of German Paulke, a pet form Paul.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Pressk's Ancestry:

Catherine Paulk's grandfather and grandmother were Thomas and Nancy Henderson Paulk

source:Irwin County History by J.B. Clements pg 426

Catherine was the only living child of Daniel C. Paulk (1837-1862) and Margaret Gaskins (1835-1900). They also had an infant son Daniel, who died at birth on April 15, 1863. 

Gravesite of Infant Son of Daniel C. and Margaret Gaskins Paulk  source:findagrave.com

Gravesite of Margaret Gaskins Paulk, Catherine's mother. source: findagrave.com

Daniel C. Paulk served in the 50th GA Regiment of the Confederate Army.  He mustered out in August of 1862 and his regiment went to VA.  He died of 'disease', possibly measles in Winchester, VA on November 2, 1862, leaving a then pregnant wife with a small daughter, Catherine.   He is buried at the Stonewall Confederate Cemetery in Winchester, VA.  Unfortunately, his headstone is mismarked as are several from this regiment.  One of these days, I hope to visit his gravesite.

Daniel C. Paulk headstone incorrectly spelled at Stonewall Confederate Cemetery, Winchester, VA

 

Vindication for me.  There are so many errors about Daniel C. Paulk online.  He had a cousin also named Daniel Paulk who served in the 49th Regiment and died in 1863 of wounds suffered in the war.  The overlap is overwhelming.  This one paragraph states what I suspected to be true as far as his correct burial site.                                                                   source: Wiregrass to Appomattox by James W. Parrish

On a separate note, to learn more about Daniel's regiment, I highly recommend the book Wiregrass to Appomattox: The Untold Story of GA 50th Regiment, CSA by James W. Parrish.  It is interesting and eye opening.  

Now, where were we?  Oh yeah, Daniel Paulk's heritage.

Parents of Daniel Paulk, Thomas and Nancy Henderson Paulk. photo courtesy of Derek Ennis Veal

Daniel was the son of Thomas Paulk (1812-1894) and Nancy Henderson (1810-1901).    One of Thomas and Nancy's children was Mahala Henderson Paulk, Daniel's sister.  She would marry my mother's 3rd g greatfather, James Gibbs, Sr.  This is the connection of those two families intertwined with ours.

Gaskins and McMillan

                  Margaret Gaskins' (Catherine's mother) parents were                                William (1804-1880) and Jane McMillan Gaskins (1816-1894).  

source:findagrave.com

 Jane's parents were Daniel McMillan (1782-1838) and Margaret Smith(1785-1819).  They were from N.C. and died in Irwin Co. 

Daniel McMillan gravesite source:findagrave.com

Ruby's Own Family is Added to the Quilt

Ruby's Parents: James Joseph(JJ) and Sarah Fletcher Rouse

Ruby Lee Rouse was born to Sarah Fletcher (1884- 1912) and James Joseph "J.J." Rouse (1878-1964)  on March 15, 1910 in Alapaha GA.  Sarah and JJ had 3 children:  James Paul 1908-1962, Ruby 1910-2003, baby James Aldine 1912.

1910 Census of JJ and Sarah Rouse with daughters Ruby and Margaret

Ruby's Birthplace in Alapaha GA.  Photo courtesy of Gail Giddens Mosely

 

Ruby's mother Sarah Fletcher Rouse photo courtesy of Gail Giddens Mosely

The story of Ruby's young childhood is a sad one.  Shortly after her mother gave birth to James Aldine, she hemorrhaged and died shortly after his birth.  Baby James would only live to be a few months old.  Circumstances of his death are not factually known, but some stories state he may have been malnourished. 

Sarah and James are buried in the Jane Gaskins Family Cemetery, Berrien Co. Photo source:findagrave.com

 By 1917, J.J. remarried.  His second wife was Lula McPhaul. This WWI draft card shows they lived in Enigma, GA.  My father remembers Ruby saying that she and Uncle Paul had some schooling in Enigma.  

1917 WWI draft card for JJ Rouse.  Shows place of residence as Enigma with next of kin being 2nd wife, Lula

It is not known when or under what circumstances, but Paul and Ruby would eventually return to their grandparents, John W. and Catherine Fletcher, and be raised by them on their farm in Berrien County.  
J.J. and Lula would have two children, Elva and Joseph.

1930 Census shows JJ and Lula lived in Ocilla, GA

 At some point the family moved to Jacksonville, FL.  J.J. worked for the Florida-Times Union.  Their son Joseph would work in NYC as a visual merchandiser for large department stores. He would eventually return to Tifton in his latter years.

J.J. and Lula are buried in Riverside Memorial Cemetery, Jacksonville FL

JJ Rouse grave marker in Jacksonville, FL. photo: findagrave.com

Ruby's brother, Paul

James "Paul" Rouse was two years older than Ruby, born in 1908 in Fitzgerald GA. According to both Grandma and my Dad, Paul loved cars. He loved working on them and he loved driving them......FAST! It's no wonder he became a mechanic.  Dad said he owned one sweet Model A Ford. Grandma used to tell a funny story of her brother sneaking out of the house at 2 am, joy riding with friends, and running off the side of the road near a bridge at the Satilla River. He had to confess to Grandpa Fletcher what had happened, but in telling the story, he pronounced it the Sentilly river.  She used to get so tickled by that mispronunciation.

 

This 1930 census shows Paul living as a boarder with the Rowe family in Douglas, GA.  His profession is listed as mechanic.

During WWII, Paul served in the US Navy on the destroyer USS Moale.

USS Moale

 

Paul Rouse draft registration.  He names his grandfather Johnnie Fletcher as next of kin,

Sometime after the war, Paul married Miss Nellie Brogdan. She worked in a fire tower for the forestry service. They lived on farm outside of Nashville, GA, which she inherited from her father.  Paul died in 1962.  He and Nellie were driving in the fields of the farm when Paul went into cardiac arrest and died right there in the car.  Nellie died in 2006.  Both are buried in Riverside Missionary  Cemetery in Berrien Co.  Interesting note here is that his father is buried in Riverside Memorial in Jax, FL

 

Grave marker showing Uncle Paul's WWII service.Source: findagrave.com

Uncle Paul and Nellie's gravesite in Berrien Co.  source: findagrave.com

Ruby's Adult Life

On August 5th, 1927, Ruby Rouse married Robert Eugene Giddens.  They began their married life in Willacoochee, living with Gene's parents, J.T. and Mamie Giddens. They would live in Douglas, GA for a time and return to Willacoochee to live the remainder of their lives on a beautiful farm we all loved so much.

Together, they had six children:
(Katherine) Wynelle b. 1929
Lowell Thomas b. 1932
(James) Robert b. 1934 - d. 1994
Betty (Jean) b. 1936
Glenn (Edward) b. 1944
(Mamie)Gail b. 1948

Ruby Giddens with her 6 children. Photo credit: Lowell Giddens

The Final Pieces of Ruby's Quilt

As I stated at the beginning of this blog, I wanted to do something really special in telling grandma's story.  I often hear people say they regret never writing or recording stories of loved ones who have passed on.  Luckily, we won't have that regret.   The following videos are conversations and recollections of Ruby's life and childhood memories as told to me by her eldest son, Lowell, who also happens to be my dad.  Part I will cover her childhood in Berrien Co.  Part II will cover her adult life with her husband and children in Willacoochee.  I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed producing them.


Ruby's Quilt, Pt. 1: Her Childhood

Ruby's Quilt, Pt. 2: A Family of Her Own

This particular edition would not have been possible without the assistance of the following people:

Lowell Giddens, for taking the time to record his memories for the family and providing this gift to us all.
Gail Giddens Mosely, for pictures, documents, and clarification of family history.
Kenneth McMillan, for letting me borrow the 'red' book : Record of McMillan and Allied Families.
Karen McMillan Carter & Debbie Giddens DeWitt, for photo contributions.

Mike McAuliffe, for moral support and patience as I spent hours on the computer putting this together.

Can't thank you all enough!!!

Until next time,

Melody

Sources:

Ancestry.com, familysearch.org, findagrave.com, wikipedia.com, Fold3.com, 

Record of McMillan and Allied Families by Robert H. McMillan

Irwin Co. History by J.B. Clements

Wiregrass to Appomattox: History of the GA 50th Regiment, CSA by James W. Parrish