Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/381

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RUTER
RUTHERFOORD

“Rudiments of Gesture” (1838); “American Elocutionist” (1844); “Orthophony, or Cultivation of the Voice” (1845); “Elements of Musical Articulation” (1845); “Pulpit Elocution” (1853); “Exercises in Words” (1856); and edited numerous school-books and several minor educational manuals. — His son, Francis Thayer, clergyman, b. in Roxbury, Mass., 10 June, 1828, was educated at Andover, graduated at the theological department of Trinity in 1854, and ordained priest in 1855. Afterward he became pastor of Protestant Episcopal churches in New Britain, Ridgefield, and Waterbury, Conn., and was professor of elocution at Hobart, Trinity, the Berkeley divinity-school, and the General theological seminary, New York city. Since 1875 he has been rector of St. Margaret's diocesan school for girls in Waterbury, Conn. Mr. Russell has won reputation as an elocutionist, still holding professorships in two theological seminaries. He has published “Juvenile Speaker” (New York, 1846), “Practical Reader” (1853), and edited a revised edition of his father's work under the title of “Vocal Culture” (1882), and is the author of “Use of the Voice” (1882).


RUTER, Martin, clergyman, b. in Charlton. Worcester co., Mass., 3 April, 1785 ; d. in Washington. Tex., Hi May, 1838. He received a common- school education, studied theology, and in June, 1801. was admitted to the New York conference of the .Methodist Episcopal church. He preached in New Hampshire and Montreal, Canada, became an elder at the age of twenty, was stationed at Boston, Mass.. Portland, Me., and other places, had charge for a time of New Market academy, and in 1820-'8 conducted the Book-concern in Cincinnati, Ohio. When Augusta college, Ky., was established in 1828 he was selected for the presidency, and he held that office until he resigned in order to return to the ministry in 1832. He preached in Pittsburg, Pa., for two years, and then became president of Allegheny college. Obtaining the appointment of superintendent of the mission to Texas, he resigned in July. 1837. He went to the field that he had selected, rode more than 2,000 miles through Texas, organized churches, made arrangements for establishing a college, and laid out the greater part of the state into circuits. The fatigues and privations that he endured destroyed his health, and he died after setting out on the homeward journey. He was the first Methodist clergyman in the United States to receive the degree of D. D., which was conferred on him by Transylvania university in 1820. Rutersville, Tex., was named for him, and the college there was founded in his honor. Dr. Ruter published a "Collection of Miscellaneous Pieces"; "Explanatory Notes on the Ninth Chapter of Romans"; "Sketch of Calvin's Life, and Doctrine"; "Letter on Calvin and Calvinism" (1816); "Hebrew Grammar"; 'History of Martyrs"; "Ecclesiastical History," which was long a standard text-book in theological seminaries; and several educational text-books. He left unfinished a "Plea for Africa as a Field for Missionary Labor" and a "Life of Bishop Asbury."


RUTGERS, Henry, patriot, b. in New York city 7 Oct., 1745; d. there, 17 Feb., 1830. He was graduated at Columbia in 1766, served as a captain in the American army at the battle of White Plains, and subsequently was a colonel of New York militia. During the British occupation of New York city his house was used as a barrack and hospital. Col. Rutgers was a member of the New York legislature in 1784, and was frequently re-elected. He was the proprietor of land on East river, in the vicinity of Chatham square, and in other parts of the city, and gave sites for streets, schools, churches, and charities. He presided over a meeting that was held on 24 June, 1812, to prepare against an expected attack of the British, and contributed toward defensive works. From 1802 till 1826 he was one of the regents of the State university. He gave $5,000 for the purpose of reviving Queen's college in New Jersey, the name of which was changed to Rutgers college on 5 Dec., 1825. See memoir “New York Genealogical and Biographical Record” of April, 1886; and “The Rutgers Family of New York,” by Ernest H. Crosby (New York, 1886).


RUTHERFOORD, Thomas, merchant, b. in Glasgow. Scotland, 7 Jan., 1766; d. in Richmond, Va., 31 Jan., 1852. He was designed by his family for the church, but at the age of fifteen years entered the counting-house of Hawkesley and Rutherfoord, Dublin, Ireland, at the head of which was his eldest brother, John. In 1784 he was sent to Virginia in charge of two vessels with valuable cargoes, and went to Richmond, where he established a warehouse. In 1788 he returned to Dublin and became a partner in the firm, but he came again to Richmond in 1789, made that city his home, and married there in 1790. Beginning with a capital of 600, he accumulated a handsome fortune. He was successful both in the shipping and milling business, was public-spirited, and exercised great liberality. He gave to the city of Richmond the ground on which the penitentiary now stands, and made other gifts of city property to private citizens. When too old to continue in active business, he collected around him his many friends and relatives and was the centre of a charming circle, whom he entertained by his bright conversation and witty sayings. He left a manuscript autobiography in his own handwriting, which is preserved by his descendants. During the congressional session of 1820 the question of a protective tariff was raised for the first time. The merchants of Richmond, in September, 1820, adopted a memorial protesting against a course so injurious to their interests, and Mr. Rutherfoord was selected to draft it. It was presented in their behalf by John Tyler; and in after-years, when ex-President Tyler was invited to lecture in Richmond, he selected for his subject "Richmond and its Memories" one of those memories being " Thomas Rutherfoord. his Anti-Tariff Memorial and other Political Writings." His eldest son, John, b. in Richmond, Va.. 6 Dec., 1792; d. at Richmond., Va., in July, 1866, received his education at Princeton, and studied law, but practised his profession only a short time. He was for many years president of the Virginia mutual assurance society, the first institution of this kind in the state, and held this post until his death. He was the first captain of the Richmond Fayette artillery and became colonel of the regiment, and was known thenceforth as "Colonel John." Col. Rutherfoord became lieutenant-governor of Virginia in 1840, and, upon the death of Gov. Thomas Gilmer in 1841, succeeded him as