DANIEL H. RUGER, farmer on sec. 32, Aetna Tp., was born in Dutchess Co., N.Y., Feb. 22, 1814. His parents were David and Elizabeth (Hagaman) Ruger, and were natives of New York. When Mr. Ruger was two years old his father died, and his mother was left with the care and responsibilities of maintaining and educating her children, which she did in the most creditable manner. When Daniel H. was 16 years old he was apprenticed to Wm. Phillips, of his native town, and remained in that service until the death of Mr. Phillips, which occurred in the winter of 1831. Soon after that he went to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where he stayed but a few months, then set out to pursue his trade on the "tramp journeyman" plan. In 1848 he came to Cass Co., Mich., and purchased property in Edwardsburg, where he remained four years following his profession, and was justly considered the leader in the calling which he pursued. He next went to Elkhart, Ind., and was there settled until 1863. In that year he enlisted in the Union army, enrolling in the First Michigan Sharpshooters. He reached a Sergeant's rank and was discharged July 23, 1865, having been in six severe engagements, each time escaping unhurt. Leaving the army he went to Cassoplois, this State, resumed his trade and operated there seven years. In 1872 he came to Aetna Tp. and settled on 160 acres of land on sec. 32, where he has since operated in farming and lumbering.
Mr. Ruger was married in Ontario Co., N.Y., March 13, 1836, to Mary L., daughter of Newberry and Mary (Smith) Lay. The parents were natives of New York, where Mrs. Ruger was born July 6, 1818. Of 13 children born of this marriage, seven are living: Catharine, born May 21, 1838; Mary E., May 2, 1840; Arabella, Jan. 7, 1842; Alice A., Jan. 5, 1844; Edna, Jan. 30, 1852; Lillian A., Jan. 10, 1854; Clementina A., Oct. 10, 1856. Silas H. was born April 1, 1837, died in infancy; Anna, born March 25, 1840, died in July, 1872; Daniel Smith, born Dec. 10, 1850, died in 1852; Dan S., born July 6, 1858, died May 1, 1859; Louis, born March 15, 1860, and Josephine A., born Feb. 2, 1848, are deceased.
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