Mary Anna Jackson and Joseph Augustus Ruffner
JOSEPH AUGUSTUS RUFFNER was born October 29, 1847 in Newport, Campbell, Kentucky,182, 5631 and died March 12, 1934 in Charleston, Kanawha, West Virginia.182 He is buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Charleston, Kanawha, West Virginia.182, 456
He married MARY ANNA JACKSON on October 26, 1875 in Wayne County, Indiana,1675 daughter of ANNA MARIA KNOTT and RICHARD JACKSON. She was born April 6, 1856 in Richmond, Wayne, Indiana,182 and died November 30, 1940 in Charleston, Kanawha, West Virginia.182 She is buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Charleston, Kanawha, West Virginia.182, 456
Newspaper Articles
Evening Item, October 17, 19015632
THE GREAT WORK
Of Former Richmond Lady Thrown Into Mire of Politics.
MARY JACKSON RUFFNER
Founded State Hospital for Incurables in West Virginia, an Institution Now Taken in Hand by Politicians—Makes a Vigorous Denouncement of Gov. White.
Mrs. Mary Jackson Ruffner, of Charleston, W. Va., wife of Joseph Ruffner, a prominent attorney of that city, and the daughter of Mrs. Anna M. Jackson, of Richmond, is attracting no little attention in her state at this time as the result of a vigorous denunciation she recently made of the state's chief executive for throwing state humane institutions in the political mire. Mrs. Ruffner, through her personal efforts, created a fund by which the West Virginia hospital for uncurables was founded. She has, therefore, taken great interest in its affairs, which were in the bet of condition until a short time ago, when politics entered into the institution and a non-partisan board was retired. A dispatch from Elkins, W. Va., which was sent out a day or so ago, will be read with interest by Mrs. Ruffner's many Richmond friends. It follows.
If Governor A. B. white ever received as sound a roasting in his life as he did here today the fact isn't on record.
Mrs. Mary Jackson Ruffner, of Charleston, founder of the Home For Incurables, delivered an address before the State's Woman's Christian Union, in session here, and fired hot-shot at the distinguished exclusive from start to finish. Her subject was "The Relation of the Christian to Humane Institutions," and a tip having been given out that the address would be highly sensational, the Methodist church, in which the meeting are being held, was filled to its utmost capacity, many men and local politicians have gathered to hear it.
The address was introduced by a strong and impassioned plea for the divorce of all humane institutions from political management. The speaker charged Governor White with having entered the last legislature with a determined purpose to destroy the usefulness and original purpose of the State Asylum for Incurables. "He has," she said, "placed the only institution in the state for God and humanity in the hands of professional politicians."
The superintendent, who had spent ten of the best years of his life in fostering ad establishing the institution, had been removed without reason, and a practical politician placed at its head, a man who had confined rheumatic and nervous people in dark, damp basements and poorly ventilated rooms.
She stated that politics had put Dr. Guthrie into the superintendency of the institution, and religion ought to put him out. The superintendent, Mrs. Ruffner said, forced the inmates to occupy awful quarters, in order that his small family might have use of eighteen large, well ventilated rooms and a bath room. An affidavit was read from the matron who had resigned because her conscience would not permit her to remain and witness the alleged inhuman cruelty to the inmates. The affidavit sets forth treatment, that, if true, would doubtless create one of the greatest sensations in the state's history.
It says that little children who are troublesome, but harmless, are placed in straight-jackets, and thus fearfully tortured, except on visitors' day, when they are temporarily released; that a small, ill-ventilated room was set aside for punishment of the inmates, a fact which, when the character of the poor inmates was considered, would be revolting to even the hardest-hearted. Governor White was blamed and censured for the entire actions of a superintendent of his appointment. Mrs. Ruffner was frequently interrupted by applause.
Obituaries
Richmond Palladium and Sun-Telegram, March 20, 19345631
Resident Here Many Years Ago, Is Dead
Joseph Ruffner, 85 years old, who lived here years ago and married Miss Mary Jackson of this city, died last week at his residence in Charleston, W. Va. He was prominent as an attorney and for years was the oldest United States commissioner in the country.
Mr. Ruffner retired from law practice several years ago, having engaged in that profession since 1871. He was born at Newport, Ky., in 1848. His father, Danniel Ruffner was a native of Willow Groves Mills, Shenandoah county, Virginia, in November, 1779.
Joseph Ruffner served 20 years as a United States commissioner, his last term expiring September, 188. For 37 years he seved as a recorder for the Beni Kedem temple of the Masonic order. His grandfather, Joseph Ruffner, Sr., at one time owned all the land occupied by the city of Charleston with the exception of a few blocks. He was the first member of the family to settle here. Survivng is his widow, the former Miss Mary Jackson of Richmond.
