2002 Booker T. Washington Family Reunion
Charleston, WVIn the last half of the 1860s, a unique relationship evolved between Booker T. Washington and his benefactors, Viola (Knapp) Ruffner and Lewis Ruffner. The friendship and correspondence between the respective families was interrupted in 1915 by the death of Booker. In 1999, a relationship between the Ruffner and Washington families was renewed when two of Booker’s granddaughters were located and accepted an invitation to attend the Ruffner family reunion at Lancaster, OH. The introduction of Edith (Washington) Johnson and her sister Margaret (Washington) Clifford gave new life to this long dormant relationship.
On June 21 - 23, 2002 the Booker T. Washington Family Reunion was held in Charleston, WV. That same weekend the Ruffner Family Association held it's Annual Meeting in Malden, WV. It was such an honor for the Ruffners to be invited to participate in this celebration of the Washington family in the community where our families first came together over 140 years earlier.
On Friday June 21 the Ruffner Family Association held its Annual Meeting in the Kanawha Salines Presbyterian Church at Salines and Wayne Streets in Malden, WV. David Ruffner (1767 - 1843), the grandson of Peter Ruffner, gave the land and put up the money for the building of this church. In 1839 his son, Dr. Henry Ruffner, dedicated the church. It was to this church that General Lewis Ruffner (another son of David Ruffner) and Viola (Knapp) Ruffner first brought Booker T. Washington, beginning a lifetime of strong friendship. The current building was constructed in 1840.
The pictures below (1), 2), & 3) are of the exterior of the beautiful historic Kanawha Salines Presbyterian Church located near the Kanawha River and mountains of West Virginia.
On that Friday afternoon the Ruffner family and the Washington family gathered together in the Kanawha Salines Presbyterian Church for a Memorial Service to honor the memory of Edith Washington Johnson (who passed away on January 6, 2002) and Doris Laver Ruffner (who passed away on April 9, 2002). Doris was the coauthor (with Olive Taylor Ruffner) of the "Peter Ruffner and His Descendants" books published in 1966 and 1969. Edith was very instrumental with bringing the Washington and Ruffner families back together. From left to right the below pictures are as follows:
4) The families gather prior to the service.
5) Red carnations are placed by Margaret Washington Clifford of Georgia and Joe Ruffner of Alabama (descendant of Joseph Ruffner) to honor Edith and Doris. Joe tied these carnations together to remind us of the bonds between our families and our determination to never let the ties be broken.
6) Bob Sheets of Colorado (descendant of Benjamin) looks on as Kate Ruffner of Ohio (descendant of Emanuel Ruffner) reads Native American poems by Nancy Wood ("Today is a Very Good Day to Die" and "A Long Time I Have Lived With You").
7) Bob Sheets eulogizes both Edith and Doris.
8) At the conclusion of the service the families had a chance to mingle. From left to right are Edith's sons Charles Hughes and Eric Hughes, Doug Ruffner (back to camera), and Margaret Washington Clifford.
9) Seated on the front pew are Virginia Rigg of Colorado, Margaret Washington Clifford, and Fred Ruffner of Michigan.
At the conclusion of the service both families made their way to the Malden, WV home of West Virginia State Senator Larry Rowe for a reception.
10) The back yard was complete with tents (a wonderful sight on a very HOT day !!), food, and beverage.
11) Rosalyn (Burton) Ruffner of Kentucky and Ruth (Byers) Ruffner of Oklahoma.
12) Kail Ruffner of Kentucky (descendant. of Emanuel) and RFA President Sam McNeely of Virginia (descendant of Joseph).
At the Embassy Suites in Charleston, WV the Opening Reception for the Booker T. Washington Family Reunion was held.
13) Margaret Washington Clifford speaks during the opening reception.
On Saturday morning June 22, 2002 a few from the Ruffner family made the journey to the West Virginia State Capital complex to visit the Holly Grove Mansion at 1710 Kanawha Blvd. The home was built in 1815 by Daniel Ruffner on land he inherited from his father Joseph. His plantation extended from Ruffner Avenue east to near Daniel Boone Park and from the Kanawha River to the hills behind the city. Some of the holly trees that gave the house its name still exist on the Capital lawn. The home was sold out of the family in 1902 and was considerably altered by James Nash, adding the pillared portico. It has recently been restored by the State of West Virginia and houses the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services.
14) Dan Ruffner and daughter Kate Ruffner of Ohio (descendants of Emanuel) stand in the front yard of Holly Grove.
15) The Ruffners mill around the front porch prior to an official picture.
16) The official Ruffner family picture at Holly Grove
17) The Ruffners sit around the back of Holly Grove and learn about its history.
After the Ruffners completed their tour of Holly Grove, a few of us walked the West Virginia State Capital grounds. The Washington family was assembling for a picture in front of the Booker T. Washington Monument.
18) The Booker T. Washington Monument - The monument inscription is as follows:BOOKER TALIAFERRO WASHINGTON
1856 - BORN A LOWLY SLAVE
1915 - DIED A GREAT AMERICANFamous educator, author, lecturer and advocate of the doctrine of interracial cooperation.
Booker T. Washington was born near Hale's Ford, Franklin County, VA. He spent his early life here in Malden, West Virginia. He was employed in the Ruffner Salt Works and by Mrs. Viola Ruffner, to whom he gave credit for inspiring him to secure an education.
He graduated from Hampton Institute, Hampton, Virginia 1875 and returned to Malden where he taught school for two years. Later he became an instructor and assistant to the president of his alma mater.
By his originality, vision and force he established in 1881 the first vocational school for Negroes in America at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, through his emphasis on training the hands, as well as the mind, he taught the value of vocational education not only to the Negro youth but to the world.He lifted the men of ignorance from his people and pointed the way to progress through industry and education.
19) The Washington family gathering on the steps for the picture.
20) One of many official pictures taken this group.
Near the State Capital complex is Ruffner Memorial Park (also called Rifleman's Park). The park is located on Kanawha Blvd near Elizabeth Street. The park was once the burial ground of the Ruffner Family and many early pioneers of the Valley. Most graves were moved to Spring Hill Cemetery in 1870, but the tomb of Joseph Ruffner (Peter Ruffner's son) and his wife Ann (Heistand) Ruffner is on the left. Elizabeth (Painter) Ruffner, the wife of Joseph's son Daniel, is also here. A monument to the Kanawha Riflemen with Ruffner members is also in this park.
21) Kail Ruffner and his son Dan Ruffner stand at the gravesite of Joseph Ruffner. The inscription on the stone reads:Here are the graves of Joseph Ruffner and Anna his wife who was born in Shenandoah County September 25, 1740. She was born in the same county 1742.
They emigrated to Kanawha in 1795 and became the proprietors of the bottom and the salt spring at Campbell’s Creek. He died March 23, 1803. She died August 19,1820. They were the parents of David, Joseph, Samuel, Tobias, Eve, Daniel and Abra B.
Let their spotless integrity, useful industry and sincere piety be remembered and imitated by their descendants.22) Across the road from the park is a State Historic Marker calling attention to "The Ruffners". Kail and Dan Ruffner also appear in this picture.
The Ruffner family invited the Washington family to stop by the Joseph Ruffner Log Cabin in Daniel Boone Park for refreshments while on their way to afternoon activities. This log cabin originally stood at 1538 Kanawha Blvd on the site of a home called Rosedale. This log cabin, considered to be built by Joseph Ruffner after he moved the family out of Fort Lee and prior to his death in 1803, was discovered when the existing home was taken down in 1969. Rosedale was the home of Joel Ruffner, brother of Augustus. The log home was removed to Daniel Boone Park in 1976.
23) Marker at the site of the Joseph Ruffner Log Cabin in Daniel Boone Park.
24) Family gathers inside and outside the cabin for lunch.
25) Those sitting on the front step of the cabin are, from left to right, Bob Sheets of Colorado (descendant of Benjamin), Kail Ruffner of Kentucky (descendant of Emanuel), Joe Ruffner of Alabama (descendant of Joseph), and Dan Ruffner of Ohio (descendant of Emanuel).
Some other items of interest in the Charleston/Malden, West Virginia area are:
26) Ruffner Memorial Church - 1698 Quarrier Street. This church was built in 1920 replacing an earlier church built on land donated by Hattie Maxwell Ruffner in memory of her husband Meredith Payson Ruffner who died that year. This land too was part of the original Ruffner Plantation.
27) The intersection of Ruffner Avenue and Kanawha Blvd in Charleston, WV.
28) Heading into Malden you cannot miss this State Historical Marker describing the work of David and Joseph Ruffner in drilling the first well through solid rock.
In the afternoon of Saturday June 21, the Ruffner family met at the Ruffner Burial Ground in Malden, WV. RFA President Sam McNeely had done much work in preparation for the rededication service at the cemetery.
29) Standing from left to right are Rosalyn Ruffner of Kentucky behind the grave of General Lewis Ruffner, Roberta Ruffner Kirwin of Ohio behind the grave of Dr. Henry Ruffner, Phyllis Hershock of Pennsylvania behind the grave of Anna Brombach (wife of Joseph's son David), and Nancy Lee Shifflet of Virginia behind the grave of David Ruffner.
30) The Ruffner family planted a memorial tree at the Ruffner Burial Ground in memory of Edith Washington Johnson.
On Saturday evening July 21 we all gathered again at the Embassy Suites for the Booker T. Washington Family Reunion banquet. The Washington and Ruffner families again got together for a wonderful meal, program, and fellowship. Prior to dinner we all posed for an official family picture. The master of ceremonies for the evening was Edith’s son, Charles Hughes. Dr. Carolyn Dorsey provided the main presentation for the evening with a discussion of Olivia Davidson Washington (Booker’s second wife) and her role in the development of the Tuskegee Institute. Toward the end of the evening Margaret Washington Clifford and Eric Hughes provided special remarks. Our RFA President, Sam McNeely, then presented a check to Margaret in the amount of $1000 for the scholarship fund at The Tuskegee University from the Ruffner Family Association.
31) Picture of Edith Charles of New York and Ann (Hoffman) Ruffner of Ohio. Edith Charles served as the point person for registration materials and collection of reunion funds.
32) Picture of Gerald Barnett, Dan Ruffner, Van Barnett, and David Barnett. The three Barnett brothers all reside in Texas. The 2002 Booker T. Washington Family Reunion was co-chaired by David and Gerald Barnett with help from Van Barnett.
On Sunday June 22 we all began to go our separate ways. Those of us that attended the Washington reunion came away with a feeling that we had participated and experienced something very special. We all anxiously await the Booker T. Washington Family Reunion to be held at Hampton, VA in 2004.
