The Ruffners Returned To Lexington, VA and Washington & Lee University - June 12 and 13th, 2001.
On June 12th, after meeting at the Historic Lexington Visitor Center, we headed to the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery (on South Main Street). A flag ceremony was held by Joe Ruffner and the young Ruffners placed a flag at the graves of William Henry Ruffner (son of Henry Ruffner) & Harriet Gray Ruffner and their family. The Stonewall Jackson monument overlooks this site.
From the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, the Ruffner Family car caravan moved on to the Timber Ridge Church, where Henry Ruffner served as pastor from 1819 - 1831. Members of the church graciously took the time to talk about the history of the church, especially during the time that Henry Ruffner served there. At the back of the the church was a role call of all ministers that have served this congregation.
On June 13th the Ruffner Family was the guest of Washington and Lee University. We met with Lisa McCowen of the Special Collections at the Leyburn Library. Prior to our arrival, the library staff had pulled many interesting items for us to browse and copy. Later we had a reception in the Garden Room of the Morris House with W & L University officials and faculty.
Especially appreciated by the visiting Ruffner Family was a tour of the Lee-Jackson House hosted by Dean David & Chris Howison. The home was built for Henry Ruffner while he served as president (1836 - 1848) of Washington College. The home also has other significant historical value. In 1853 Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson married Washington College President Dr. George Junkin's daughter Eleanor in the front room by the fireplace pictured below. The Jackson's lived in this house in the addition seen below (see sideview of house - the Jackson addition is at the far right). Eleanor Junkin Jackson died as a result of childbirth the following year, but Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson continued to live in the home until he remarried in 1857. When Robert E. Lee served as president at the university following the Civil War, he lived at this house from December 1865 - June 1869.
While traveling to Luray, VA for the Ruffner Family Reunion 2001, the car caravan stopped near Harrisonburg to visit "The Cedars"; the home of William Henry Ruffner prior to his move to "Tribrook" in Lexington, VA. The home at one time had Cedar trees in the yard, but those trees were cleared out years ago. In April 1862, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson was moving through the valley with his troops and stopped to dine at this home with William Henry Ruffner.
We were all honored to have Edith Washington Johnson accompany the Ruffner Family as we went through Lexington, VA and Luray, VA for the Ruffner Family Reunion 2001. See link below from Washington & Lee University website about our visit.
Ruffner-Washington Connection Restored; Descendants Visit W&L
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