James Calvin Rudd -- May 21, 1850 - May 7, 1921
by Mildred Rudd Ragsdale 1991
(C. Avis Catalog entry #457)
The question "Will you tell me something about my grandfather" from Dwight and the interest of Charlie Avis has prompted this effort. I am now 85 years old and my father, James Calvin Rudd, died when I was 16, so with 69 years of memories I may mix up facts and fantasies, but this is as I remember him. I am using this line-paper to help make this legible.
First, a bit of information. He was born in Madisonville, Tenn., the youngest of seven children. After or during the war, they moved to Dalton, Ga. where his father died. Later he went to Tenn. where he married and had two children, "Sister Maude" and "Brother Lowrey". When he was divorced, he went to Texas to start anew with the help of James Calvin Maples, his uncle for whom he was named. Also his mother, Rachel Caroline Maples Rudd, had moved to Pittsburg, Texas to live with her oldest daughter, Sarah, who had married Dr. Bailey. (They had one daughter and all are buried in the Pittsburg Cemetery, which Fay, Hilda and I visited in 1970). Next he went to Lampassas, Tx where he married again, but lost his wife and baby in childbirth. He then went to Temple where he met our mother "Maggie", Margaret Gray Mooring.
In stature he was just over six feet tall, straight and commanding with broad shoulders. He had blue eyes, fair skin, curly light brown-grey hair and a bald head; he wore a mustache and a trim beard, which I remember as grey-white. He was particular about his dress, especially his shoes and "Stetson" hats.
Our father never had an office or a special business, but he was always involved. He had many real estate properties from rent houses to an office building. He had an "opera house" and a hotel near the railroad that later included "The Harvey House"; a saloon, an open-air picture show, the first car garage with a mechanic and gas. He also helped people set up businesses such as an ice cream parlor and a fruit store. At the ice cream parlor, after he was no longer connected, they still kept "Captain Rudd's" special bowl for him. The rest of us had saucers.
His interests and hobbies were varied. His horses and dogs were probably next to his family. He enjoyed camping and fishing with both family and friends. He loved the trains and travelled extensively including New York, Washington, Atlanta, New Orleans, Chicago and Denver. Often Mother went with him. He was interested in circuses and circus eople and had many friends among them. Several times he joined them for a week when they left Temple.
Dad had no formal education, but he was a self-educated, well read and had a beautiful Spencerian penmanship. He was soft spoken, firm and even tempered, a family oriented man who loved his children, but let us realize that his wife was perfect in his eyes. He adored her and deferred to her in all decisions concerning the children and the running of the house. It was a happy home.
Our father loved his daughters and was proud of us in every way, giving of himself whenever asked, but we all knew there was no one like Brother. He was the jewel of the family to all of us; each and everyone! When he was killed in the army airplane he was piloting Nov. 12, 1919, there was a change in our parents and in our home life. The warmth and love was there but the sun did not shine brightly.
In May or late April of 1921, Daddy's cold developed into pneumonia and he died on May 7th. His obituary in the Temple paper tells of the love and respect accorded him. Thank you, Charlie, for sending me a copy in 1989. Mother buried her husband, her son and her sister, Alberta, all from our home in 18 months. Her life changed completely.