OF A CERTAIN PENNSYLVANIA FAMILY. 29 



VI. LINE C. 



Line C was founded by Stephen (II-9), the third son of Mary and 

 Aaron Riifer. He was born in Germany 1795, died 1883. Generally 

 recognized as the best of the fraternity. He was a man of great 

 strength and vitality; never ill a day in his life, though he grew to be 

 very simple and childish before his death. He was the only one of 

 Aaron's sons who had a sufficient sense of number and proportion 

 "to cut cord-wood." He could read and write, though he had received 

 little instruction. He was noted for his piety and always carried a 

 hjTnn-book on his visits, so that he might indulge in song-singing, his 

 favorite diversion. In 1828 he married 11-10. Her father had settled 

 on 400 acres in a neighboring county about the same time as Aaron 

 Rufer settled in this country. The two used to neighbor back and 

 forth, and while each owned only one ox they put them together to 

 make a team. II-IO was considered the moving spirit in all of her 

 husband's undertakings, being greatly superior to him in initiative, 

 calculation, perseverance, and skill. She belongs to a strain whose 

 history shows much energy and ability to get on in the world. At her 

 instigation, Stephen traded the land, which he had from his father, 

 for 80 acres nearer her own people. She directed in great part and 

 helped in the work out of doors; kept a clean, orderly house; made 

 butter which she carried to the market 13 miles away and sold it at 6 

 cents a pound. She knew all the steps in linen-making, from the raw 

 flax to the finished garment. She lived to be 93 years old and was 

 remarkable for her strength, alertness, and aggressiveness to the last. 

 This couple had five children (III-19, 23, 26, 28, 30), all of whom have 

 been traced. 



Two of these (III-19, 26) were somewhat below the average in mental 

 ability; and, while by no means without calculating ability, always per- 

 formed calculations with great difficulty. III-26 had great aggressive- 

 ness and perseverance, and at 78 is still a shrewd, energetic woman. 

 A third (III-28) showed fair ability in school, but was weak physically, 

 and in later life lost his property through poor business management. 

 The remaining two (III-26, 30) were decidedly above the average in 

 mentality, with good ability to calculate, aggressive, and persevering. 



Let us follow the marriages and descendants of these five. The 

 eldest (III-19), born 1829, died 1864 of tuberculosis. Was never strong 

 physically nor able to progress far at school; was able, though, to per- 

 form simple multiplications and divisions and had good practical sense. 

 Married III-20, who belonged to a strain of steady, hardworking people 

 showing fair mental ability, including average quickness in calculation. 

 They lived in fair circumstances on a farm. Had five children: 



IV-54, born about 1856; above the average in mental ability, but 

 having few school advantages received little education in her youth. 



