OF A CERTAIN PENNSYLVANIA FAMILY. 33 



unacceptable in his working habits and general conduct. She divorced 

 him after the birth of a son (IV-79), who is said to be shrewd and ambi- 

 tious; went West and married in Nebraska, and now is reported from 

 Montana, where he is prospering on a ranch. Two of his children 

 are dead; nothing learned about the remaining six. 



The fourth child (III-28) of Stephen Rufer was born 1838, died 1907 

 of tuberculosis. In school ability stood midway between his two sisters 

 and his two brothers, but physically was the weakest of his fraternity; 

 never well or strong, and of an irritable, ugly disposition, finally going 

 all to pieces nervously. Married III-29, whose two brothers were 

 epileptics but otherwise able. She is characterized as a bad women of 

 mahcious, designing disposition, who led her husband into all sorts of 

 futile enterprises. She became deranged before her death and finally 

 died at the county farm. 



III-28 always showed poor judgment in the conduct of his affairs. 

 Because of his disabilities he was given the life lease of the homestead. 

 He despoiled the timber, was forced by his wife and her people to 

 invest in a hotel, and, failing in this venture, encumbered the property, 

 so that what he eventually left was little more than enough to bury 

 him. Their only child (IV-81), born 1881, was a low-grade imbecile, 

 never able to talk properly or attend to her personal wants. Was 

 cared for at home until the removal of her mother to the county farm, 

 when she was admitted to this Institution for the Care of the Feeble- 

 Minded of Western Pennsylvania and died 3 months later of measles. 



Stephen Rufer's youngest son (III-30), born 1845, was brought up on 

 his father's farm and given a common-school education. Is temperate, 

 energetic, persistent, fairly intelligent. Has had a checkered married 

 life with III-31, who was born near C. She is a vicious w^oman with a 

 very violent temper, who used to belabor her husband with bed-slat 

 and axe-handle until he was nearly dead, so that he left her six or seven 

 times. She eventually got to running after a neighbor. Her hus- 

 band divorced her and when the neighbor's wife died from abuse she 

 married him. She is shunned by her family and acquaintances. Is 

 living now in a neighboring town and seems to have plenty of money, 

 but no one knows w^here she gets it. In spite of the lack of his wife's 

 cooperation, III-30 has managed to acquire a farm of 80 acres, well 

 cultivated; machinery and buildings in excellent condition. His 

 children are: 



IV-82, born about 1875. Assertive, ambitious, with her mother's 

 violent temper. Living on a farm about 3 miles from F. Dominates 

 her husband, indoors and out. No children. 



IV-84, born about 1878. Temperate, hardworking, of fair mentality 

 and intelligence; easily excited, and when aroused is very abusive. 



