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III-0-0.1
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THOMAS, JOHN
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RUTH
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Ruth Hannah Bullock, eldest daughter of John Wesley
and Amanda Elizabeth Bullock, was born 30 June 1855 near Federalsburg,
Maryland. Although she was only eight years old when she came with her parents to
Fayette County, Indiana, she could recall many incidents relative to their home life
in the East. She could remember when they stood on the brow of the hill, and
listened to distant roar of the cannons during the Civil War. How it seemed
almost a ritual every Saturday that they baked a ham, cooked a hen, laid out their best
for the Sabbath. They heated water outside in large open kettles for the laundry
and other needs, and they sometimes did quantity cooking outside during the summer.
There was the "colored mammy" and "ole uncle," (whose names
we are unable to learn) who were so kind and attended the family with great devotion and
the Bullock children were taught to respect them as people, not as slaves.
When Ruth was a young lady, John Wesley and his
family moved from Fayette County to the Claypool farm east of Muncie. It was while
she lived here that she met Emery Edwin McGalliard, and they were married 13
August 1876. He was the son of Andrew Jackson and Sarah (Long)
McGalliard pioneer residents of Delaware County. After their marriage they
lived with Emery's parents on a farm northeast of Muncie, where he was associated
with his father in dairy farming. This farm, a well known landmark in that area
was later sold to Luther and Walter Shirey who operated gravel pits.
The gravel and sand for the first cement sidewalks in Muncie was hauled from their
pits.
Ruth and Emery resided on other farms in that
vicinity.
Carrie was born 18 October 1878 on the Kuhner farm at
State Road #67 and McGalliard Road; Mayme, 29 March 1880 on the Grandpa
McGalliard farm and Bessie 17 March 1882 when they lived on East Gilbert
Street in Muncie. Later they lived on Ann McGalliard's farm (a cousin of
Emery's) at Upland. This was probably about 1888 or 1889 as this was when
Bessie started to school. They attended the Jefferson Chapel Christian
Church near Upland where Emery served as Sunday School Superintendent. When
they returned to Muncie they resided on the John Wilson farm where their only son
Murray Leverton was born 12 September 1893. Later they lived on the Centennial
Pike until 1913 when they bought a farm west of Winchester. In the meantime
Carrie and Bessie were married and established homes in Muncie.
Ruth dreaded to move so far away from her relatives and friends again, but soon
she and Emery and their children Mayme and Murray, became acquainted
in that community and enjoyed their new home very much. In 1916 Murray was
married to Dora M. Temple. After Emery's death 4 July 1925,
Ruth and Mayme often visited with other relatives and especially enjoyed
those times when these visits took them back to the country. After Ruth's
death 2 June 1931, Mayme continued to live with her sister Bessie until
she died, 4 November 1935.
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THOMAS, JOHN
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RUTH
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Ruth and Emery were members of the Christian Church
and were active in the different churches in the communities where they lived.
Emery's chief vocation was farming and together they enjoyed the pleasures of
rural living. The time spent with them in their home are treasured memories.
Their hospitality and kindness was unlimited, and their good cheer and pleasant manner a
delight to everyone. I t was like going to grandmother's for the nieces and nephews
who were so early deprived of their grandparents. & quot;Aunt Ruth"
shared her live and affection so bountifully with them, as well as being a devoted
grandmother. She always had time for the youngsters and they were fully aware of
it. They planned programs for their own entertainment and she was always ready to
participate with a song, or recite a poem. She decorated Easter eggs and made the
prettiest tarts. The "A" sugar lumps tasted better from her sugar bucket
and the cookies from her cookie jar were the best.
Ruth was a lover of nature and appreciated its productivity.
Early in life she had learned how important the yielding of nature is in our daily
living. Her garden may have borne a few more vegetables, the berries seemed a bit
more luscious and her roses bloomed to the fullest. From her garden and
the staple foods from her pantry shelves she could prepare the tastiest meal. She
lived a life of practical economy yet she gave out an abundance of her spiritual
riches in measures of joy and love. All those who knew Ruth cherish in
their memories the kindness, deep devotion and mirth she exemplified in her life.
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