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Note: CARL and ADA [MCNARY] RUFERT of Sanger, CA: 1888 - The town of Sanger was founded.
1908 - Ten Mile Creek was built creating Hume Lake and the reservoir supplied water for the Millwood Flume which had been extended to 73 miles in length. Fowler and Kingsburg were incorporated.
Hasegawa, Yoshino and Chris, eds. Sanger - Memoirs of the Area's Pioneer Families. [Sanger]: Sanger Historical Society, 1992
McFarland, J. Randall. Centennial Selma: Biography of a California Community's First 100 Years. Selma: Author, c1980
McFarland, J. Randall. Village on the Prairie: The Story of Fowler's First 100 Years. [Fowler]: Fowler Mother's Club, 1972
McFarland, J. Randall, ed. Literary Selma: Writings of a Central California Community. Selma: Selma Unified School District, 1992.
Vandor, Paul E. History of Fresno County, California,. With Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present. 2 volumes. Los Angeles, CA: Historic Record Co., 1919
The Ruferts moved to California in 1888 from Lawrence, Kansas. Here is an excerpt of an event, which took place in Fowler in 1894:
From: "Clough and Secrest, Fresno County: The Pioneer," in a chapter discussing Chris Evans and the other bandits of the era the authors wrote:
"On January 11, 1894, while Evans and Morrell were at large, a holdup took place at Fowler. [Fowler is where James and Susannah McNary are buried, as well as Carl and Ada Rufert.] At the town train station, agent George A. Leon was robbed by a man masked in a red bandana. Pat Lahey and H. A. Milligan, also inside the station, were robbed along with Howard A. Harris and A. A. Vincent. The latter pair had spied the goings on from the outside and had attempted to report them, but the bandit snared the men before they could slip away. He then identified himself as Ed Morrell, and herded his victims across the street to the Kutner-Goldstein store. There, Constable Ochs spotted the robber and engaged him in a gun battle---only to wound Lahey and Mulligan, and get shot in the hip himself. During the fracas, the bandit got away."
From: "The Genealogy of the Rufert Family," compiled by Elizabeth Reed, 1988:
"WILLIAM [RUFERT] rented or leased a large parcel of land called Indianola Ranch, on which grain and fruit trees were grown. It must have been a large operation employing several people, as they hired a Chinese cook and ADA MCNARY was employed as a "hired" girl. She later married the eldest son, CARL."
From: "Descendants of James McNary" by Elizabeth Reed and Sally Emerson:
Possibly from the "Fresno Herald and Democrat," Dec. 1902 [married Dec. 3, 1902]:
A Pretty Wedding
"At the residence of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.E. MCNARY, one mile west of Sanger, last Wednesday evening, the wedding of Mr. CARL F. RUFERT and Miss ADA MAE MCNARY was duly solemnized by Rev. W. C. Scott, in the presence of a few relatives and friends of the contracting parties. The parlor was prettily decorated with evergreens interlaced with chrysanthemums, the bridal couple standing beneath a pendant silver star while the words were being spoken that joined them in the holy bond of matrimony."
"Mr. Arthur T. Rufert was the best man, and Miss Ola [Viola] McNary the bridesmaid. Two little flower girls, Misses Ethyl McNary and Atha Callaban, also attended the bridal couple during the service, at the conclusion of which the bride and groom received the hearty congratulations of everyone present, a ???h-light picture of the group was taken and then all were invited to partake of a bounteous wedding supper. The Herald editor was kindly remembered with some of the wedding cake."
"At an early hour, the bride and groom took their departure for Fresno, where they boarded the midnight train for S. F. and will spend the honeymoon there. They will make their home at the Indianola vineyard upon their return from the city, and the Herald joins a large circle of friends in wishing them a long and happy life. Among those present on this occasion were: Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAM. F. RUFERT of Fresno, Mr. and Mrs. I. [supposed to be J.] E. MCNARY, parents of the bride, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. McNary, Mr. and Mrs. Loesch of Fresno, Mr. and Mrs. Corbly, Clarence Rufert of S. F., Oscar Rufert, Chas. McNary, Maud, Edna and Kenneth McNary."
From: information from Ed Rufert relayed by Fern Rufert in a letter to Alice Lockie:
"Arthur and CARL were boys, Arthur was 12, when the family moved to California and settled in the Sanger area. When still single, he worked on a grain harvester for several years (no tractor). A couple of years or more, he was the teamster driving a 20-head and more team with a 'jerk-line'. A year or so, he worked on the machine as a sack sewer. As a teamster and sewer, he worked from sun-up to sun down for one dollar a day and room and board."
"Arthur and his brother, CARL, bought the place on Adams Avenue at Fowler in 1902 for $8,000…half-improved acreage and adobe house with walls 3 feet thick. Arthur and Viola Rufert were married in November 30, 1904, in Barton County, MO. They lived on the ranch where he worked for Dr. Wilson. The ranch was located about midway between Del Rey and Fowler. He recalls hearing our mother tell about the house shaking during the quake that devastated San Francisco in 1906."
From: "The Genealogy of the Rufert Family:
"After CARL married ADA MAE MCNARY in 1902, he and his brother Arthur, who married Viola [McNary] became partners in a vineyard of 40 acres in Fowler. They lived in an adobe, four room house where DOROTHY RUFERT was born in 1903. CARL and ADA moved to Selma and purchased a small vineyard and continued to live there until their respective deaths."
From: "Memories of Mom," 1983, by Frances Rufert Schorr:
"I am told that I arrived on a Sunday morning, the 8th of August, 1915. I was the third of three girls. The oldest one, DOROTHY, was twelve at the time. She had arrived weighing in at a skimpy two pounds. MOTHER [ADA MAE MCNARY RUFERT] kept her in a shoe box, and slid her wedding ring up above the baby's elbow! Mable, six at my arrival, had weighed a modest seven pounds. I arrived at an undignified eleven pounds. I walked alone at nine months of age. German GRANDPA RUFERT lived with us at that time [WILLIAM FREDERICK RUFERT died on June 11, 1918. His wife ELIZABETH SCHULTZ RUFERT had died in February 27, 1914, the year before Frances was born], and whenever he reached for his hat, I was ready to go too. I loved the out-of-doors then, and have never lost that love."
Two Letters from ADA MAE MCNARY RUFERT
Irwin, MO Sept. 22 [1916]
"Dear CARL,
"Well, we are home after a nice visit with Hylas' folks. We certainly enjoyed our trip over there but we were so tired when we got home, and when we got here, PAPA [JAMES EDGAR MCNARY] got your letter. I read that and felt pretty well until this morning. We got Ola's [her sister, VIOLA MCNARY RUFERT] letter saying the Doctor thought Lorena [her sister, LORENA MCNARY HOLT] needed an operation, so I am undecided what to do. I tried to get PAPA and MAMA [JAMES EDGAR and SUSANNAH ELEANOR MCNARY] to say what they thought about it, but they didn't know what to say. Finally PAPA said you folks would just have to use your own judgement. Said if the Doctor was much of a Doctor, he ought to know what to do, but I would advise them to have another Doctor before they decide, remember Lilly R. case."
"Sunday eve. Well we got Hylas' letter yesterday saying Lorena was better so I'm planning on staying until Mon. Oct. 2, then I will go to L. A. and make the folks a short visit and come home Sat. I think I'll check my trunk to Fresno and pay storage on it there and if you are not there to meet me, I come back to ?Monmouth on the first train. I feel as though I ought to be home now, but the folks here just won't listen to me coming unless you write for me."
"Mr. and Mrs. Isenhour were here for dinner today, also Aunt Lizzie. Tomorrow we will sew, Tuesday I go to the farm, Wed. we go to Harvey's, Thursday I wash, then get ready to start for home."
"Tell DOROTHY [ADA MAE's oldest daughter] I have been helping Flossie with the work and did not get her dress finished. MAMA [SUSANNAH ELEANOR MCDOWELL MCNARY] has been in bed with a cold ever since we came home from Mr. Holts'. She has been up this afternoon."
"Well we will be glad to get home and eat bread and milk. I told the folks I was never coming home again unless they would promise not to take me anywhere to eat. I don't feel as if I had had any rest since I got here, there are so many places for the baby to get into, & places to get hurt. I must close now, for I must write to GRANDPA [WILLIAM FREDERICK RUFERT ]. I had intended to write to him once a week but seems I can't find time to do what I want to do."
"Mabel says she is ready to start home if Uncle Milton will come home with us."
"Lamar, MO Sept. 26
"My darling CARL,
"Can you remember the proud feeling we had thirteen years ago today when we realized we had a little baby girl. I have been thinking of her and you today. We came out early, started to go with PAPA when he came out to bind corn with the corn binder, and after we were here the boys decided to go to Dennis's sale. Milton bought a riding cultivator. They said everything sold very cheap. I, and the children have been alone most of the day, so I've had time to think, but Frances has kept me busy enough so not to get lonesome."
"You all tell me Lorena is getting better, but somehow I feel it's only to not spoil my visit. I try hard to believe it but I feel uneasy about her. I told the folks when I first came I didn't want to go much, but it's been go or someone come most of the time. How are the grapes? Are they all picked now? I guess I won't get more than one more letter from home. The folks object awfully hard, but I'm going to start for home next Monday on the 11:30 train, leave K. C. 11:00 p.m. Monday, go to LA visit 24 hours with Charlie [her brother Charlie McNary] and start for home Friday night."
"Perhaps I had best send you a telegram from LA. Didn't I tell you I got the money order? I meant to. Well, I have received two now, I hope to have one left when I get home but I wouldn't if it were enough for a coat, but coats are as high here & there. I though I could get one for ten, but nothing doing."
"Wed. morning we are having a big blow here. The wind blew all day yesterday and all night and is at it harder than ever this morning, as bad as our worst sand storms, but not so much sand."
"Well, I must close now and get the children ready to go to Harvey's. The folks will come by pretty soon. Tell DOROTHY I may not get her dress there until I come. Lots of love from your old sweetheart. Will write you a line again in a few days."
ADA MAE."
From: "Memories of Mom," 1983, by Frances Rufert Schorr:
"When I was fifteen months and twenty days old, my MOTHER died. She had stayed at home from church because I had a cold. She was fixing dinner and had opened a jar of home-canned beans and tasted them. They were not good. Later her throat started to paralyze, and she could not talk. DAD [CARL FRANCIS RUFERT] called a specialist from Fresno and a specialist from San Francisco happened to be visiting him, so they both came. There was nothing to be done. She wrote on a pad, "I don't want to die. Who will take care of my baby?" She lived three days. This is what my sister, DOROTHY, has told me. According to her death certificate, she died of a Quincy sore throat."
Two months following her return home from Missouri to Selma, CA, ADA MAE MCNARY died of botulism poisoning, in November 1916. The Selma Irrigator, Dec. 2, 1916:
"ADA MAE RUFERT Passed Away-ADA MAE RUFERT, a native of Missouri, aged 35 years, 2 months and 12 days, died at her home near Selma, November 29, 1916, at 8 a. m. Deceased was the wife of CARL F. RUFERT, and is survived by her husband and their three daughters. She came to California and to Selma sixteen years ago. Funeral will take place after the arrival of relatives from Missouri."
From: the "Selma Enterprise," of Dec. 4, 1916 issue:
Funeral of Mrs. C. F. RUFERT-Funeral services for Mrs. CARL F. RUFERT were conducted at the Presbyterian church at 2 p.m. this afternoon by the Pastor, the Rev. S. F. Shiffler, and were followed by interment in Fowler cemetery. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. [JAMES] E. [EDGAR] MCNARY arrived today from Lamar, Missouri, whence they had started so soon as they learned of her serious illness. Her death, following an illness of but a few hours, was due to an unusual form of paralysis, which attacked the nerve centers controlling the throat, and extended rapidly to the muscles which control the act of breathing."
Elizabeth Reed, granddaughter of ADA MAE, related her mother DOROTHY's description of what occurred, "Mom had told me of the agony she had gone through before she died. She had opened a jar of home-canned string beans and she said, "These don't smell good," but she took a sip and immediately spit it out. But she must have swallowed a bit, because within the hour she was vomiting and having a hard time breathing. They immediately called the doctor who came later in the evening with a friend who was visiting him, who also happened to be a doctor. Dr. Robinson said he thought she was having a bit of quinsy and she should be all right by morning. The visiting doctor said to Dr. Robinson that he wasn't licensed to practice in Fresno County, but he was almost positive it was botulism." On her death certificate, Dr. Robinson put down the cause of death as 'pseudo retrobulbar paralysis.'
Elizabeth Reed added, "I got a dandy sore throat one time and had to go to the doctor to have it swabbed out, and he said it looked like a good case of quinsy to him. I said 'I sure hope not, as that's what my grandmother died of' and it scared me to no end. He said that is hard to believe she either had to be terribly debilitated or extremely old. I told him 'Neither one, she was only 36 and had just given birth to a baby six months before. I dashed home to look at her death certificate to see what was the medical term. Mom was always convinced that the visiting doctor had made the right diagnosis, and had their country doctor paid any attention and gotten her to a hospital, she may have had a chance to live. But I doubt it."
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