Robert Rutherford

Birth Record: Born 1849 (maybe 1847)

Marriage Record (annoucement in the paper?):

Children with Sarah Wallace

Nettie Mae Rutherford, born October 7, 1882 married John Baldwin December 7, 1918; died April 27, 1921.

Howard W. Rutherford, born 11 Feb 1886

David Rutherford, born 12 April 1887

Mable Rutherford, born 26 Oct 1891

Walter W. Rutherford, born 11 July 1893

Beatrice Rutherford, born 1897

Robert J. Rutherford, born 25 Aug 1900

Death Record: Book C. page 151. Robert died 17 Dec 1920 at the age of 73 years. So his birth year would be 1847. However, the 1910 and 1920 census records indicate that he was born in 1849. So he probably died at age 71 and the birth records are incorrect. He died in Goodland Township, Lapeer County, Michigan from a septic Infection, gangrene. He was born in Ontario. His father was Walter Rutherford from Scotland and his mother was Jenett Johnson from Scotland. His brother Archie has the same parents on his death certificate, listed from Scotland.

I received (November 2002) a copy of Robert's death certificate from the State of Michigan. At first glance it is more confusing than helpful, but I'll analyze it here the best I can. Place of death is Goodland Township, Lapeer County, Michigan. The full name confirms that Robert's middle name is "S." The last name is not clear. It looks like "Retheford." It could even be "Rithiford." It does not list his wife's name. He is "male, white, married." Date of birth is clearly given as 1857. This is wrong, or something is wrong. The age at death is clearly written as 73. Date of death is clearly December 17, 1920. 1857 plus 73 would put the death date at 1930. So they must mean that he was born in 1847. Occupation is farmer. Roberts birthplace, as well as his mother's and father's are clearly the same. The problem is that the writing on the certificate is wierd. It looks like "Ouh" except that on one of the lines it looks like "Oich". The "O" Could be an "A" or even an "L." Okay, after studying the whole paper I see that it is "Ont" for Ontario. His father is "Walter "Retheford" (same confusion), and his mother is Janett John.... (something). "Janett", could have any vowel after the "J": Jinett, for example. Informant was Robert Retheford Jr., address Imlay City. Filed on December 30, 1920. The doctor (name unreadable) attended Robert from December 9th to December 17, 1920 for (something) infection leading to gangrene (injury to foot, cause unknown). Place of burial "Imlay." Date of burial December 20, 1920. Later research puts Robert's parent's birth place as Scotland. The parents lived in the Northumberland region of Ontario after arriving from Scotland.

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Census Records for 1870: No Rutherfords show up in the 1870 census. Sarah Wallace was 11 in 1870, so still many years from her marriage to Robert Rutherford.

Canadian Census for 1871:

Census Record 1881Canadian census:

Census Record 1900: She was forty nine for this census: Michigan, Lapeer Co, Goodwin Twp...1900

Robert Rutherford born October, 1849 Ontario, Canada; died: Dec. 17, 1920... Parents were both born Scotland....(Walter Rutherford) & (Janett Johnson)

Sarah H. Wallace born May 1858 in Michigan; Parents born in Scotland.

Nettie M. Rutherford born Oct 1882 Michigan
Howard W. Rutherford born Feb 1886 Michigan
David Rutherford born Apr 1887 Michigan
Mable Rutherford born Oct 1891 Michigan
Walter W. Rutherford born July 1893 Michigan
Beatrice Rutherford born Feb 1897 Michigan
Robert J. Rutherford (Unknown)

This information is from the 1900 Census for Lapeer Co, Michigan, but the spelling of the name was different...it looks like "Rediforth" copy was bad....this is sometimes the fault of the census taker.

Census Records for 1910: Place: Lapeer County (Goodland Township): Robert Rutherford (Place of birth of both parents given as Scotland); age 61, born in Canada. Wife: Sarah, age 49 (Place of birth of both parents given as Scotland); born in Michigan. Howard is not on this list of kids (could Howard be a middle name?). Daughter: Nettie, age 27, born Mich. Daughter: Mable: age 18, Mich. Son: Walter: 16. Mich. Daughter: Beatrice: 13, Mich. Son: Robert, 9, Mich.

Census Records for 1920: Lapeer: Robert Rutherford is 71, Sarah is 60. Robert Jr. Is the only kid at home at age 19. Robert died December 17, 1920, supposedly at age 73; so something is wrong.

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