Name/Title
Von Ruden family: John A. & Margaret (Clemens) von Ruden, 1881 pioneers of Morgan Township, Traill County, DTEntry/Object ID
2026.143.1Description
This family history folder briefly describes the lives of John Anton von Ruden (or Rueden) and his wife Margaret Elizabeth Clemens. John or Johannes was born on 13 February 1856 in Oesdorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, and Margaret was born in Mazeppa in Wabasha County, Minnesota. At the age of 16 in 1872, John von Ruden came from Germany to America and then to Traill County in Dakota Territory in 1881. On 15 March 1883, John Anton von Ruden married Margaret Elizabeth Clemens in Mazeppa, MN (wedding photo). In 1883, they settled on their farm in located in Section 2 in Morgan Township Traill County (see 1892 Atlas map). By 1927, John von Ruden also owned 160 acres in Section 35 in Union Township in Grand Forks County (see 1927 Atlas map). Union Township joins Morgan Township to the north. Note that in 1927, Mary F. von Ruden owned land in Sections 33 & 34 in Union Township.
The above and following family history information on John and Margaret von Ruden and their ten children was kindly provided by their grandson David von Ruden. David's parents were Hubert (or Herbert) and Margaret (Scholand) von Ruden (see wedding photo). Hubert and Margaret had six children, with David being their fifth child. Extensive von Ruden family history information and photographs contributed by descendants, such as Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau, are available by searching the website for US Find-a-Grave (www.findagrave.com).
John and Margaret (Clemens) von Ruden had ten children (listed below), but sadly their first daughter, Anna B. "Annie" von Ruden born in 1888 died at the age of 3 in 1891. John and Margaret raised their nine surviving children on their farm in Section 2 in Morgan Township. As shown by a 1900 map of Morgan Township, John von Ruden had a farmstead in the NE Qtr. of Section 11, which was located only one mile north of Morgan Township School No. 1 where their children would have been schooled. John, Margaret and children attend Our Lady of Perpetual Hekp Catholic Church in Reynolds, ND, located 6 and a half miles east of the von Ruden farm.
John and Margaret (Clemens) von Ruden's ten children include, in order of birth:
John Matthew von Ruden (1885-1970),
Anna B. "Annie" von Ruden (1888-1891),
Martin Charles von Ruden (1890-1980),
Victor John von Ruden (1892-1993),
Frank von Ruden (1894-1950),
Frederick William von Ruden (1896-1972),
Hubert von Ruden (1898-1969),
Anthony William von Ruden (1900-1948),
Nicholas Vincent von Ruden (1903-1997), and
Mary Rosalie von Ruden (1905-1981).
John Anton von Ruden farmed on land in Morgan Township for nearly 65 years. He lived and died on the farm, passing away there on 18 February 1945, age 89 (see ND Death Certificate). John von Ruden was interred at Calvary Cemetery located one mile west of Reynolds, ND (see grave site monument and grave-marker).
Margaret Elizabeth (Clemens) von Ruden lived to the age of 88, passing away on 29 November 1954 in Reynolds, ND, at the home of her daughter (see obituary). Margaret was interred at next to her husband John at the Calvary Cemetery by Reynolds (see grave-marker).Acquisition
Accession
2026.143Source or Donor
David von RudenLocation
* Untyped Location
Resource RoomBuilding
Plummer House
