Research Notes:
"When John Ruhl arrived from Pennsylvania with his wife and five sons and a daughter, a wealthy man for those days, he purchased much of the land where the town of Galion, Ohio now stands. He had the idea that this land would make an excellent site for a town. ... A surveyor was sent for and the present Town of Galion was laid out by Michael and Jacob Ruhl in 1831. There were about thirty five lots in this original plat and every one fronted on the main street. In 1833 a second addition was laid out, east of the original plat, but all of these lots also faced on the main street with a few exceptions. There was now a rivalry between the two little towns that had been laid out. The Corners still had the trade. Ruhl's settlement finally won the contest." [We do not know the relationship of this John Ruhl to Henry Ruhl][1] John Ruhl, who came from York County, Pennsylvania, was the father of Michael and Jacob Ruhl. [2]
1831 John Ruhl of Crawford County, Ohio purchased land in Richland County, Ohio. [3]
1836 Michael Ruhl, perhaps this one, was taxed in Sandusky Twp, Richland County, Ohio. [4]
1839 Rebecca Ruhl, widow of Michael Ruhl, who had died intestate, late of Sandusky Twp, Richland County, Ohio, relinquished administration in favor of Henry Ruhl and John Shawber, on November 6. Levi Ruhl esq. and Daniel Riblet, esq. provided security. Henry Traub?, Daniel Riblet, and Michael Garberick were appointed to make the appraisal [5]
Researchers have suggested that this Michael Ruhl (died 1838, spouse of Rebecca) was the son of either Johannes Ruhl and Margaret Gerbrich or of Henry Ruhl [6] and Margaret Barbara Bailey. We seek evidence to clarify his parents.
Some researchers have named Rebecca Richey as a spouse of Michael Ruhl, married 18 Apr 1822 in Shrewsbury Twp, York County, Pennsylvania. Perhaps Rebecca died soon after 6 NOV 1839 in Galion, Crawford County, Ohio.
It is difficult to distinguish documents related to this Michael Ruhl from those for Michael Ruhl, spouse of Elizabeth Curfman. [7] We seek help in sorting out these two families.
[1] Nevin Otto Winter, A History of Northwest Ohio: A Narrative Account, Volume 1 (1917), 401, [GoogleBooks].
[2] Henry Howe, Historical Collections of Ohio in two Volumes. An Encyclopedia of the State, Vol. 1 (1898), 489, [GoogleBooks].
[3] Elsworth H. Morse, for the Ohio Genealogical Society, Original Purchasers of Land in Richland County, Ohio, Part 1 (Compiled 1996), 71, [GoogleBooks].
[4] The Pastfinder, Ashland and Richland County Chapters, Ohio Genealogical Society, 2001 Vol. 20-7, [Ohio_Pastfinder].
[5] Richland County, Ohio, Will records, 1816-1936, [FamilySearchImage].
[6] Janet and Robert Wolfe, Genealogy Page for Henry Ruhl, married to Margaret Bailey, [JRWolfeGenealogy].
[7] Janet and Robert Wolfe, Genealogy Page for Michael Ruhl, spouse of Elizabeth Curfman, [JRWolfeGenealogy].