Ruarkw
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
WILLIAM F. RUARK is one of the
enterprising and successful mining men and farmers of Okanogan county,
and is at present residing in Pateros, where he also owns property.
He was born in Platte county, Missouri, on November 10, 1854, the son of
Franklin and Martha M. (Wells) Ruark. The father died when this son
was two years old and the mother later married John B. Simmons and is now
living in Heppner, Oregon. The public schools of his native place
furnished the educational training that our subject was favored with, and
when he had reached man's estate he migrated to Modoc county, in northern
California, and there engaged in blacksmithing, a trade he had learned
in his younger days. Later he went to Boise and there beat his anvil
to the tune of honest industry for seven years. After this he located
in Heppner, Oregon, and there wrought at the forge for twelve years.
After this he came on to Okanogan county and took up stock raising.
In 1900 he removed from the ranch to Pateros and has resided there since.
Adjoining the town Mr. Ruark has a fruit ranch of forty-nine acres, which
is well set to the various kinds of fruit that do well in this latitude.
Among these may be mentioned peaches, apples, prunes, plums, grapes and
so forth. A portion of the land is producing good alfalfa, being
under a ditch. Mr. Ruark's son is now attending to the farm and resides
there. Mr. Ruark is superintendent of the Black Eagle mines and half
owner. He is also interested in other property and is prosperous.
Politically Mr. Ruark has always been a Democrat and is active in this
realm. He is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. and has served as justice
of the peace.
At Boise, Idaho, on July 4, 1879, Mr. Ruark
married Miss Mary A., daughter of Francis M. and Hannah (Bacon) Wilmarth.
One son, Egbert A., has been born to them, the date of his nativity being
August 30, 1880. This young man married Miss Annie Thurlow, and they
have one little girl, Thema A.