Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 3. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 161. G. W. RUCKMAN who is deputy sheriff of Union county, resides in a fine modern home in Imbler and owns a magnificent six hundred and eighty-acre farm near that place, partly bounded by the Grande Ronde river. His farm is a splendid property and has upon it, together with other fine improvements, one of the most elegant farm dwellings of the county. Mr. Ruckman was born in Wapello county, Iowa, April 2, 1848, a son of William and Mary (Miller) Ruckman, the father a native of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and the mother of Tippecanoe county, Indiana. When a young man the father removed to Indiana, where his wedding was celebrated, and in 1828 to Iowa. He later came to Oregon and settled at Agency, in Union county, where he lived for some time, after which he bought a ranch a mile and a half from that town. He made that property his home until he bought a farm seven miles east of his first Oregon property, upon which he lived until 1872. He next settled on the Grande Ronde river twelve miles northeast of LaGrande, where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred in 1891. He was a blacksmith by trade, an occupation which he followed in connection with his agricultural pursuits. G. W. Ruckman was one of seven children born to his parents, being the sixth in order of birth. His boyhood and schooldays were spent in Iowa, where he received a common-school education. He remained under the parental roof until 1866, when he was married. In 1871, he came to Union county, Oregon, by wagon from Ogden, the trip to that city having been made by rail. On arriving in this state he settled on state land which he purchased two miles south of Imbler, where he is now residing in a fine modern house. Mr. Ruckman was married in 1866 to Miss Lucretia Neville, a daughter of K P. and M. J. Neville, and to them have been born six children, as follows: William Ruffman, a rancher; J. T., deceased; R. J., operating the New York Dental Parlors at Walla Walla, Washington; S. G., residing on the home ranch; Mary J., the wife of E. D. Peel, living on Prairie creek, in Wallowa county; and Hattie, deceased. Mr. Ruckman has taken an active part in political and other affairs which tend to improve the conditions of this community and until the silver question became the paramount party issue he had been affiliated with the democratic party. Since that time, however, he has been a republican. He is at present deputy sheriff, an office which he has held for a number of years. He takes an active interest in educational matters and for a number of years has been a member of the school board. He has always been very charitably inclined, has done many things to alleviate the suffering of people around him and has contributed to many good causes. He is a prominent man in his community and does not believe in putting his light under a bushel basket. He has an extensive acquaintance, and is highly esteemed by a large number of personal and political friends. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.