Ignatz Rutz

No gravestone still exists for Ignatz (sometimes spelled Egnatz), born in to Mathias Ruca and Theresia Tandeczka during 1834 in Mielno, Lipnica, Bytow, Pomorskie, Poland. He married Marianna Ryngwelska in nearby Borzyszkowy Parish during 1856 and they had 7 children, two of whom died as infants. Marianna died during 1873. Later that year Ignatz married Marianna Doroff (Dorawa), age 19, and they had two children born in the same parish who lived to adulthood.

Ignatz and his second wife plus 5 children immigrated, arriving at Baltimore, MD, on Nov. 19, 1882. All adult children eventually ended up in Morrison County. Ignatz homesteaded in Pike Creek Township near Flensburg where the family was raised. The surname Rutz was usually used in Minnesota although Ruca can be found on some old gravestones.

Ignatz died on Jun 17, 1910, prior to the time newspaper obituaries were common in the area. However, the following was found in the weekly Little Falls Herald of Friday, Jun, 24, 1910 under the heading PIKE CREEK: "A number from here attended the funeral of the late Ignatz Ruca of Flensburg at that place Sunday morning."

His widow Mary married Joseph Sypnieski in Morrison County on Oct. 5, 1910.