Lewis Foster Rupert

Early Pioneer of Allen County Called to His Maker, Lewis Rupert of near Spencerville, Died Friday

Friday evening, at the home of one of his sons, about four miles west of Spencerville, occurred the death of Lewis Rupert, a pioneer settler of Allen County. In fact one of the first persons to locate in the county. Deceased was 93 years of age and had been practically free from disease throughout all the time, his death resulting simply from old age. The park of vitality had finally burned the embers of life to ashes and the deceased departed peacefully from a world he had watched progress with such strides as to be almost magical. Coming to this county when it was nothing but wilderness, filled with wild game of all kinds, to say nothing of the Indians, he has seen it made into one most productive spots in the country, rich in everything that goes to make up civilization. He located about one mile west of Spencerville, when this town had but one house, on what for the past half century has been known as the Old Rupert Homestead. Here he reared and raised a family whose early education was gained from observation and association. The occupation of the subject of this sketch for many years consisted in hunting and trapping with the tilling of but enough soil to furnish corn to make bread for his family. And when necessary to secure a sack of meal the deceased was obliged to make a trip on horse back to Piqua, the nearest mill. Having secured his "grind" he would stalk a deer enroute home and return with corn meal and fresh venison with which to restock the larder. Such was the life led by the peaceful settler in the wilds of Allen County, until such time as he began to show the wear of early pioneer hardships and until his large family had grown to young manhood and young womanhood, after which he began to make his life's well earned evening's best and to watch with pride the growth of his children's hardy families, his own posterity. As he slowly lost his former physical vigor these same children saw that his final days were made comfortable and free from cares. An interesting incident connected with the death of Lewis Rupert arises from the fact that it is the means of breaking a family of five living generations, an unusual occurrence. Readers of the Journal News will remember that about a year ago the publication of a short sketch of the life of the deceased together with a picture shown below of a member of each of the five generations of which he was the head. He was preceded to the grave by his wife several years ago. A large family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren mourn their loss yet realize that he had served his time on earth faithfully and well and was called to his Maker to receive a reward of eternal happiness.

Obituary

Lewis Foster Rupert, son of George and Margaret Rupert, was born in Fayette County, March 3, 1814, and departed this life Jan. 18, 1907, aged 92 years, 10 months, and 15 days. Deceased came to Mercer County when eighteen years of age. Later he removed to Allen County where he lived the greater part of his life, on what for the half past century has been known as the Rupert homestead. In Nov. 1836, he was married to Sarah Wagoner. To this union were born eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. His companion, four sons and one daughter have preceded him to the spirit world. Though possessed of remarkably strong faculties until within the past year or two deceased gradually lost physical strength till he could only walk a short distance at a time and kept his room almost constantly. He gradually grew weaker and weaker and within the past six months has scarcely done more than sleep, seemingly to pass from the temporal to the spiritual world. He was conscious of everything about him until the very last. An hour before his death he said that he knew his time here below was not long, and he had been waiting to go. In 1852 he was converted and joined the M. E. church at Spencerville, and in 1883 he joined the United Brethren Church where he was member until death. He leaves three sons, three daughters, fifty-four grandchildren, eighty-seven great grandchildren, and nine great, great, grandchildren, and a host of friends to mourn their loss, yet they realize that he had served his time on earth faithfully, and well deserved a reward of eternal happiness. The funeral services were conducted at the M. E. church Monday, Rev. Cramer officiating, and remains were interred in the Spencerville Cemetery.

Courtesy of Evelyn Fuller