Reverend Stephen Ruddell

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19154551&ref=wvr

The Rev. Stephen Ruddell was one of the early settlers of Adams County, Illinois. He was ordained in 1810 and it was he that founded the Ursa Christian Church in Adams County about 1829. His son was an Officer in Company B, 78th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.

His memorial grave marker in the New Providence Cemetery near Ursa, in Adams County, Illinois states the he and his 2nd wife Susan David were both buried on the family farm in Ursa Township, Susan in 1831 and Steven in 1845. There is an inscription on the back of the memorial marker at New Providence that reads:

"Stephen was captured by Indians at age 12 during the Revolutionary War when Ruddell's Station in Kentucky was attacked by the British under Capt. Bird. While a captive, he was adopted by the Indians, he had all white blood washed out and was made a Warrior. He married a squaw and returned to Kentucky. After the Treaty, he was ordained a Minister of the Gospel in 1810 and founded the Ursa Christian Church".

Other wives: 1. Catherine Kingery, married in Kentucky 1797, she died (...?) - 2. Susan David, married in 1809 in Kentucky, She died circa 1831 in Adams County, Illinois and is buried on the family farm in Ursa Township - 3. Rachel Nightsmith, married in Adams County, Illinois 1834, she died in July of 1871 and is buried in the New Providence Cemetery at Ursa, Illinois.