August Ruihley Papers (Archbold, Ohio)

The August Ruihley Papers, 1876-1979, mainly document the personal history of Ruihley and the history of the park in Archbold, Ohio that bears his name. The material includes incoming and outgoing personal correspondence, newspaper clippings, financial documents, legal documents, and photographs.

Personal correspondence includes that carried on between Ruihley and his wife during the time of the illness that left him disabled, and that between him and his sons and their wives. The letters from Elliot and and his wife Beatrice describe their first years as a married couple, focusing on matters related to the furnishing of their apartments and the birth of their first child. They also include expressions of gratitude for items received from August and Anna Ruihley, and plans to visit them. Several undated notes between August and Paula include arrangements for a trip to the western United States on which Ruihley sent Paula. A letter by Ruihley tells about his trip to the newly-opened Toledo Art Museum and his visit (on the same trip) to an automobile show (January 12, 1912). Also includes two copies of Paula and Humberto Urrutia's wedding announcement, October 15, 1925.

The collection contains a minimal amount of business and other correspondence. Some letters deal with the Yoder-Lehman farm, the mortgage on which he was forced to take over. In the letters, he advises his tenant on the making of fences and planting of crops, and announces his ownership and desire to sell the farm to a variety of business acquaintances. The one incoming letter is a demand from the bank holding the mortgage. One folder of material deals specifically with August’s illness and death, with a letter by Dr. James A. Dickinson, MD (Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Cleveland Clinic) giving a complete medical description of Ruihley dated August 29, 1927 and written to the Medical Director of Trucson Steel (the company of which Alonzo Ruihley was secretary/treasurer). A letter by Ruihley to Paula Ruihley Urrutia dated February 3, 1928 commenting on Mexico, and an undated letter by Anna Frey Ruihley was written from Battle Creek Sanatorium shortly before Ruihley's death. This folder also includes eulogies, testimonials, newspaper obituaries, letters of sympathy, and funeral cards

The various printed items, newspaper clippings and scrapbook material document Ruihley's activities as mayor, his accomplishments in that office and particularly, the development of Ruihley Park. One thing to note is that the memorial card for his father, Clemens Ruihley, located with miscellaneous printed material, lists his death date as Jan 30, 1881, when the year should be 1889 according to tombstone information from St. James Lutheran Cemetery, German Township, Fulton, County, Ohio.