Michael (Johann Michael) Ruch (later Rugh) came to America, at age 10, with parents, Hans George and Catherine Ruch, in 1733 from Germany, via Rotterdam, Holland on the ship “Samuel.” Arrived Aug. 17, 1733, in Philadelphia.
On Apr. 16, 1745, in Moselem Springs, now Berks Co., he married Anna Franzina Merkel at the Moselem Lutheran Church. Records show that in 1747 they settled on farm land.
In 1771-2, they left eastern PA and moved west, into the wilderness of Westmoreland Co. and settled in Hempfield Twp.
With the help of his adult sons and their families, they homesteaded a very large track of land, some sources mention 400 acres, (much of the present “South Greensburg.”) They were some of the first settlers in the area.
They were authorized by Gov. Penn in 1774 to build and maintain “Rugh’s Blockhouse” for the protection of settlers from Indian raids during Lord Dunmore’s War, a 1774 conflict between the encroaching British colonists and the Shawnee and Mingo nations. They constructed cabins and a sturdy stockade, with musket portholes, a mile or two south of Greensburg. “Rugh’s Blockhouse,” was an important fort on the road to Greensburg
Private in Capt. James Leech’s Company, Westmoreland Co., PA in 1778-9. During the Revolution, Rugh’s Blockhouse was a military supply depot, and Michael Rugh was appointed Westmoreland Co. Militia’s “Commissioner of Purchases” Dec. 21, 1781. He was also in the Militia in 1782.
In 1782, Hannastown was totally destroyed, in an Indian raid, inspired by the British. After Anna Franzina’s death in 1782 in the raid, he remarried Lucy Walz in 1784.
Rugh was one of five chosen by the Governor to purchase land for the creation of “Newtown,” which eventually became Greensburg, the current county seat.
After the Revolution, Michael represented PA in the state legislature.
Michael Rugh died 1 mile SE of Greensburg, in Hempfield Twp., ca. 1800-1820 at his farm. The place is his burial is disputed and unknown. Michael and his 2nd wife, Lucy Walz, (b. ca. 1725) are supposedly buried at Hillview Cemetery, moved there in 1949 from the Old German Lutheran Cemetery. The History of Westmoreland County states that he’s buried in the family plot on his farm. Another possible burial place: Harrold Lutheran Church (where he attended communion and to which he donated land).
Rugh’s Blockhouse was town down in 1842.
Contributed by Angela #48520699 from information from Phil Knox #46804759
Family Members
Parents
Hans George Ruch
1682–1769
Spouse
Anna Franzina Merkel Rugh
1717–1782
Siblings
Lorenz Ruch
1744 – unknown
Children
Michael Rugh
unknown–1820
Mary Magdalena Rugh Castner
1746–1830
Johann Peter Rugh
1747–1828
Catherine Rugh Smith
1758–1828
Anna Maria Rugh Macklin Bonsey
1758–1839
John Jacob Rugh
1761–1845
