Person:Ruth James (6)

Ruth graduated from college at a time that this achievement was still rare for U.S. women. Ruth's initial enrollment at Upper Iowa University was the result of a last-minute decision made by her parents. Ruth's cousin [Stella?] was enrolling, and J.L. and Martha decided to send Ruth with her. In her junior yearbook (1922), Ruth is listed as a member of Zeta, W.S.W., the Peacock yearbook staff 1921, and the Y.W.C.A. “I find you passing gentle, For thou art pleasant, gamesome and courteous.”^S6 [The quotes for each student appear to describe the person.]

Ruth and her husband Bud liked to travel. They drove from Iowa to Alaska in the early 1950s, following the newly-built Al-Can Highway. In 1963 they drove to and around Mexico. Ruth also enjoyed fishing and gardening (red cannas always had a large plot), and completed most of the (many) crossword puzzles she started. She also enjoyed crocheting, knitting, and other crafts. Ruth continued her mother Martha Farnham's' interest in genealogy.

Obituary

"Mrs. Ruth Paulin, 82, died Tuesday (Jan. 11, 1983) at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars after a long illness. She had been hospitalized four days. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church, Le Mars. Rev. Leonard Root will officiate and burial will be in Resthaven Memory Gardens, Le Mars. The former Ruth James, she was born July 13, 1900, in Thornton, Iowa, to J.L. and Martha Farnham James. She taught school at Grand Meadow in 1923. After her marriage June 22, 1926, to Errett Oscar Paulin at Swaledale, Iowa, she lived in the rural Kingsley and Le Mars area. She retired to Le Mars in 1955 and had recently lived at Plymouth Manor. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Le Mars Women’s Club, and former president of Plymouth County Farm Bureau Women. She is survived by a son; two grandchildren; a brother, David James, Joplin, Mo., and a sister Mrs. Clarence (Esther) Ulum, Clear Lake. Mr. Paulin died April 10, 1970. She was also preceded in death by a son, John, four brothers and a sister.”^S3

Ruth James, Junior at Upper Iowa University

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Mehnert, Elsie Powell. The Powell family, a record and biography of the descendants of Samuel Powell. (Naperville, Illinois: E. Mehnert, 1946).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Msscarlet1957/Viera Tree: Electronic Database, Location: db=":1569049"
   [1].
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} Mrs. Ruth Paulin Obituary , in Le Mars Daily Sentinel (Le Mars, Iowa)
   [2], 1983.
4. ↑ Cerro Gordo, Iowa, United States. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   [3].
5. ↑ Cerro Gordo, Iowa, United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   [4].
6. ↑ 1922 Upper Iowa University Peacock Yearbook
   1922.
7. ↑ Because Ruth did not have a middle name, after her marriage she used her maiden name of James as a middle name.