Rufus De Garmo

RUFUS DeGARMO, who was for many years a prominent farmer of Labette county, Kansas, is now living in retirement in the city of Oswego, Kansas. He was born in Ulster county, New York, in 1821, and is a son of Elias and Clemma (Powell) De Garmo.

Elias De Garmo was born in Dutchess county, New York, in 1788, and died in Rochester, New York, in 1876. He married Clemma Powell, who was born in Dutchess county, New York, in 1789, and died there in 1828. They reared the following offspring: John, Lydia, Mary, and Anna, deceased; Hannah (Albertson), of Sterling, Illinois; Rufus; and Peter and Jane, twins, - the farmer of Labette county, Kansas, and the latter deceased.

Rufus De Garmo received his education in Monroe county, New York, and at the age of twenty-three years went to Sterling, Illinois. He was clerk of Whiteside county, Illinois, from 1851 to 1857, and in 1861 removed to Shelby county, Illinois. In 1864 he enlisted in the 149th Reg., Ill. Vol. Inf., and was made quartermaster sergeant of the regiment. He served until the close of the war, and was mustered out at Camp Butler, Illinois, in 1866. He then lived in Shelby county, Illinois, until 1882, when he removed to Oswego, Labette county, Kansas. There he resided until 1884, and then moved to Coldwater, Kansas, where he was located for eight years. During this time he served as city clerk, for six years; as police judge, two years; and as justice of the peace, two years. In 1892 he returned to Labette county, Kansas, and is now living in retirement at Oswego. He was a good business man and a successful farmer, and has always stood in high favor with his fellow citizens.

Mr. De Garmo was first married to Laura M. Wilber, who was born in Peterboro, New York, in 1822, and died in East Troy, Wisconsin, in 1850. This union resulted in one son, Charles, who was president of Swarthmore College, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1892 to 1899. For the past two years Charles De Garmo has been a professor at Cornell University, and occupies a prominent position in educational circles. Our subject formed a second union by wedding Lavina Miles, who was born in 1827, and died in 1898, at Oswego, Kansas. Three children were the offspring of the second marriage: Caroline M. (Wiley); Alice (Smith); and Lida, who is at home.