Ruff Family

Abraham Ruff, oldest son of Abraham and Sophia, born 6th April 1863

The Mercury  Tuesday morning, January 24, 1893

A case of drowning is reported from the Glengarry river a few miles from Sale. Two young men named Abraham Ruff and William Jones were out in a boat when it overturned, and the latter was drowned, Abraham Ruff, though unable to swim, got ashore and reported the accident to the police.

The following information i have of my Great Grandfather Abraham Ruff is from a copy of a news paper article that was written in The Maffra Spectator

'Active Life Closes, The Late Mr Abraham Ruff' – “Each morning sees some task begun, each evening sees its close. Something attempted, something done, has earned a night’s repose.”

Longfellow's lines typify the life of Mr Abraham Ruff which ebbed to its close at the Gippsland Base Hospital, Sale, on Tuesday evening last, April 8th, in the beginning of his 90th year. A very old identity of Gippsland, the late Mr Ruff was born in Melbourne on April 6th 1863, and was the eldest son of the late Abraham and Sophia Ruff, with whom, at the age of 3, he went to Sale, travelling on the first stage by boat to Port Albert, and thence by wagon to Sale, where he recieved his primary education. At the age of 15 he commenced his career as a baker. Abraham was an awarded baker for the best bread during the Great War. His successful baking career started in Sale, then on to Maffra, Stratford, Bunyip and Melbourne. He was an accomplished athlete an expert dancer, enjoyed roller skating, shooting, fishing, reading and music.  He had a generous and noble nature and was a teetotaler and non smoker. After his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Mary Monk, also of Sale, he built his own home opposite the Agricultural School Farm in Sale, where he lived until he took his wife and family to Maffra in 1913. From 1902 to that time he had cycled from his home in Sale to his work in Maffra each weekend. Although small in stature, he was possessed of a strong constitution, and until an illness about 10 years ago had never required medical attention, either privately or in hospital. The death of his wife 11 years earlier was a severe loss. Followed later by the death of 2 sons, Edward and Cyril, the unexpected death of the latter 2 years ago came as a great blow which undoubtedly undermined his natural good health. He leaves a family of 2 sons, Will and Theo, and 2 daughters, Alma and Renee to mourn loss of devoted father. He also leaves 16 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. Three brothers - Edward, Henry and Frederick, and three sisters - Sophie, Bertha and Bona survive him. One sister Ida, predeceased him. His funeral was held at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Maffra at 10am Saturday 12 April.

The following information I discovered from an article on the internet.