New article by archives clerk Karen Cuccinello

CColonel Rulif W. Rulifson

Newspaper articles usually referred to Rulif as “R.W.” (I could not find out what the “W” stood for) and always preceded his name with the designation of Colonel which was an honorary title that he received on account of his training the militia on training days.
Rulif was born in Blenheim, NY October 5, 1802 to Harmon and Susanna (Beemer/Beamer) Ruliffson. He was one of a family of 11 siblings and of Danish descent. Rulif outlived three wives: Candace Gleason, Mary Dayton Morris and Lucy Marian. Of these marriages at least eight children were born to the first two unions, none to the third marriage.
Rulif, a farmer, was about 66 years old when he left Gilboa, NY and moved to Stamford. In 1873 he erected a good sized barn on his new house lot. His daughter Helen, age 24, is living with him in the 1875 Stamford census and he lists his occupation as retired farmer. An 1878 list of Stamford Village inhabitants states the he owns nine acres valued at $500. In the 1880 Stamford census he is living with his son F.G. (Fisher Gleason), daughter-in-law Rosa and granddaughter Lillie.
May 1882 Delaware Republican- Col. R.W. Rulifson, of this village, has purchased 20 acres of land around the top of Mt. Utsayantha, has had a survey made of the land, and will soon erect an observation tower thereon.-[Mirror]
Major George C. Gibbs built a temporary tower 45 feet in height, costing about $1,000, said to be ready for a July 4th celebration in 1882 and then built a permanent tower later.
May 1883 Gilboa Monitor- Col Rulifson of Stamford, has bought R. W. & R. H. Clark’s interest in Utsayantho Mountain and Tower.
July 1884 Kingston Freeman- Colonel Rulifson of Stamford takes pleasure in announcing to his friends and the public that his house on Mt. Utsayantho is now ready for the reception of guests who desire to remain over night to see the beauties of sunset and sunrise. Supper and breakfast will be furnished if desired at popular prices, also lunch may be had at all hours. A choice assortment of temperance drinks always on hand.
September 1886 Delaware Gazette – Col R.W. Ruliffson, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Stamford, died September 16 age 84. (He and his wives are buried in Stamford Cemetery.)
The September 21, 1886 Stamford Mirror had a lengthy obituary and memorial. What follows is excerpts from both.
Walton Van Loan of Catskill wrote how on his way home from Cooperstown last week he stopped to see his old friend “Grandpa”, as everyone called him. He was sitting in his easy chair and complained only of being weak and saying how Tommy (Mr. T.P. Howard), his day and night nurse for the past week, would take care of him. On Wednesday he went to sleep about 10:30pm and an hour later his daughter-in-law Mrs. F.G. Ruliffson discovered he was not breathing. Utsayantha seemed to share in the Colonel’s grief as there was a haze over the mountain and when he died rain drops descended like tears. He was just shy of his 84th birthday.
From his obituary. He has been one of our most active and enterprising citizens, deeply interested in churches, schools and all public improvements. He was influential in locating the R.R. Depot, prominent in starting a bank &e. But the enterprise claiming his chief attention and energy the last five years has been the purchase and improvement of our wonderful Utsayantha Mountain. With unusual foresight, he secured the top of the mountain, and with tremendous energy, and in the face of opposition, and indeed, much adverse criticism, he built the winding road and the “Ruliffson Observatory”. A large and beautiful floral tribute, composed of mosses and flowers from his favorite mountain was originated and arranged by his mountain companion and esteemed friend T.P. Howard.
Three years after Rulifson’s death Utsayantha Mountain was purchased by Dr. Stephen E. Churchill, Johnson Hamilton and William Whitney.
When I had nearly completed the article on Rulif I looked for any Rulifson photo’s in our collection at the Stamford Village Library and found one picture of his daughter-in-law Mrs. Fisher Gleason (Rosa) Rulifson. Rosa was born to Hiram and Sadie (McLonghlin) Harris in Brooklyn between 1851 and 1861. The 1875 census for Stamford states she was born 1851, the 1900 census for Brooklyn states she was born October 1857 and her NYC death record states 1861. Rosa married F. Gleason/F.G. about 1869 and she had one daughter, Lillie May, born 1870. Lillie died the same year as Gleason in 1891 (burial in Stamford Cemetery).
F. Gleason’s (1845-1891) life was spent in Stamford where he was a clerk in a dry goods store, sold Dr. Kennedy’s Favorite Remedy, was a foreman in the fire department, secretary of Cornet Band, merchant, post master, justice of the peace and boarding house proprietor of Grand View House and Valley View Cottage.
Not much information was available about Rosa but I did find that she played Josephine in the comic opera Pinafore in 1884 and assisted in their boarding houses. She must have moved back to NYC fairly quickly following Gleason’s death because an 1892 Stamford Mirror states that Rosa, of NYC, is stopping by Dr. E.P. Hubbell’s of Main St. Stamford. Rosa married Dr. William Mueller (1867-1944), a pharmacist of Brooklyn, about 1896 shortly after he divorced his first wife Bertha.
May 1926 (Stamford Mirror-Recorder)- The funeral of Mrs. Rosa Rulifson Mueller, who died at her home in Brooklyn on May 21st, was held from the Presbyterian Church with burial in the Stamford cemetery. Mrs. Rulifson, who was a former resident of Stamford, is survived by her husband.
I could not find a gravestone for her.
Some of the information came from the “Rulison, Rulifson, Ruliffson Family, Genealogy 1689-1918”, which is housed at the Stamford Village Library.
By Karen Cuccinello Stamford Village Library Historian, karenc@midtel.net.