He was born June 17, 1834, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Some researchers have concluded his parents were Sherman Booth and Sarah (Oakley) Ruggles. However, genealogist D.B. Robinson believes his parents were Nathaniel and Julia (Hall) Ruggles. This theory is based on his obituary stating a "Washington Ruggles"* as his brother. To date, no records have surfaced linking Charles and that individual as siblings. Furthermore, Nathaniel and Julia did have a son named Charles Napoleon Ruggles but he died in 1833. Charles' parents were from Connecticut per the 1880 census. To further complicate matters, I could not locate him in censuses by name with any of his potential parents. This is due to Charles relocating to California. He arrived in California on the ship Balance. Ebenezer Washburn Ruggles** was captain of the ship. The New York Herald of April 10, 1849, states Charles was a passenger sailing on the ship April 1, 1849. He lived in San Francisco, California. He married Emma Wills there on February 13, 1856. They had three children. I have included info on them below. His occupations can be traced through San Francisco City Directories and newspapers of the era. The earliest directory he appears in is dated 1856 stating he was working as a stevedore. This disproves his obituary's claim he came to San Francisco in 1869. In 1872, he was a ship clerk. By 1880, he had become the Deputy Superintendent of the Streets. At the time of his passing, he was Superintendent of the Streets. He died on March 18, 1886, in San Francisco, California. Charles was removed from Odd Fellows Cemetery S F during the 1930s.
Children of Charles Sherman and Emma (Wills) Ruggles:
Daughter Julia married Harry B. Cloak. They were married in 1883. They had a daughter, Florence, and a son, Lloyd Ruggles (he died as a child). The 1900 census, where she is living with her mother, husband, daughter, brother, and nephew, indicates she was born in October 1856 in California. She died on June 17, 1930, in Los Angeles, California.
Son Charles Sherman Ruggles Jr. married Theresa Maria Heinsch on January 24, 1885, in Los Angeles, California. Charles was born on January 2, 1859, in San Francisco. He had two sons with Theresa, Charles Sherman "Charlie" Ruggles and Wesley Heinsch Ruggles. They would become famous, Charlie as an actor and Wesley as a film director. He was a druggist for a while, and later in life, he worked for Victor Talking Machine Co. He divorced Theresa in 1897 per the San Francisco Call. Charles died on March 5, 1932, in Los Angeles, California.
Daughter Emma Harriet married George Ruddock. They married in 1885. They had two daughters, Estelle and Ruth. Emma was born on January 10, 1861, in San Francisco, California. She died on July 1, 1935, in Los Angeles, California.
*Washington is a typo, as it has been proven E.W. Ruggles was captain of the ship.
**Have not found documentation supporting this individual as his brother.
Children of Charles Sherman and Emma (Wills) Ruggles:
Daughter Julia married Harry B. Cloak. They were married in 1883. They had a daughter, Florence, and a son, Lloyd Ruggles (he died as a child). The 1900 census, where she is living with her mother, husband, daughter, brother, and nephew, indicates she was born in October 1856 in California. She died on June 17, 1930, in Los Angeles, California.
Son Charles Sherman Ruggles Jr. married Theresa Maria Heinsch on January 24, 1885, in Los Angeles, California. Charles was born on January 2, 1859, in San Francisco. He had two sons with Theresa, Charles Sherman "Charlie" Ruggles and Wesley Heinsch Ruggles. They would become famous, Charlie as an actor and Wesley as a film director. He was a druggist for a while, and later in life, he worked for Victor Talking Machine Co. He divorced Theresa in 1897 per the San Francisco Call. Charles died on March 5, 1932, in Los Angeles, California.
Daughter Emma Harriet married George Ruddock. They married in 1885. They had two daughters, Estelle and Ruth. Emma was born on January 10, 1861, in San Francisco, California. She died on July 1, 1935, in Los Angeles, California.
*Washington is a typo, as it has been proven E.W. Ruggles was captain of the ship.
**Have not found documentation supporting this individual as his brother.
He was born June 17, 1834, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Some researchers have concluded his parents were Sherman Booth and Sarah (Oakley) Ruggles. However, genealogist D.B. Robinson believes his parents were Nathaniel and Julia (Hall) Ruggles. This theory is based on his obituary stating a "Washington Ruggles"* as his brother. To date, no records have surfaced linking Charles and that individual as siblings. Furthermore, Nathaniel and Julia did have a son named Charles Napoleon Ruggles but he died in 1833. Charles' parents were from Connecticut per the 1880 census. To further complicate matters, I could not locate him in censuses by name with any of his potential parents. This is due to Charles relocating to California. He arrived in California on the ship Balance. Ebenezer Washburn Ruggles** was captain of the ship. The New York Herald of April 10, 1849, states Charles was a passenger sailing on the ship April 1, 1849. He lived in San Francisco, California. He married Emma Wills there on February 13, 1856. They had three children. I have included info on them below. His occupations can be traced through San Francisco City Directories and newspapers of the era. The earliest directory he appears in is dated 1856 stating he was working as a stevedore. This disproves his obituary's claim he came to San Francisco in 1869. In 1872, he was a ship clerk. By 1880, he had become the Deputy Superintendent of the Streets. At the time of his passing, he was Superintendent of the Streets. He died on March 18, 1886, in San Francisco, California. Charles was removed from Odd Fellows Cemetery S F during the 1930s.
Children of Charles Sherman and Emma (Wills) Ruggles:
Daughter Julia married Harry B. Cloak. They were married in 1883. They had a daughter, Florence, and a son, Lloyd Ruggles (he died as a child). The 1900 census, where she is living with her mother, husband, daughter, brother, and nephew, indicates she was born in October 1856 in California. She died on June 17, 1930, in Los Angeles, California.
Son Charles Sherman Ruggles Jr. married Theresa Maria Heinsch on January 24, 1885, in Los Angeles, California. Charles was born on January 2, 1859, in San Francisco. He had two sons with Theresa, Charles Sherman "Charlie" Ruggles and Wesley Heinsch Ruggles. They would become famous, Charlie as an actor and Wesley as a film director. He was a druggist for a while, and later in life, he worked for Victor Talking Machine Co. He divorced Theresa in 1897 per the San Francisco Call. Charles died on March 5, 1932, in Los Angeles, California.
Daughter Emma Harriet married George Ruddock. They married in 1885. They had two daughters, Estelle and Ruth. Emma was born on January 10, 1861, in San Francisco, California. She died on July 1, 1935, in Los Angeles, California.
*Washington is a typo, as it has been proven E.W. Ruggles was captain of the ship.
**Have not found documentation supporting this individual as his brother.
Children of Charles Sherman and Emma (Wills) Ruggles:
Daughter Julia married Harry B. Cloak. They were married in 1883. They had a daughter, Florence, and a son, Lloyd Ruggles (he died as a child). The 1900 census, where she is living with her mother, husband, daughter, brother, and nephew, indicates she was born in October 1856 in California. She died on June 17, 1930, in Los Angeles, California.
Son Charles Sherman Ruggles Jr. married Theresa Maria Heinsch on January 24, 1885, in Los Angeles, California. Charles was born on January 2, 1859, in San Francisco. He had two sons with Theresa, Charles Sherman "Charlie" Ruggles and Wesley Heinsch Ruggles. They would become famous, Charlie as an actor and Wesley as a film director. He was a druggist for a while, and later in life, he worked for Victor Talking Machine Co. He divorced Theresa in 1897 per the San Francisco Call. Charles died on March 5, 1932, in Los Angeles, California.
Daughter Emma Harriet married George Ruddock. They married in 1885. They had two daughters, Estelle and Ruth. Emma was born on January 10, 1861, in San Francisco, California. She died on July 1, 1935, in Los Angeles, California.
*Washington is a typo, as it has been proven E.W. Ruggles was captain of the ship.
**Have not found documentation supporting this individual as his brother.
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