Son of William Ruffin and Margaret "Peggy" Boswell Winfrey, James D. was named for his two grandfathers, James Ruffin and Drury Boswell Winfrey of King William County, Virginia. He moved to DeSoto County, Mississippi after his widowed father had relocated from King William County, Virginia to Hardeman County, Tennessee. On July 5, 1834 he married his first cousin, Rosa, daughter of James Ruffin (1787-1847) and Agnes Dandridge Ruffin (1791-1839). By 1840, James D. Ruffin, Sr. was elected to the Mississippi Legislature and was also a General in the militia for the Northern District of the State. Ruffin served as Probate Judge for Panola County from 1839-1845. The 1860 Census for Panola County shows that Ruffin was wealthy, as his property was valued in excess of $100,000. All of that changed with the War, however. By 1870 his wealth had been greatly reduced and he lived in Memphis, Tennessee as a Real Estate Agent, hosting several of his children and grandchildren who made their home with him there. In 1871 and 1872 he was an Alderman for the City of Memphis. He died at the age of 68 in Como, Mississippi but was subsequently buried in the same section of Elmwood Cemetery where his father had been buried.
Son of William Ruffin and Margaret "Peggy" Boswell Winfrey, James D. was named for his two grandfathers, James Ruffin and Drury Boswell Winfrey of King William County, Virginia. He moved to DeSoto County, Mississippi after his widowed father had relocated from King William County, Virginia to Hardeman County, Tennessee. On July 5, 1834 he married his first cousin, Rosa, daughter of James Ruffin (1787-1847) and Agnes Dandridge Ruffin (1791-1839). By 1840, James D. Ruffin, Sr. was elected to the Mississippi Legislature and was also a General in the militia for the Northern District of the State. Ruffin served as Probate Judge for Panola County from 1839-1845. The 1860 Census for Panola County shows that Ruffin was wealthy, as his property was valued in excess of $100,000. All of that changed with the War, however. By 1870 his wealth had been greatly reduced and he lived in Memphis, Tennessee as a Real Estate Agent, hosting several of his children and grandchildren who made their home with him there. In 1871 and 1872 he was an Alderman for the City of Memphis. He died at the age of 68 in Como, Mississippi but was subsequently buried in the same section of Elmwood Cemetery where his father had been buried.
Gravesite Details
There is no gravestone for this burial.
Family Members
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