In 1988, The Centennial History of Hurricane, WV was published to commemorate the town’s 100th anniversary. Since the Centennial History is now out of print, the Breeze is reprinting articles from the book as space allows. This week’s selection will be the 200th installment of the Centennial History.
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CHARLES FRANKLIN RUMBAUGH
Submitted by Madalon Rumbaugh Reichold
Son of Soloman Lauffer Rumbaugh (b. 5-2-1866, Butler County, PA, d. 2-5-1919, Putnam County, West Virginia, m. 12-13-1888); L. Myrtle Wise (b. 7-11-1871, d. 1-16-1950); Charles F. born in Putnam County, 6-3-1876, married Annie Elizabeth Coleman (2-19-1899) in Ironton, Ohio (6-3-1920). He died 8-3-1971, Sanford, Florida.
The family lived in and around Hurricane, Putnam County, West Virginia area most of their life. Children of the union were: Madalon (2-19-1921); Bertha “Berchie” (6-8-1922); Lauffer Edward “Jack” (5-10-1925); Gale Coleman (4-14-1927); Noralee (2-3-1933); and Charles Kent (2-1-1936). Charley served in WW I as a Corp. in the Army (Medics). During the early years, he was a farmer in the area, worked at Carbide for 17 years, and in the late 1940’s went into the carpentry and building business. He acquired the Dallas Erwin farm on lower Virginia Avenue (known as the Rumbaugh addition to Hurricane), where he built homes. When I-64 was built across the property, the bridge over the road was identified as the Rumbaugh Bridge.
All the children with the family attended the Baptist Church and graduated from Hurricane High School, four attended Marshall University, one Huntington Trade School and Noralee attended University of N.M., Albuquerque, N.M.
During and after WWII, the family left the area: Madalon to Ohio and Michigan serving in the U.S. Signal Corp. Married Gordon Heeringa Reichold (5-18-1945). Berchie to Albuquerque, N.M.; LE. “Jack” served in the Army Airforce and settled in Sanford, Florida. Gale Coleman served in the Navy, lived in New Mexico and at the present living in William’s Lake, Canada. Noralee, living in Albuquerque, N.M. Charles Kent, served in the Army, stationed over-seas and returned to live in Michigan and at present, Indianapolis, Indiana.
After his failing health, Charlie and Annie moved to Florida to be with two of their children, Madalon in New Smyrna Beach and Jack in Sanford, Florida. After his death, Annie moved to Albuquerque, N.M. to be with daughter Berchie (Mrs. Robert W. Henderson) and Noralee (Mrs. James Brusksus) where she resides at the present.
Kent Rumbaugh has traced the Rumbaugh’s (Rambo, Rumbach) back seven generations where Grandfather John Rumbaugh served as Second Lt. 5th Batt., 2nd Co. under Capt. Waygarat, Commander Penn. Militia for Washington’s Army (1777). Grandfather William Rumbaugh served under Capt. W.C. Beck, Comp. D, of the 62nd Penn. Regiment, and lost his left leg at the Battle of York Town.
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A digital copy of the Centennial History can be obtained from the Hurricane City Hall for a small donation. For more information, call the City of Hurricane at (304) 562-5896.
