California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 WILLIAM O. RUDDICK.� As a business man of Upper Lake and deputy sheriff of Lake county for several years Air. Ruddick has established a wide acquaintance in his locality, and he is one of the popular citizens of his town, where he has made his home since his return from service in the Spanish-American war. He is a native of Jackson county, Ind., born July 4, 1873 and came with his parents to Ukiah, Mendocino county, Cal., in the year 1884, the family moving to Healdsburg, this state, in 1886. There he continued to live until 1896, then coming to Middletown, Lake county, for a year. In 1897 he returned to Healdsburg. In April, 1898, when the Spanish- American war broke out, he enlisted, joining Company M, Fourteenth Ignited States Infantry (regular army), under general order No. 40. They drilled at Camp Merritt, San Francisco, until July 14th, when they sailed for Manila, Philippine Islands, via Honolulu. Air. Ruddick was in General Ovenshine's division, and toward the close of his service under General Lawton. He took part in six important operations : The engagement at Blockhouse No. 14, where the company lost twenty-three killed and fourteen wounded, Captain Patten, the company commander, being among those who gave up their lives ; two engagements at San Pedro Macati ; Sputa River ; San Francisco Mel- bourne ; and a running fight in the desert. In the latter ten thousand men started across the desert, but only seven thousand finished the journey, the other three thousand falling exhausted on the way. Mr. Ruddick fell uncon- scious and remained in that state three hours, but was rescued by the hospital corps. He received his honorable discharge at Manila, as quartermaster sergeant, and came home by way of Hong Kong, China, and Yokohama, Japan ; at Tokio he had the opportunity of attending dress parade and saw the flower of the Japanese infantry. Arriving at San Francisco in September, 1900, he came to Upper Lake, Lake county, to visit an uncle and aunt then living here, Mr. and Mrs. William Buck, and he has resided here up to the present time. Mr. Ruddick went to work in the Upper Lake cheese factory, and soon acquired so familiar a knowledge of the business that he ran the factory for the Upper Lake Cheese and Dairy Company for some time, eventually taking charge of it on his own account. He operated it as owner for three years, at the end of that period selling his interest. He was then appointed deputy sheriff under George Kemp, and has continued to serve his fellow citizens in that capacity since, having been reappointed under the present sheriff, Lyon Eraser. His retention in office is sufficient evidence of the satisfaction his work has given both to his superiors and to the people generally. Besides attending to his official duties Mr. Ruddick has carried on busi- ness in Upper Lake, having a finely equipped pool and billiard hall, which he has popularized by his efficient and orderly management. He is active in local political circles, working in the interest of the Republican party. In 1905 Mr. Ruddick married Miss Lida E. Robinson, daughter of the late Jesse B. Robinson, Sr., of Lake county, a pioneer of this region and one time super- visor. The Robinsons are mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Ruddick has many friends in Copper Lake, and the home there which she and her husband own and occupy is one of the most beautiful residences in the town.