Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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AUSTIN RUGGLES.
 
        One of the best conducted, systematically cultivated and most productive 
farms in the famed San Gabriel Valley is that of the above-named gentleman.  His 
comparatively small farm contains but eighty acres, located in the El Monte 
school district, within one mile of El Monte, and to the north of that town. The 
most important industry conducted by Mr. Ruggles is a dairy, comprising forty 
milch cows of selected Durham stock. The products of his dairy, being 
first-class in every respect, command ready sale at the highest market prices. 
He also pays considerable attention to raising hogs, keeping from twenty-five to 
thirty of the famous Essex breed upon his place. His acres, besides supporting 
the above-named stock, including six or eight horses, are producing hay, grain 
and corn.  He has thirty acres of alfalfa that under his system of fertilizing 
produce marvelous crops.  Acres of his land have produced over 100 bushels of 
corn per acre, and it is not unusual for him to take a crop of grain from the 
land and then in the same year plant and harvest a crop of corn from the same 
land, showing its wonderful productive power under a proper cultivation and 
fertilizing. He is also the owner of fifty acres of land located a few miles 
south of his home place, which he devotes to pasturing his young stock. Mr. 
Ruggles has spent a life-time in agricultural pursuits. He was born in Hardwick, 
Massachusetts, in 1819. His parents, Adin and Cynthia (Snow) Ruggles, were 
natives of that State, and descendants from old families of the Massachusetts 
colony. From boyhood Mr. Ruggles was reared to farm life. In 1831
his parents moved to Tolland County, Connecticut, where his father died in 1836. 
His mother then took upon herself the care of the family, and after the death of 
her husband moved to Chautauqua County, New York, and there located in the 
almost unbroken forests, and commenced the clearing and cultivating of land. In 
this she was ably assisted by the subject of this sketch, who remained at home 
assisting in supporting his mother and the family until 1850, when, leaving his 
mother well provided for, he located at Carroll, in the same county, and engaged 
in farming upon his own account. In 1849 he married Miss Martha Fields, the 
daughter of Governor William Fields, of Connecticut, one of the most prominent 
men of his day. Her mother was Martha Penney, also from an old prominent family 
of Connecticut. Mr. Ruggles engaged in farming in New York until early in 1859, 
and then deciding to seek richer soils and less rigorous climate, started upon 
an overland trip to the Pacific Coast. Arriving at Jefferson City, Missouri, he 
fitted himself out with the typical ox teams and wended his way across plains 
and mountains to the Golden State. Upon his arrival in California he located in 
Placer County and for the next ten years engaged in farming, stock-raising and 
market gardening. In 1869 he moved to Monterey County and there conducted a 
dairy farm until 1874, when he came to Los Angeles County. His first enterprise 
upon his land was in sheep-raising and wool-growing; but this resulted 
disastrously, and at the end of three years he found himself nearly $2,000 in 
debt, and no stock upon his place except one horse and one cow. Since that time 
his success has been sure and rapid, and he has secured a competency. No wild 
speculations have been indulged in, but an intelligent and thorough attention to 
well-conceived farm operations brought about this result. In these operations he 
is ably assisted by his only son, Willie Ruggles, who has an undivided interest 
in the successes of his father while assuming his full share of the cares and 
struggles by which they have been wrought.  Mrs. Ruggles died in Monterey 
County, in June, 1873. Mr. Ruggles is an esteemed citizen in his community, and 
a credit to his calling as a farmer. In political matters he is a stanch 
supporter of the Republican party.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 609
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler