The Valley of Heart's Delight
JOSEPH H. RUCKER
SURNAMES: BROWN, DUNNE
A decidedly progressive man prominent in the California commercial
world, whose substantial principles have been the best kind of a
guarantee as to his advocacy of all that would make for the rapid and
permanent development of the state, county and city in which he
resides, is Joseph H. Rucker & Company, who was born near San Jose,
on March 23, 2865. His Father, Joseph E. Rucker, was a farmer who
came
to California in 1852, and at Gilroy, in Santa Clara County, married
Miss. Susan Brown, a fine type of the American woman who had come to
the Golden State a year ahead of him. In 1874, he established
himself
in business, and nine years later he took his son into
partnership.
He died in 1890, survived for seven years by his devoted wife.
When
she passed away in 1897, she was the mother of eight children, four
boys and four girls, and among these Joseph H. Rucker was the
youngest son. He finished the grammar school courses, then
studied for
a while at the high school, and after that put in two years at the
College of the Pacific , and topped off his work as a student at he
Garden City Business College. Thus pretty well equipped to try
his own resources in the world at large, he entered the service of
Hutchinson & Mann, the largest insurance concern on the Pacific
Coast, and when he was only eighteen years of age, joined his father in
forming the firm of J. E. Rucker & Sons, successors to Rucker &
Page. In 1901, the firm was incorporated as Joseph H. Rucker
& Company. On January 1, 1907, a branch house, under the name
of Joseph H. Rucker & Company was established in San Francisco.
On June 6, 1888, Mr. Rucker was married to Miss May P. Dunne, a
representative of another old family and a charring lady of natural
gifts and a developed talent; and their union has been further blessed
by three children, Joseph E., DeWitt C., and Jerome W. Rucker, all
three associated with their father in business. The family attend
the Roman Catholic Church, and participate in the social functions of
the Country and the Olympic clubs. In national politics a
Republican, Mr. Rucker delights to give his non-partisan, undivided
support to all well-endorsed loyal projects. A true descendant of
the worthies pioneers, Mr. Rucker rejoices in all that pertains to
California life; and being especially fond of the great outdoors, he
maintains a camp in Monterey County where he and his many friends often
enjoy facilities for recreation and pleasure sought for by others
in corners of the earth far from home.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORY- The Valley of Heart's Delight
July 22, 2005