RotruckUndertaker


	The Casket Maker and Funeral Director Of the Martin Community and Area David Worth Rotruck or W. D. Rotruck or better known as Little Dave in the community was the casket maker and the funeral director for the Martin community and area. He made caskets for people far and wide. Ruth Doll Coffman Michael, his granddaughter tells that his caskets were all made of oak and varnished. Little Dave was born February 05, 1854, the son of John Rotruck (1794-1881) and Elizabeth �Betty� (Rinker) Rotruck (1825-1908). He married Mary Virginia Harris February 22, 1882 by Rev. Daniel Arnold, Mineral County, WV. Mary Virginia was the daughter of Daniel Harris (1834-1873) and Eliza (Hawse) Harris. (1838-1901). Mary Virginia was born October 10, 1860 in Hardy County and died November 03, 1936 in Keyser, WV Little Dave and his family lived at the foot of the hill from the Knobley Cemetery and the Church. His son Arnold lived there for a while before moving to Keyser. Charlie and his family also lived in that house for a time too. Little Dave and his family were active in the Knobley Church. David Worth Rotruck and Mary Virginia are both buried in Knobley Cemetery and so are all of their children but one and at present I am not sure where their son, Arnold, (1903-___) is buried. Arnold was their youngest child. Little Dave and Mary Virginia had 7 children. It was the descendant of their first child Lillian Blanche �Lillie� (1882-1962) who furnished me with a copy of the names for the caskets that D. W. Rotruck. Made. Little Dave�s first casket was in 1879, three years before he and Mary Virginia were married. He made about 350 caskets until February of 1926. There is one on the list for 1941 and must have already been made because he died January 21, 1931. Older community people tells us that his 4 child, second son, Charlie (1892-1975) began helping him when he got old enough. I have been told that Rogers, the funeral director in Keyser at one time wanted Charlie to go to work for him making caskets but he would not. Golden Seal magazine did an article on Marshall Fleming, a well-known wood carver who lived on Pennroil road in the Antioch area and he speaks of the funeral director in his interview. The magazine writer says,� aside from the Kennedy caisson perhaps the most striking model in the museum is a Victorian funeral wagon pulled by two coal-black Shire horses. Fleming estimates that he put at least 250 hours of work into the piece. The hearse�s oblong windows and gold ornamentation were especially time-consuming�its rear door opens so the coffin can slide out. When one half of the coffin is opened, a well-dressed corpse sits up slightly. Opening the other end reveals a mirror, a reminder to visitors of their own mortality. The funeral wagon driver�s black suit and top hat contrast with his flowing white beard. �I remember that old man, Little Dave Rotruck, � Marshall recalls. �He wore a beard just like I put on there.� Rotruck was a mortuary jack-of-all-trades. He made coffins, arranged funerals and drove the hearse to the cemetery. Children of DAVID ROTRUCK and MARY HARRIS are: 2. i. LILLIAN BLANCHE "LILLIE"6 ROTRUCK, b. December 17, 1882; d. 1963. 3. ii. HOMER B. ROTRUCK, b. October 05, 1884, Grant County, WV (birth records); d. April 19, 1958. 4. iii. ORPHA M. ROTRUCK, b. September 07, 1887; d. April 15, 1965. 5. iv. CHARLES LEMUNEL "CHARLIE" ROTRUCK, b. July 24, 1892, Martin, WV Grant County; d. February 07, 1975, Sacred Heart Hospital, Cumberland, Maryland. 6. v. EDGAR LEE ROTRUCK, b. October 15, 1895; d. 1970. 7. vi. AUGUSTA "GLADYS" ROTRUCK, b. November 10, 1898. 8. vii. ARNOLD ROTRUCK, b. September 16, 1903. D.W. Rotruck�s Casket Record Dorcas Hunter deceased June 10, 1879 Wm D. Rotrucks baby deceased October 31, 1879 Malinda Rotruck deceased November 28, 1879 John George deceased August 27, 1880 A. E. McNemar deceased September 26, 1880 Ruhamy V. Leatherman deceased March 7, 1881 Christopher Utt deceased October 31, 1881 William Harris deceased April 17, 1882 Susan Rotruck deceased July 6, 1882 Sarah A. Likens deceased August 11, 1882 Alice Likens deceased August 26, 1882 C. C. Martins Baby deceased November 12, 1882 Moses Welch deceased December 11, 1882 Elizabeth Likens deceased January 2, 1883 Henry Blackburn deceased January 4, 1883 Elizabeth Roberts deceased January 6, 1883 Hannah Likens deceased April 8, 1883 Ida J. Leatherman deceased May 9, 1883 C. C. Martins Baby deceased August 12, 1883 Hudson H. Tucker deceased October 26, 1883 George w. doll deceased October 26, 1883 Daniel Rinker deceased November 9, 1883 Jeremiah Likens deceased November 22, 1883 Elijah Vanbuskirt deceased January 11, 1884 James Likens deceased February 16, 1884 Samanth Reece Rinker deceased April 24, 1884 Joseph George deceased August 21, 1884 Cora Ellen Bacorn deceased January 22, 1885 Charles W. Rotruck deceased June 30, 1885 A. P. Roberts Baby deceased May 7, 1886 Raymon Davis deceased August 19, 1886 Wellington C. Rotruck deceased October 18, 1887 Amos T. Leatherman Baby deceased February 4, 1888 Hannah Roberts deceased March 21, 1888 Elizabeth Bosley deceased March 3, 1889 John Dyver deceased March 18, 1889 John Markwood deceased April 11, 1889 Thomas Whittakers Baby deceased February 17, 1890 Polly Emery deceased April 7, 1890 William Welch deceased November 19, 1891 H. R. Dayton deceased April 24, 1892 Thomas L. George deceased August 3, 1892 Arch Roberts deceased January 3, 1993 Elizabeth Blackburn deceased March 1, 1893 Matilda Rotruck deceased March 29, 1893 Jane Annas Whitaker deceased May 10, 1893 Zuba C. Likens deceased June 16, 1893 Joseph George deceased August 29, 1893 Albert Rotruck deceased February 11, 1894 Elizabeth Ridings deceased February 11, 1894 Jessie E. Markwood deceased April 05, 1894 Martha Rotruck deceased July 21, 1894 William Ferribee deceased October 17, 1894 Wm Ewing Rotruck deceased November 29, 1894 Susan C. Parrill deceased February 26, 1895 Abraham Rotruck deceased April 10, 1895 Sallie L. Parrill deceased May 08, 1895 Annie Evans deceased May 09, 1895 Lucy Parrill deceased August 18, 1895 Johnny Rotruck deceased October 30, 1895 Gershan Roberts deceased January 08, 1896 Charles Leatherman deceased February 06, 1896 D. W. George deceased March 11, 1896 C. C. Martin deceased April 07, 1896 Jacob Evans deceased May 16, 1896 Annie Dayton deceased August 18, 1896 Frances E. Tucker deceased August 24, 1896 Solomon A. Rotruck deceased January 07, 1897 Oscar A. Dolly deceased August 30, 1897 James Hanlin deceased September 20, 1897 Betsy Ann Doll deceased October 13, 1897 Pheoba Devault deceased December 24, 1897 Ada Lewis deceased January 18, 1898 Abijah Dolly deceased April 29, 1898 James Ed Rotruck deceased June 26, 1898 Willie A. Dolly deceased August 09, 1898 Ann Maria Rotruck deceased August 16, 1898 Thornton T. Martin deceased October 18, 1898 Sallie A. Markwood deceased January 13, 1899 Thompson Rotruck Baby deceased January 14, 1899 Abraham Leatherman deceased March 17, 1899 William George deceased May 27, 1899 George Harris deceased July 12, 1899 Bertie L. Bean deceased August 15, 1899 James Berg Baby deceased October 22, 1899 Jess Davis Baby deceased November 28, 1899 Syvilla Athey deceased December 04, 1899 Joseph Rotruck deceased July 06, 1900 William McNemar deceased September 21, 1900 Ab Leatherman Baby deceased October 16, 1900 Amos George deceased February 19, 1901 Lizzie Likens deceased February 27, 1901 Floyd E. Leatherman deceased April 04, 1901 Susan Likens deceased May 17, 1901 Asa Likens Baby deceased July 26, 1901 Ernest B. Bacorn deceased October 08, 1901 George Rinker deceased September 18, 1901 George Leatherman Baby deceased January 20, 1902 Rebecca Leatherman deceased February 28, 1902 Abe Ferribee Baby deceased April 19, 1902 Sallie Evans deceased April 21, 1902 Ida Rotruck deceased November 10, 1902 Ellis George deceased June 28, 1903 Lourena Devilbiss deceased July 07, 1903 Harry B. Michael deceased October 16, 1903 Joshua Evans deceased November 18, 1903 Isaac Martin deceased December 24, 1903 Walter B. Cunningham deceased December 27, 1903 Rebecca Likens deceased January 13, 1904 Beulah H. Leatherman deceased January 28, 1904 Minnie Harris deceased April 13, 1904 David N. Arnold deceased September 28, 1904 Catherine Warfield deceased December 18, 1904 Sarah Rinker deceased January 05, 1905 Jane Rotruck deceased May 07, 1905 Andrew George deceased September 04, 1905 Lillie Harris deceased September 06, 1905 Orpha Leatherman deceased May 13, 1906 Aaron Martin deceased October 23, 1906 Martin B. Harris deceased January 11, 1907 Rebecca Michael deceased January 31, 1907 John Rotruck deceased March 22, 1907 Ettta Burgess deceased April 19, 1907 Russell Rotruck deceased May 31, 1907 Elizabeth Harris deceased October 07, 1907 Catherine Harris deceased October 25, 1907 Margaret Rotruck deceased November 14, 1907 Miranda Harris deceased February 07, 1908 Dolly A. Rotruck deceased March 22, 1908 Wilber N. Rotruck Baby deceased April 05, 1908 Hewette A. George deceased September 04, 1908 Rebecca Leatherman deceased December 03, 1908 Mamie Z. George deceased December 19, 1908 Robert E. L. Liller deceased February 21, 1909 Ida Blackburn deceased March 02, 1909 Eliza Susan Harris deceased March 08, 1909 Obed Rotruck Baby deceased April 26, 1909 Jesse Rotruck deceased may 14, 1909 Harvey L. Rotruck deceased May 15, 1909 Thomas Rotruck deceased May 20, 1909 Lottie Rotruck deceased August 01, 1909 Albert M. Rotruck deceased November 02, 1909 Snowden Cannon Baby deceased December 11, 1909 Mary Leatherman deceased December 20,1909 Rachael Wise deceased January 25, 1910 Jane Lyon deceased April 18, 1910 Job W. Michael deceased June29. 1910 Lewis Rotruck deceased October 02, 1910 Rebecca Harrison deceased December 11, 1910 Walter Rotruck deceased January 14, 1911 Sallie Arnold deceased March 29, 1911 Daniel Rotruck deceased April 20, 1911 Maggie Leatherman deceased May 08, 1911 Milton Harrison deceased November 19, 1911 Polly M. Rotruck deceased November 20, 1911 Rosa Harrison deceased January 29, 1912 Taylor Rotruck Baby deceased July 21, 1912 Laura F. Rotruck deceased August 07, 1912 Martha J. Rotruck deceased December 24,1912 James Likens Jr. deceased May 13, 1913 Angeline Harrison deceased May 17, 1913 Mary Likens deceased May 19, 1913 Frank Evans deceased June 15, 1913 Beatrice Faye Armentrout deceased June 19, 1913 Emory Creed Leatherman deceased August 25, 1913 A. Margarete Ellen Ferribee deceased September 14, 1913 Rebecca George deceased November 10, 1913 Taylor Rotruck Baby deceased February 08, 1914 Albert W. Burgess deceased April 07, 1914 Sarah Rebecca Rotruck deceased July 27, 1914 Robert Maurice Pritt deceased August 28, 1914 Sallie Likens deceased October 14,1914 Aaron George deceased November 04, 1914 Roxie A. Cannon deceased March 03,1915 Isaac Leatherman deceased June 06, 1915 Taylor Rotrucks Baby deceased June 21, 1915 Viola Gladys Harris deceased October 28, 1915 Margarete Ferribee deceased November 23, 1915 Martha Bacorn deceased December 03, 1915 William T. Rotruck deceased February 06, 1916 Isaac Conrad deceased March 22, 1916 Taylor Leatherman Twins deceased April 12, 1916 Jerry George deceased May 05, 1916 Emra Philmore Pritt deceased July 30, 1916 Mary Ellen McNemar deceased August 12, 1916 Hazel Livingston Rotruck deceased August 27, 1916 Washington Utt deceased September 9, 1916 Savanna Leatherman deceased September 28, 1916 Isaac Clinton Clifford deceased October 17, 1916 Orpah Leatherman deceased October 20, 1916 John Wiseman deceased January 17,1917 Virginia Welch deceased March 23, 1917 Martha Dixon deceased April 25, 1917 Annie M. Rotruck deceased August 4, 1917 Catherine Michael deceased August 27, 1917 Mary Ruth Conrad deceased September 13, 1917 Ida May Hines deceased September 24, 1917 William Utt deceased October 06, 1917 Betsy Ann Evans deceased November 04, 1917 Thomas M. Blackburn deceased November 08, 1917 James Stonebraker deceased December 25, 1917 Twila Rotruck deceased February 12, 1918 Janie Clifford deceased February 18, 1918 Rosa Lena Blackburn deceased March 08, 1918 Eliza Wright Rotruck deceased March 17, 1918 Albert Wright Blackburn deceased March 19, 1918 Helena Frances Parker deceased April 11, 1918 Henry Utt deceased May 09, 1918 Job Sions deceased May 25, 1918 Jennie Virginia Smith deceased August 24, 1918 Mack Ebert deceased October 07, 1918 Bessie Haslacker deceased October 16, 1918 Annie R. Shoemaker deceased October 20, 1918 Strawd Hilliards deceased November 21, 1918 Mary Hull deceased January 08, 1919 Minnie D. Michael deceased January 08, 1919 A. D. Doll deceased January 16, 1919 Gilbert Edwin Rotruck deceased January 17,1919 Charles Evans deceased March 01, 1919 Oda A. Leatherman deceased March 18, 1919 James Hines deceased March 25, 1919 Vida Lee Kelley deceased July 15, 1919 G. R. Dye deceased August 05, 1919 T. S. Parker Baby deceased August 06, 1919 A. H. High deceased September 01, 1919 Elizabeth Duling deceased November 01, 1919 Howard Kelly deceased February 09, 1920 Alice Rotrucks Baby deceased February 15, 1920 Bertha Sions deceased February 21, 1920 Johnnie Burgess deceased March 20, 1920 John Crites deceased March 28, 1920 Sarah F. Miller deceased April 03, 1920 George L. Devilbiss deceased April 10, 1920 Maud Mullen deceased April 14,1920 Jane Bosley deceased July 18, 1920 Lawrence H. Thorn deceased August 20, 1918 John C. Leatherman deceased August 21, 1920 John Georges Baby deceased September 07, 1921 Sarah J. Leatherman deceased September 19, 1920 Clarence Elmer Shoemaker deceased September 28, 1920 C. C. Lyon deceased October 25, 1920 Herbert H. Lyon deceased October 30, 1920 Nancy E. Rotruck deceased November 02, 1920 J. C. Rotruck deceased November 14, 1920 Ocie Tepherbaugh deceased December 09, 1920 O. N. L. D. Bosley deceased December 29, 1920 Fannie Sions deceased December 30, 1920 Rebecca M. Evans deceased January 12, 1921 Mabel Crites deceased February 09, 1921 Blanch Lyons deceased March 07, 1921 Carry Smith deceased July 31,1921 Mary Hilliards deceased August 16, 1921 Henry Lewis Lyons deceased September 01, 1921 Melvin E. Rotruck deceased November 24, 1921 William Junkins Twin Babys deceased November 28, 1921 Oscar Rotrucks Baby deceased December 08, 1921 J. W. Belt deceased December 21, 1921 Clementia Arnold deceased January 29, 1922 Robert N. Fout deceased March 09, 1922 George C. Smith deceased March 22, 1922 Annie Veach deceased March 23, 1922 George W. Mullen deceased March 29, 1922 Nannie L. Likens deceased April 28, 1922 Catherine V. Feaster deceased June 01.1922 Margery Victoria Tucker deceased July 29, 1922 Arbutus Rotruck deceased August 13, 1922 Anna Margy Roberts deceased August 15, 1922 Harry Lee Ferrebee deceased September 02, 1922 Daniel F. Lahman deceased September 23, 1922 Osborn Arnold Lyon deceased September 28, 1922 Martha J. Green deceased October 03, 1922 George Likens deceased November 01, 1922 Isaac Samuel Bruce deceased November 23, 1922 Mary V. Blackburn deceased December 01, 1922 Abraham A. Rotruck deceased November 30,1922 Max Marshall Tucker deceased December 14, 1922 Hiram Thomas Leatherman deceased January 16, 1923 Catherine Haslacker deceased February 13, 1923 Fred Ferrbee�s Baby deceased February 14, 1923 Christopher C. Evans deceased March 06,1923 Oscar Rotruck Baby deceased March 11, 1923 David E. Arnold deceased March 15, 1923 Susan M. Roberts deceased March 23, 1915 Lucinda Kent deceased March 31, 1923 Bertha M. Reeves deceased April 01, 1923 Isaac E. Taylor deceased April 02, 1923 Clarence Cosner deceased May 15, 1923 Oce Ola High deceased June 07, 1923 Sarah Rebecca Rotruck deceased July 10, 1923 Margaret Ann Roby deceased August 23, 1923 Hattie Shrout Coffman deceased September 19, 1923 John Brock deceased September 24, 1923 Adolph Rotrucks Baby deceased November 20, 1923 Lilly Edna Iman deceased November 25, 1923 James Shoemaker deceased December 01, 1923 Earl Ferrebee deceased December 17, 1923 James Ed Ferrebee deceased December 22, 1923 George Dolls Baby deceased December 24, 1923 Edward Hilliard deceased January 02, 1924 Samuel Cosner deceased January 03, 1924 John A. Welch deceased January 07, 1924 Beulah V. Rotruck deceased January 10, 1914 Sarah Catherine Leatherman deceased January 27, 1924 Rebecca Likins deceased January 29, 1924 Benjamin Hull deceased February 08, 1924 Mrs. Helmen deceased February 18, 1924 Oscar Rotruck�s Baby deceased February 27, 1924 Warden Coffman deceased February 28, 1924 Wright George deceased March 11, 1924 Samuel Fleming deceased April 13, 1924 Etheline Amtower deceased April 29, 1924 Paul A. Rotruck deceased April 30, 1924 Etta Frances Haggerty deceased May 27, 1924 Viola Wolfe deceased May 30, 1924 Lilly Hilliards deceased June 14, 1924 James A. Parrrill deceased June 20, 1924 George Amtower deceased June 23, 1924 Malinda Doll deceased July 22, 1924 John R. Feaster deceased August 20, 1924 Theadore Shirley deceased October 11, 1924 James D. Rotruck deceased October 11, 1924 Nancy Jane Likins deceased October 22, 1924 John Thomas Amtower deceased October 26, 1924 Robert Scott Mullin deceased October 27, 1924 John W. Hillary deceased November 27, 1924 Samuel Wilkins deceased December 15, 1924 James Reynolds deceased January 08, 1925 George E. Shoemaker deceased January 13, 1925 Jeremiah C. Leatherman deceased February 14, 1925 Sherman W. Likin deceased February 28, 1925 Mary E. Smith deceased March 10, 1925 John Rotruck deceased March 14, 1925 Margaret Barb deceased March 20, 1925 Hettnna F. Smith deceased May 14, 1925 Samuel B. Hill deceased May 21, 1925 Lena M. Berg deceased June 01, 1925 Sarah M. Junkins deceased June 06, 1925 Alva A. Wiseman deceased June 14, 1925 Arthur F. Hanline deceased June 26, 1925 Elijah Leatherman deceased July 14, 1925 Bernice Donavon deceased August 30, 1925 Herbert Edward Thrush deceased November 07,1925 Elizabbeth Mae Barbe deceased November 15, 1925 Hattie E. Shillingburg deceased November 21, 1925 Jesse Barbe deceased November 24, 1925 Ruhama V. Dolly deceased November 28, 1925 Nettie Catherine Burgess deceased January 15, 1926 Heseph Henry Arnold deceased January 16, 1926 Nancy C. Ferrebee deceased January 28, 1926 Elmer C. Hilkey deceased February 03, 1926 David Aaron Rotruck deceased February 05,1926 Mary Rotruck deceased March 11, 1941 Death records: D. W. Rotruck- Martin, W.Va. � undertaker Name: Baby Berg Sex: female Age: 7 days old Date of death: October 22, 1889, Falls, W.Va. Place of burial: Lahmansville, W.Va. Doctor: Dr. Scott, Medley, W.Va. (from the casket lists of D. W. Rotruck, the father was James Berg) ********************* Name: Joseph Rotruck Sex: male Age 87 years 11 months 25 days Occupation: farmer Born: Pennsylvania Lived in W.Va. 80 years Date of death: July 06, 1900, Martin, W.Va. Date of burial: July 07, 1900 Widower Place of burial: Near Martin, W.Va. Doctor: Dr. Scott, Medley ****************** Name: Amos George Sex: male Age 35 years 8 days Occupation: farm hand Date of death: February 19, 1901, Williamsport, W.Va. Date of Burial: February 21, 1901 Single Place of burial: Near Williamsport, W.Va. Doctor: J. F. Scott, Medley ******************* Name: Elizabeth L. Likins Sex: female Age: 20 years 8 days Occupation: housewife Date of death: February 27, 1901, Williamsport, W.Va. child bed fever, duration of disease: one week Date of burial: March 01, 1901 Married Place of burial: Near Williamsport, W.Va. Doctor: Dr. Scott, Medley, W.Va. *********************** Name: E. Blaine Bacorn Sex: male Age: 18 years 10 months 20 days Occupation: laborer Date of death: October 05, 1901, Martin, W.Va. single: Place of burial: Dunkard church Date of burial: October 09, 1901 Doctor: J. F. Scott, Medley, W.Va ********************* Name: Rebecca Leatherman Age: 74 years 10 months 20 days Occupation: housewife Date of death: February 28, 1902. Williamsport, W. Va. Date of burial: March 03, 1902 Place of burial: Knobley Cemetery Doctor: Dr. J. F. Scott, Medley, W. Va. Name: Sallie Evans Age: 7 months Date of death: April 21, 1902, Martin, W. Va. Burial Date: April 22, 1902 Place of burial: Martin, W. Va Doctor: Dr. J. F. Scott, Medley, W.Va. ******************* Name: Wm Ellis George Age: 7 days Date of death: June 29, 1903 Date of burial: June 30, 1903 Place of burial: Martin, WV Doctor: Dr. Scott, Medley, W.Va. *******************

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