Contributed by Thomaston Historical Society
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Description
John Ruggles was born in 1789 in Westboro, Massachusetts. He came to Thomaston in 1818, where he established a law office at the “Crick.” He married Margaret George from Watertown, MA, and they had four children: Adelaide C., b. June 22, 1825; Maria, b. Feb. 8, 1827; John 2nd, b. Jan. 30, 1828; and Margaret G., b. Mar. 10, 1831. He designed and built a stately federal-style home on East Main Street for his family in 1827 not far from Crick Village, Thomaston's town center up until the 1820s.
The house is impressive in size and refinement of detail not only on the exterior but throughout the interior as well. Four large rooms on each floor flank a central hall, and an ell extends from the back of the house. The entry, decorated with pilasters and keystoned arches, features a window surround with unusual glass pattern. The interior doorways have graceful proportions and are surrounded with elegant moldings. Some of the mantels are of the coveted Thomaston marble, exports of which generated an annual revenue of some $20-$30,000 during this period.
He was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1825-29 and again in 1831-32. He served as a United States Senator from 1834 - 1840. He initiated legislation in 1836 that created the Patent Office and held the first patent, thus earning him the moniker of “Father of the U.S. Patent Office.” U.S. Patent Number One is his invention for a traction wheel used in locomotive steam engines. He was also judge of the Maine Supreme Court and was long one of Thomaston’s most prominent citizens.
Following his defeat for reelection, he returned to Thomaston, where he resumed his law career, made several other inventions, and was widely known as a writer and a powerful orator.
He died in Thomaston, Maine, on June 20, 1874 and is buried in Elm Grove Cemetery, not far from his home.
About This Item
- Title: The Honorable John Ruggles, Thomaston, 1859
- Creation Date: 1859
- Subject Date: 1859
- Location: Thomaston, Knox County, ME
- Media: Photographic print
- Dimensions: 13 cm x 18 cm
- Local Code: RugglesDocumentBox 92.11
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Dwellings--Maine--Thomaston
- Houses--Maine--Thomaston
- Legislators--Maine
- Architecture, Domestic
- Judges--Maine
- Legislators--United States
- Historic buildings--Maine--Thomaston
- Ruggles, John, 1789-1874--Portrait photographs
People
Other Keywords
- 19th century architecture
- black marble
- Congress
- Elm Grove Cemetery
- federal-style home
- House of Representatives
- invention
- lawyer
- legislature
- locomotive steam engine
- Maine Supreme Court
- Patent Office
- Senator
- Thomaston architecture
- Thomaston black marble
- Thomaston Main Street
- traction wheel
- U.S. Patent Number 1
- U.S. Patent Number One
- U.S. Patent Office
For more information about this item, contact:
Thomaston Historical SocietyPO Box 384, Thomaston, ME 04861
(207) 354 2295
Website
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