Just before the school bell rang to dismiss everyone, Miss Romig turned to her 3rd-grade class and asked, “Would anyone be able to help me after school today?” Without hesitation, Bip shot his hand up into the air and blurted out, “I will.” A few kids giggled as Bip blushed. Miss Romig smiled at Bip as she explained, “I need help moving some boxes into my back room.”
Ruby Romig, whose given 1st name was Rubba, was a 52-year-old spinster woman. Everyone who knew her loved her, especially her students. She lived alone just a block from school, and the kids often pitched in to help her around the house. The year was 1955.
Ruby Romig, whose given 1st name was Rubba, was a 52-year-old spinster woman. Everyone who knew her loved her, especially her students. She lived alone just a block from school, and the kids often pitched in to help her around the house. The year was 1955.
As the children filed out of the classroom to go home, a few more stayed back to offer their services. Fifteen minutes later, after Ruby had straightened her desk and classroom, a procession of kids left the school with their teacher. Excitement filled the air as they made their way over to 8429 Erick Street. No matter how often those boys and girls visited Ruby’s home, they were never disappointed. Made entirely of field stone, the house appeared magical, as though belonging in a fairytale. Inside, there was a hand-hewn beam, about 18” high by 12” wide, that ran the width of the house, side to side. Built about 1880, it was probably one of the oldest houses in Scotts, Michigan.
The kids always completed their task at hand in record time, and for good reason. Miss Romig always served lemonade and cookies for a treat and a gesture of thanks.
However, truth be told, there was something else that engaged her students’ interest. Everything in Ruby’s house held a secret of sorts, and they were always eager to learn more about them. That particular day, Bip asked about a picture hanging on the wall of the front room. “Miss Romig, who are those people?” She smiled lovingly at the picture. “They are my family, my parents, my three brothers, and me.” Wanting to hear more, Bip asked, “Can you tell us about them?” Looking around at the young faces, eyes filled with anticipation, Ruby didn’t have the heart to refuse. Walking over to her armchair, Ruby sat down as the kids gathered at her feet. Hesitating for just a moment to gather her thoughts, she began.
“The Romig family originally came to America from Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, about 1732, and settled in Macungie, Lehigh, Pennsylvania. That would have been my 4th great-grandfather, Johann Frederick Romich (1713-1783). The spelling of our last name was changed from Romich to Romig sometime after he arrived here. Now, let me see. Oh yes, my 3rd great-grandfather was Joseph Romig (1740-1798); my 2nd great-grandfather was Solomon Romig (1781-1860); my great-grandfather was Samuel Romig (1802-1884); and my grandfather was George Romig (1822-1901). George is the one who moved the Romig family to Michigan, settling in Flowerfield, a small town in St. Joseph County. It is located south of Schoolcraft.” Ruby paused and shook her head. “Oh dear, I got carried away. Instead of hearing about all the Romig generations, you wanted to hear about those in this picture.” The children tried to stifle their giggles as Ruby turned the picture around for them to see. Pointing, Ruby began again, “This is my father, Abraham L. Romig, and he was born in 1856 in West Beaver Township, Snyder County, Pennsylvania. Just the year before, West Beaver Township was part of Union County until the southern portion of the county separated. In 1855, those townships became Pennsylvania’s newly established Snyder County.
“He was only about 2 or 3 when his family made the long trip to Flowerfield.” Before Ruby could continue, Bip’s curiosity got the best of him, “How did they get here?” Acknowledging his question, Ruby replied, “Well, they could have chosen a couple of different ways. Stagecoach to Philadelphia, the railroad to Lake Erie, steamboat to Detroit, and then stagecoach across Michigan. However, George, a farmer, relocating with his wife, Hannah Lepley (1817-1890), and seven children, would have needed another option. It would have been a necessity to take as many household items and farming implements as possible. In which case, I would venture to say they probably traveled overland by covered wagon. The trip would have taken them about 30-55 days. Travel took that long due to adverse weather, road conditions, and the need to let their oxen graze.” Every child’s face was wide-eyed and eager to hear more.
“My mother was Mary Alice Ocker, and she was born in Beavertown, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, in 1860. She was just about 5 when her family headed west to Michigan, and surprisingly enough, they also settled in St. Joseph County, in a small burg called Moore Park. Flowerfield and Moore Park are only 5 miles apart.” A pause of silence filled the air, only to be broken by Bip interrupting once again. “Wait a minute. What are the odds that the Romig’s and the Ocker’s lived so close to each other, not only once but twice? Did they know each other back in Pennsylvania?” Chuckling, Ruby replied, “West Beaver Township and Beavertown are about 16 miles apart. In those days, that was quite a distance to travel. However, for many years, both of my grandfathers, William Franklin Ocker and George Romig, lived in West Beaver Township at the same time. Bip, I have to say, you picked up on those details right away.” Leaning over, she ruffled his hair as she added, “I dare say, someday you will make a fine historian.” Bip blushed once more, as a chorus of laughter rose to the hand-hewn beam above.
“My grandmother, Hannah, died in 1890, and the following year, 1891, my parents were married in Moore Park. As newlyweds, they moved to Pavilion, Michigan, and lived on a farm somewhere between Q Ave. and OP Ave. on 31st St.”
(According to the Pavilion Plat map of 1890, an Ocker family, possibly Mary’s relatives, owned a farm on 31st St. between Q Ave. and OP Ave. A few landowners, shown adjacent to Ocker’s property on the map, were also listed as Abraham’s neighbors in the 1900 Census. That document states that Abraham was a farmer and was renting his house.)
“I was born there in 1893; next was my brother, Carl Ocker Romig (1894-1956); and then my brother, William Maurice Romig (1897-1941). In about 1903, we moved to Scotts, Michigan, in Climax Township, and this stone house became our home. The following year, my youngest brother, Elwood F. Romig (1904-1972), was born.”
Ruby glanced at the wall clock and then back down at her students. “I think we should stop for now. You need to be getting home, and I need to grade papers. Perhaps we can continue my family history another day if you are still interested?” Without missing a beat, Bip blurted, “Oh yes! How about tomorrow?” Laughing, Ruby nodded her approval.
The next day, anxious to return to the stone house, the kids had trouble concentrating in class. The dismissal bell finally rang, and the kids, eager to leave, helped to straighten the classroom. Word had spread quickly about their time spent at Ruby’s house, and the procession to Eric St. had increased by 3.
Finishing their snack, the kids took their places on the floor as Ruby settled into her chair. “Let’s see, where did we leave off yesterday? Oh yes, Elwood was born in Scotts. My father picked up odd jobs around town, and as we children reached age, we attended school. We started at the Pavilion Center School located on the west side of 29th St. and Q Ave. After moving here, we went to the Scotts brick school.
“In 1913, I was one of the 7 seniors who were in the first graduating class. My brothers also graduated from high school, except for Carl. He had decided to quit school after his sophomore year. Following high school, and while attending college, I lived in downtown Kalamazoo, renting a room at 428 S. Park.
“Then, in 1920, our family began a new chapter. I had completed my education, had moved back to Scotts to live with my parents, and had begun my teaching career. My father, too, had a new job, working as the janitor at the Scotts School. However, for an extended time, he had been dealing with heart issues, which concerned us all.
“That April, my brother, Maurice, married Thirza Parmenter. They settled in Scotts, and 4 years later, they had a son, James William (1924-2016). Maurice had worked at the Scotts Grain Elevator for a while before becoming a car mechanic. In July 1920, we had a 2nd wedding. My brother, Carl, married Marguerite Matilda Kreis in Springfield, Ohio.
They chose to remain in Springfield, where they raised two daughters, Barbara (1921-2015) and Nancy Louise (1923-1980). Carl started his career as a sheet metal contractor and later was a commercial roofer. Four years later, Elwood graduated from Scotts High School and moved to Kalamazoo. There he worked as a clerk at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store, and then later he was promoted to store manager.
“For a brief two years, life seemed to have eased back into a normal routine until Jan. 19, 1926. My father’s heart finally gave out on him, and he died from Angina Pectoris. That knocked the wind out of our sails. The following year, 1927, my youngest brother, Elwood, married Martha Powers, and a year later, Betty Anna (1928-2005) was born.
Moving back to Scotts, they bought the house next to our stone house, at 8417 Erick St. When Betty Ann was about 6 years old, she and her good friend Beverlee (Swarthout) Jenkins would come over to our house to play. My mother always had a huge floor loom that stood in the front room. While my mother wove her rugs above on the loom, the girls would crawl around and play beneath. My niece, Betty Ann, spent a normal childhood with her parents until 1939, when Martha filed for divorce, and Elwood moved in with my mother and me for a short time.
“Then, in 1920, our family began a new chapter. I had completed my education, had moved back to Scotts to live with my parents, and had begun my teaching career. My father, too, had a new job, working as the janitor at the Scotts School. However, for an extended time, he had been dealing with heart issues, which concerned us all.
“That April, my brother, Maurice, married Thirza Parmenter. They settled in Scotts, and 4 years later, they had a son, James William (1924-2016). Maurice had worked at the Scotts Grain Elevator for a while before becoming a car mechanic. In July 1920, we had a 2nd wedding. My brother, Carl, married Marguerite Matilda Kreis in Springfield, Ohio.
They chose to remain in Springfield, where they raised two daughters, Barbara (1921-2015) and Nancy Louise (1923-1980). Carl started his career as a sheet metal contractor and later was a commercial roofer. Four years later, Elwood graduated from Scotts High School and moved to Kalamazoo. There he worked as a clerk at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store, and then later he was promoted to store manager.
“For a brief two years, life seemed to have eased back into a normal routine until Jan. 19, 1926. My father’s heart finally gave out on him, and he died from Angina Pectoris. That knocked the wind out of our sails. The following year, 1927, my youngest brother, Elwood, married Martha Powers, and a year later, Betty Anna (1928-2005) was born.
Moving back to Scotts, they bought the house next to our stone house, at 8417 Erick St. When Betty Ann was about 6 years old, she and her good friend Beverlee (Swarthout) Jenkins would come over to our house to play. My mother always had a huge floor loom that stood in the front room. While my mother wove her rugs above on the loom, the girls would crawl around and play beneath. My niece, Betty Ann, spent a normal childhood with her parents until 1939, when Martha filed for divorce, and Elwood moved in with my mother and me for a short time.
By 1929, Maurice had been hired as a mechanic at White’s Auto Sales in Kalamazoo, on the corner of Portage Rd. and Vine St. He commuted each day from Scotts. Then one day in May 1941, we received gut-wrenching news. While repairing a car, Maurice was down in the pit using an electric drill when an explosion occurred. Badly burned on his head and arms, he died the following morning.
“Thirza was devastated. Her loss consumed her, and she seemed to hold a resentment against anyone in Scotts who bore the name White.” Bip’s face changed drastically, and Ruby took notice. “Bip, are you ok?” Looking up at his teacher, he spoke softly, “It was an accident. Why did she blame all the Whites?” Ruby knew that Bip was close to all the Whites, so taking a deep breath, she answered. “Dear, after a shattering experience, people can’t always untangle their feelings from the facts. Thirza is a good person who was traumatized by that accident 14 years ago. But for her, I’m afraid it will always be ‘just yesterday’. Does that make any sense?” Bip slightly nodded his head, “I guess? Miss Romig, do we still have time to hear more?” Ruby smiled, “A little longer.”
“Throughout those years, I had been teaching in several different townships in Kalamazoo County. I taught at Howlandsburg School in Ross Township from 1933 to 1934. After that, the next four schools were located in Pavilion Township: Chase School from 1934 to 1937, East Lake School in 1937, Briggs School from 1938 to 1944, and McKain’s School from 1944 to 1952. Those were all one-room schoolhouses. I recall that while I was teaching at McKain School, I would have to walk 3 miles one way from home. However, Dewy Wood, an angel of a man, often gave me a ride. And now, of course, I’m teaching at Scotts Elementary School.
“Since leaving Scotts after his divorce, Elwood had been living in Muskegon, Michigan. There, he had met Frances (Van Gennep) Ducharme (1904-1998). Eventually, they traveled to Bryan, Ohio, where they were married on June 30, 1941, and then Elwood brought his bride back to Scotts. Having stood empty for some time, his house at 8417 Erick St. was perfect for them for a few years. Then, sometime after 1950, they moved to Comstock to be closer to the Rex Paper Co., where they both worked. However, after their retirement, they were drawn back to Scotts, and we were neighbors once more.
“Unfortunately, it always seems that the good and the bad go hand in hand. My mother, age 92, died suddenly on the evening of Oct. 18, 1953. Afterwards, my brothers gave me this stone house. My mother had lived here for 50 years, and other than the time I was away at college or working in Ross Township, I, too, called this house and Scotts my home. And my wish is to continue living here for a good while longer.” Ruby slowly stood up. “Boys and girls, I think this is a good time for us to stop for today. I have told you all that I can about my family to date, and you need to be getting home for dinner. I also want to tell you, I have really enjoyed spending this time with you.”
Ruby was an amazing teacher who left her students with a strong foundation and is remembered fondly. One of those students is Ruth Ann (Jenkins) Writer. Reflecting back, Ruth Ann recalls, “I had Ruby as my 5th-grade teacher, and it was she, and her love of teaching, that inspired me to become a teacher. That year, when my class learned that her birthday was just a few days away, we conspired to surprise her. With permission from the front office, we slipped out of school and made our way over to her house. We entered and decorated her front room, leaving little untouched. Kids would only do that for someone they truly admired.”
Outliving her parents and her brothers, Ruby (Rubba) Romig passed away on Aug. 24, 1988. She truly made a difference in the lives of her students, and through them, her legacy will continue through the generations to come.
