Rufus Biggs – 2nd Gen – The 19th Child

Rufus Biggs was born on August 15, 1909.  Although we believed he was born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, official records such as draft cards and marriage licenses list birthplace as Karo, Illinois. Official records suggest that Rufus lived in Arkansas, Montana, Arizona and perhaps Illinois.  He was the youngest of 19 children (12 boys and 5 girls).  

Oral history tells that Rufus was so dedicated to his mother that he refused to marry while his mother was alive. He didn’t want to be in a place where he might have to choose between his mother and his wife.

Rufus first marriage was to Minnie Sue Barton on Dec. 27, 1930 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. 

What We Know About Minnie Sue and Her Parents and Siblings:
Minnie Sue was born to Henry Barton and Mt. Olive Duncan in 1914. The 1920 census list Minnie Sue as 6 years old. Minnie Sue was the baby of the family. During the decade, Mt. Olive passed away sometime before 1930 census. The 1930 Census shows 16-year-old Minnie Sue living with her brother Henry Barton Jr. Henry was married to Rufus’s niece Willie Bell (affectionally known as Cousin Willie Bell) This is how Rufus met Minnie Sue.  Nearly six months after Rufus buried his mom, he married Minnie Sue.

RUFUS AND MINNIE SUE BARTON:
Rufus married Minnie Sue Barton in 1930.  On their marriage certificate, Rufus’ age is listed as 22 (true age 21) and Minnie Sue’s age is listed as 18 (true age 16).   However, census records of 1920 lists Minnie Sue’s age as 6 which means she was born in 1914 and was only 16 at the time of this union so we know the marriage certificate was falsified to show an earlier birthdate for Minnie Sue.

Rufus and Minnie Sue had three children all born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas:

Sometime after the birth of the twin babies (abt. 1933), Rufus left Minnie Sue and took the children with him to live with Pa (his father).  The facts are still unclear, but according to oral history, Minnie Sue died less than a year later along with her second set of twin infants during childbirth.

At some point Rufus left his three children with his father (Pa). Eventually, and before the 1940 census, Rufus’s sister Mattie Duncan moved Pa and his three children (Rosetta, Ruth and Rufus) into her home. The 1940 census list Pa, Rosetta, Rufus and Ruth in the home with Mattie and her four boys, SM, WC, Hezekiah and BJ Duncan.  Mattie married Minnie Sue’s first cousin Sam Duncan. This makes at least three times the Biggs and Duncan married and had children.

RUFUS AND MARY MADGALINE:
A copy of Rufus’ draft card indicates that in 1940 he was married to Mary Madgaline and living in Eloy, Maricopa County, Arizona. There is no other documentation to support that he was actually married to her. Research is continuing.

RUFUS AND MYRTLE RUTH WORTHAM:
Rufus, age 42 then married 15 year old Myrtle Ruth Wortham on January 22, 1943 in Eloy, AZ.  Mryt, as she was affectionally called, was born to F W and Bertie Wartham on February 14, 1927. She was from Wetumka, Oklahoma and from that union came three children: 

RUFUS MARRIAGE TO ONETA BEATRICE ANDERSON:
Rufus age 48 married 21-year-old Oneta Beatrice Anderson on Nov. 16, 1948, in Hardin, Montana.  Oneta was born to Lloyd and Carrie Anderson, and was from Wagoner, Oklahoma. Oneta was Rufus’ daughter Rosetta’s sister-in-law.  From the union of Rufus and Oneta came three children:

Unfortunately, as of 2023, none of these children are alive so details on Oneta and the children cannot be confirmed.

RUFUS AND DIANNA SADLER:
Rufus, age 61, married 41 year old Dianna Marie Sadler on Jan. 23, 1971 in Billings, Montana. Dianna was born on 6/12/29 to Paul and Mildred Hoagland and was from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  From that union came one child:

Memories from Becky: Rufus (Grandpa) was very proud that he worked for Burlington northern railroad for 32 years and he retired in 1975. He loved gardening and grew gigantic watermelons.

NOTE: The census of 1910 lists Rufus as baby girl Ruby. Rufus changed his name to Rufus when he was 21 years old according to Rebekah (Becky). However, there is no documentation of this as of yet.

Please visit http:// WWW.BIGGSMCCLAINFAMILYREUNION.ORG for more information regarding the Biggs-McClain family, national reunion and history of William Cornelius Biggs and Rosetta McClain.