Ruffin Cheek
of Orange County, NC

Ruffin Cheek, son of John CHEEK & Susanna ESTRIDGE (ESTES), was born abt. 1815 in Orange Co., NC, and died aft. 1880, in Orange Co., NC. He married Elizabeth "Bettie" Lloyd, daughter of Henry LLOYD & Elizabeth STROUD, Jan. 20, 1845, in Orange Co., NC. She was born abt. 1822 in Orange Co., NC, and died aft. 1880 in Orange Co., NC.

Children of Ruffin Cheek & Elizabeth "Bettie" Lloyd:

1. Tulahema Cheek (Tulea, Tooley, Lula), b. abt. 1843, Orange Co., NC; d. Jan. 30, 1929, Durham Co., NC; m. Charles M. LEWTER, June 25, 1863, Orange Co., NC (b. abt. 1842; d. unk.); bur. Maplewood Cemetery, Durham, NC. Children: Netty Lewter (c.1864), Mary Lewter (c.1866), Albert Alphonso Lewter (c.1869), James Lewter (c.1874).
2. Alphonzo Cheek, b. abt. 1849, Orange Co., NC.
3. Delia Cheek, b. abt. 1856, Orange Co., NC; m. Jasper UTLEY.
4. Margaret Cheek, b. abt. 1861, Orange Co., NC; m. Henderson MAY.

Notes

uffin Cheek may have been named after Thomas RUFFIN (1787-1870), a prominent politician and judge from Hillsborough, NC. The name Ruffin enjoyed brief period of popularity in Orange County, probably due to Thomas Ruffin's influence.

Ruffin Cheek operated a general store in Carrboro, Orange Co., NC. For additional information also Sketches of Major Thomas Lloyd of Orange County, NC, and some of his descendants by Eurene Sifax Sugg (1979).

1850 Census, Orange Co., NC, 1st Dist., p.195 (HH#628):
RUFFIN CHEEK, 35, carpenter, NC

-- Elizabeth, 28, NC

-- Alphonzo, 1, NC

HORNER, Tooley, 5, f, NC

1860 Census, Orange Co., NC, Chapel Hill P.O., p.497 (HH#6):
RUFFIN CHEEK, 45, restaurant keeper, $550, $700, NC

-- Bettie, 33, NC

-- Lulah, 15, NC

-- Delia, 4, NC

Civil War.  Ruffin Cheek enlisted as a private on Sept. 2, 1861, in Orange Co., NC, at the age of 45. Enlisted in Co. G, 28th Infantry Reg't NC. POW on Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg, VA. Exchanged Dec. 17, 1862. Discharged Sept. 6, 1864, overage. ("American Civil War Soldiers," Ancestry.com.)

1870 Census, Orange Co., NC, Chapel Hill Twp., p.154 (HH#123):
RUFFIN CHEEK, 54, house carpenter, $--, $100, NC

-- Bettie, 45, NC

-- Delia, 14, NC

-- Maggie, 9, NC

1880 Census, Orange Co., NC, Chapel Hill Twp., p.225:
RUFFIN CHEEK, merchant, 61, NC NC NC

-- Elizabeth, wife, 50, NC NC NC

-- Maggie dau, 18, NC NC NC