Rector Family Heritage

About the Book

It is with great appreciation to my first cousin Mary Ruth (Ault) Wright, (who has an intense interest in genealogy and dedication to accuracy), for completing this book. Without her this book would never have been written. Our parents, John and Edna Rector, were truly great parents! But for children, it takes years to fully appreciate the sacrifices parents make. They had the courage to move to Oklahoma with five young children in 1912. Oklahoma had just become a state in 1907). Then in 1924 the family with six children returned to Illinoisin a model T Ford truck so the children would be nearer to schools. As a teenager visiting Auntie Mayme Rector in Smithfield,I became interested in our family heritage. She could only say that the Rectors came from Ohio.To kindle my interest, she gave me notes about her forefathers. After WWII, my interest in our family history was revived.While looking at a map of VirginiaI saw “Rectortown”. I wrote a letter to “The Eldest Rector” in Rectortown,VirginiaThere were no “Rectors” in Rectortown. However, the postmistress forwarded the letter to a Mr. Phillips, whose wife was a Rector, and living nearby in Middleburg. With this connection, I learned of Germanna, Germantown, and Rectortown. In Dr. Salmans’ “History of the Descendants of John Jacob Rector” published in 1936, he states that “They were hard-working, God fearing, six footers, each with a family, and brought with them their highly educated pastor and his family.” He was of the German Reformed Church. For those of us who are short in stature, this phenomenon could be attributed to Margaret Ann Cochran, wife of Elijah Rector (1763-1828) – parents of pioneer John Rector (1801-1869). Margaret Ann was short in stature and had red hair. We are grateful to those who contributed articles for this book and a special “thank you” to Michael Lee Rector, Robert Evans Rector, and Jon Wayne Rector who arranged for the publication and distribution of “The Rector Family Heritage”. Mary Ruth and I hope that you will enjoy this book, and with this knowledge be proud and appreciative of our forefathers. Leo Harris Rector Champaign,Illinois May 2003

About the Author

Mary Ruth Wright lives in Smithfield, Illinois, USA.  She is a graduate of Cuba High School, in Cuba Illinois.  Her interests in history and genealogy moved her into research and ultimately to writing the story of her own family.  “The Ault Family Heritage” was published in 1992.

This second work is about the Rector family, to whom she is related by marriage.  Her aunt was Edna Harris, married to John Fred Rector of Smithfield.

Almost a decade of effort, using her acquired research skills, has gone into the preparation of this material.  “The Rector Family Heritage” reflects the knowledge, perseverance, attention-to-detail, love and endless hours spent in presenting these images of life.