M. W. Brother Ruhl was born May 21, 1864, on a farm near Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio, He attended the district school and prepared for college at David Anderson High School, Lisbon, Earning his way by teaching, he was graduated from Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio, with the degree of B. S. in 1888; M. S. 1891; L. L. B. 1891; L. L. M. 1905; and received the degree of L. L. D. in 1923, He was superintendent of public schools, McComb, Ohio, in 1888-89. He was instructor in mathematics, Ohio Northern University, in 1889-91, and read law in the university at the same time, He was admitted to the Bar of Ohio, June 4, 1891; United States District Court, 1893; United States Supreme Court, 1901.
He was a member of the Board of Examiners for admission to the, Bar of. Ohio, 1902-1907; tax commissioner, Cuyahoga County, 1915; president, of the John Marshall School of Law; 1918-1924; and its Professor in Pleading and Procedure. He was appointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, January 4, 1923; and elected November 4, 1924, to succeed himself.
He served as private, first lieutenant, captain, and regimental adjutant, Fifth Regiment, O, N. G. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, and Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity. He was also in the Knights of Pythias. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
He married Miss Mary Williams, granddaughter of Judge William Andrus Williams, of Smethport, Pennsylvania, April 2, 1894, While at the tomb of George Washington, in Mount Vernon, Virginia, in February, 1925, accompanied by her husband, Mrs. Ruhl was instantly called to, “life and light eternal.” On January 26, 1927, Brother James B. Ruhl and Miss Edna Sturgis were married at Cleveland, Ohio.
Brother Ruhl was raised in Cleveland City Lodge No. 15, March 3, 1903, and served in its various offices becoming Worshipful Master in 1908. In 1911 he became the first Master of Meridian Lodge No. 610.
He was exalted in Cleveland Chapter No. 1481 July 3, 1903, and served from First Veil to High Priest in 1910.
He was created a Royal and Select Master, in Cleveland Council No. 36, July 10, 1906. He was knighted in Holyrood Commandery No. 32, and served that Body in its respective offices, becoming Commander in 1913-1914, and was its Treasurer from 1915 to 1928.
He was a member of Eliadah Lodge of Perfection, Bahurim Council Princes of Jerusalem Ariel Chapter Rose Croix, and Lake Erie Consistory serving as Commander-in-Chief, 1924 to 1927. He was crowned an Honorary 33rd Member of the Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction at Boston, Massachusetts, September 17, 1918. He was Secretary of the Ohio Council of Deliberation for twenty-seven years.
At the end of a long and fruitful life, M. W. Brother James B. Ruhl, suddenly passed within the veil on May 16, 1949, at his home in Lakewood, Ohio. Funeral services for Brother Ruhl were held in the Masonic Auditorium, 3615 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, under the auspices of Meridian Lodge No. 610, Cleveland, Ohio, of which he was first Master. The following day, with additional services at the Presbyterian Church, in Lisbon, Ohio, his body was laid to rest in the Lisbon Cemetery, Section 5, Lot 74, Lisbon, Ohio.