Johnathan N. Rucker

Jonathan N. Rucker

Public Domain

Quick Facts

Significance:

World War One Buffalo Soldier, Doctor, Teacher and Civil Rights activist

Place of Birth:

Natchez, Mississippi

Date of Birth:

September 3, 1892

Place of Death:

Nashville, Tennessee

Date of Death:

February 8, 1970

Place of Burial:

Gallatin, Tennessee

Cemetery Name:

Gallatin Cemetery

Jonathan Nathaniel Rucker was born September 3, 1892 to Peter C. and Ardella Screws Rucker outside Natchez, Mississippi. Peter Rucker was a preacher in the African American community while Ardella Rucker taught home economics at Natchez College, a high school level institution. Mrs. Rucker also taught students in the rural segregated schools around Natchez as a Jeanes Teacher. The Jeanes program was funded by Anna T. Jeanes from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and they distributed money to maintain rural African American schools throughout the south.

Education was important to the Rucker family. Jonathan Rucker attend Adams Country public school in Natchez and eventually graduated from Natchez College in 1911. Unfortunately, that same year Peter Rucker died. Jonathan moved to Memphis, Tennessee shortly after graduation and worked long hours at a local department store to save enough money for college. Once he had enough money, he enrolled in Walden University in Nashville Tennessee. There he studied theology and earned his Doctor of Divinity. He then enrolled in Meharry Medical College in Nashville and graduated in the top four students in 1914. While going to school in Nashville Rucker supported himself my working at the Tulane Hotel.

Shortly after graduating from medical school Rucker opened his medical practice in the small rural town of Gallatin, Tennessee. Many of his patients paid him in corn, potatoes, and other crops. In 1916, Rucker was also ordained as a minister. He preached at Gallatin First Baptist Church and Durham Chapel Baptist Church. While at Durham Chapel Baptist Church he worked alongside his wife, Fannie M. Ross Rucker, who he married in June of 1916. They met while children in Natchez, Mississippi. She worked as a teacher at the church. 

The United States declared war on the Central Powers on April 6, 1917. This was the beginning of America’s entry into World War One. The government urged doctors to enlist in the military to help support the war effort. Rucker along with 42 other men from Meharry Medical College joined the Army. Rucker was sent to Fort Des Moines Medical Officers Training Camp for basic training. After graduating he was commissioned a lieutenant in the army. 

After completing basic training, he was assigned to the 317th Sanitary (Medical) Train’s infirmary before transferring to the 317th Motor Supply Train. Rucker was the only Black officer in the 317th Motor Supply Train. He, along with other doctors assigned to the unit, cared for approximately 500 men. The 317th Sanitary (Medical) Train and the 317th Motor Supply Train were part of the all-Black 92nd Infantry Division stationed at Camp Funston, Kansas. The 92nd Infantry Division was known as the Buffalo Division and had a bison as their patch insignia. In June 1918, Rucker along with the rest of the 92nd Infantry Division left New York City for Brest, France. They arrived in France safely in mid-July 1918.

Once in France, Rucker and his unit were transported by train to the front near Lorraine, France. Rucker along with the 317th Motor Supply Train were involved in combat in the trenches of the St. Dié sector of the Vosges Mountains, supply build up for the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and the German stronghold of Metz. After the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918 Rucker wrote in his official report that there were no fatalities in the 317th Motor Supply Train. The men suffered numerous illnesses, injuries, and hardships but with Rucker’s care along with the other doctors of the unit there were no deaths in the unit. During their time in France Rucker also acted as the unit’s chaplain and held bible studies with the men.

Rucker and the others in the 317th Motor Supply Train left France on February 15, 1919. Upon arriving back in the United States Rucker was honorably discharged after a year and a half in the army. The rest of his life Rucker remained proud of his military service. For many years after the war on November 11th, Armistice Day, Rucker donned his army uniform to educate the children in Gallatin, Tennessee about World War One.

After the war Rucker returned to his family in Gallatin. While he was in France his wife gave birth to their first child, Stella Adell Rucker, on December 20, 1918. Stella was the first of six children together. Rucker went on to be the principal at Union High School in Gallatin. He expanded the school to go through 12th Grade. Rucker also worked tirelessly throughout Sumner County Tennessee in advocating civil rights and against segregation and Jim Crow laws of the time. He did all this while still running his medical practice.

Jonathan Nathaniel Rucker died on February 8, 1970 at 77 years old. He was buried in the Gallatin Cemetery in Gallatin, Tennessee.

To learn more about Dr. Jonathan N. Rucker read African American Doctors of World War I: The Lives of 104 Volunteers by W. Douglas Fisher and Joann H. Buckley.