Page 103 - UB Church and Shen Univ
P. 103
Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
Although Dayton’s growth paralleled other communities in Rockingham County at this time, two
emerging musical enterprises soon distinguished this town from its neighbors and established it as a
cultural center by the late 19th century. In 1878, the Ruebush-Kieffer Company, a musical printing
house, moved to Dayton and established one of the largest operations of its kind in the south.
Shenandoah Seminary, founded in Dayton in 1875, specialized in a varied program of musical
instruction from its inception, and soon evolved into the prestigious Shenandoah Conservatory of Music.
In the fall of 1878, the Ruebush-Kieffer Company moved to Dayton, choosing this new site
because of its better mail and shipping facilities and the recent establishment of a new school
specializing in music. This relocation proved to be a boom to both the company and the town itself. In
the first year alone, the company’s business increased 37 percent, and the town “took on a new life.” By
1879 the Ruebush-Kieffer Company offered 18 different songbooks for sale. One of the company’s
most widely read publications was the Musical Million, which it claimed was the first musical journal in
the United States. Subtitled as a “Journal of Music, Poetry, and Chaste Home Literature,” the magazine
contained a variety of articles, stories, poems, and character-note musical selections, all “full of the spirit
of Christianity, Brotherly Love, Human Sympathy, Temperance, Knowledge, and Virtue.” Aldine
Kieffer edited this journal from its first issue in 1869 to his death in 1904. Other members of the
Ruebush family helped with the editing over the years. These included W. H. Ruebush and J. H.
Ruebush, sons of Ephraim and professors of music at Shenandoah College; and J. K. Ruebush, who took
over at his father’s death. Additional assistance was often provided by other Shenandoah College
faculty, such as Professor Beazley, revealing the close connections between the college and the
Ruebush-Kieffer Company.
In addition to the Musical Million, the Ruebush-Kieffer Company printed books for church,
Sunday schools, glee clubs, quartets, and classes on harmony and composition. By the early 20th
century, over 50 songbooks had been published and millions of copies had been sold. Between 1897
and 1902 alone, their business almost doubled. The Ruebushes and Kieffers were all gifted musicians
with a wide array of talents. Perhaps the most well-known of the family was Aldine Kieffer, a
songwriter and poet. Kieffer learned the principles of vocal music from his grandfather, Joseph Funk,
and wrote some of the most famous songs published by the company, including “Twilight is Falling,”
“My Mountain Home,” and “The Old Schoolhouse on the Hill.” His interests in songwriting ranged
from hymns to folksongs, all of which were reflected in the publications. In addition, Kieffer published
a volume of poetry, entitled “Hours of Fancy or Vigil and Vision.” Other poems of his appeared in the
Musical Million. Ephraim Ruebush, born in Augusta County, moved to Singer’s Glen to study with
Joseph Funk and married Aldine Kieffer’s sister, Lucilla. Ephraim learned both music composition and
the printing trade from Funk. Although active in the musical field, writing hymns and conducting
singing schools, Ruebush devoted his work for the company to its business affairs. His two sons, W. H.
and J. H. Ruebush, both taught music and served as head of the music department at Shenandoah
College. Each was quite talented in a variety of musical fields from singing to composing to
instrumental music. W. H. Ruebush was known for writing the music to “Old Virginia,” which for
many years served as the unofficial state song. Contemporary accounts suggest the importance of the
Ruebush-Kieffer Company in the development of Dayton, and particularly in its recognition as a
musical center in the state. In 1888 The People’s Educational Quarterly stated: “The headquarters for
Character Note music has for several years been located in Dayton. The firm name Ruebush-Kieffer
Company is a household word in every state in the Union…Under the influence of the House, Dayton is
winning a reputation as a music centre of no small importance.” Aldine Kieffer died in 1904, followed
by Ephraim Ruebush in 1924. After Ruebush’s death, the local newspaper observed that he was the
“last of a noted group of musicians who gave Rockingham County its state-wide reputation as a musical
center.” Ephraim’s grandson, James L. Ruebush, took over the company in 1923, and he continued to
publish musical works until 1931, when character notes had become obsolete. Operated now as
Davis on History of S.C., 1982-2008 93
Although Dayton’s growth paralleled other communities in Rockingham County at this time, two
emerging musical enterprises soon distinguished this town from its neighbors and established it as a
cultural center by the late 19th century. In 1878, the Ruebush-Kieffer Company, a musical printing
house, moved to Dayton and established one of the largest operations of its kind in the south.
Shenandoah Seminary, founded in Dayton in 1875, specialized in a varied program of musical
instruction from its inception, and soon evolved into the prestigious Shenandoah Conservatory of Music.
In the fall of 1878, the Ruebush-Kieffer Company moved to Dayton, choosing this new site
because of its better mail and shipping facilities and the recent establishment of a new school
specializing in music. This relocation proved to be a boom to both the company and the town itself. In
the first year alone, the company’s business increased 37 percent, and the town “took on a new life.” By
1879 the Ruebush-Kieffer Company offered 18 different songbooks for sale. One of the company’s
most widely read publications was the Musical Million, which it claimed was the first musical journal in
the United States. Subtitled as a “Journal of Music, Poetry, and Chaste Home Literature,” the magazine
contained a variety of articles, stories, poems, and character-note musical selections, all “full of the spirit
of Christianity, Brotherly Love, Human Sympathy, Temperance, Knowledge, and Virtue.” Aldine
Kieffer edited this journal from its first issue in 1869 to his death in 1904. Other members of the
Ruebush family helped with the editing over the years. These included W. H. Ruebush and J. H.
Ruebush, sons of Ephraim and professors of music at Shenandoah College; and J. K. Ruebush, who took
over at his father’s death. Additional assistance was often provided by other Shenandoah College
faculty, such as Professor Beazley, revealing the close connections between the college and the
Ruebush-Kieffer Company.
In addition to the Musical Million, the Ruebush-Kieffer Company printed books for church,
Sunday schools, glee clubs, quartets, and classes on harmony and composition. By the early 20th
century, over 50 songbooks had been published and millions of copies had been sold. Between 1897
and 1902 alone, their business almost doubled. The Ruebushes and Kieffers were all gifted musicians
with a wide array of talents. Perhaps the most well-known of the family was Aldine Kieffer, a
songwriter and poet. Kieffer learned the principles of vocal music from his grandfather, Joseph Funk,
and wrote some of the most famous songs published by the company, including “Twilight is Falling,”
“My Mountain Home,” and “The Old Schoolhouse on the Hill.” His interests in songwriting ranged
from hymns to folksongs, all of which were reflected in the publications. In addition, Kieffer published
a volume of poetry, entitled “Hours of Fancy or Vigil and Vision.” Other poems of his appeared in the
Musical Million. Ephraim Ruebush, born in Augusta County, moved to Singer’s Glen to study with
Joseph Funk and married Aldine Kieffer’s sister, Lucilla. Ephraim learned both music composition and
the printing trade from Funk. Although active in the musical field, writing hymns and conducting
singing schools, Ruebush devoted his work for the company to its business affairs. His two sons, W. H.
and J. H. Ruebush, both taught music and served as head of the music department at Shenandoah
College. Each was quite talented in a variety of musical fields from singing to composing to
instrumental music. W. H. Ruebush was known for writing the music to “Old Virginia,” which for
many years served as the unofficial state song. Contemporary accounts suggest the importance of the
Ruebush-Kieffer Company in the development of Dayton, and particularly in its recognition as a
musical center in the state. In 1888 The People’s Educational Quarterly stated: “The headquarters for
Character Note music has for several years been located in Dayton. The firm name Ruebush-Kieffer
Company is a household word in every state in the Union…Under the influence of the House, Dayton is
winning a reputation as a music centre of no small importance.” Aldine Kieffer died in 1904, followed
by Ephraim Ruebush in 1924. After Ruebush’s death, the local newspaper observed that he was the
“last of a noted group of musicians who gave Rockingham County its state-wide reputation as a musical
center.” Ephraim’s grandson, James L. Ruebush, took over the company in 1923, and he continued to
publish musical works until 1931, when character notes had become obsolete. Operated now as
Davis on History of S.C., 1982-2008 93
