Granddaughter Kristin Gahn Lafayette contacted me by email dated May 29, 2016 to give me the names of Ruth's parents.
"Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V46M-4Y4 : accessed 9 June 2016), Ruth Laverne Hammel, 11 Mar 1914; citing Clarksville, Iowa, United States; county district courts, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,535,454.
"Iowa State Census, 1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKQW-LT57 : accessed 9 June 2016), Ruth L Hammel in household of August C Hammel, Allison-Dayton, Butler, Iowa, United States; citing Iowa State Historical Department, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,429,240.
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Featured National Park champion connections: Ruth is 20 degrees from Theodore Roosevelt, 26 degrees from Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, 19 degrees from George Catlin, 21 degrees from Marjory Douglas, 28 degrees from Sueko Embrey, 20 degrees from George Grinnell, 33 degrees from Anton Kröller, 20 degrees from Stephen Mather, 26 degrees from Kara McKean, 21 degrees from John Muir, 21 degrees from Victoria Hanover and 26 degrees from Charles Young on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.