The marriage license (consent note and witnesses) strongly suggests that Ruth is the daughter of Henry Johnson Epperhart and Martha J. Stamper. But their daughter Ruth Eveline married John Trumbo in 1891 and had a large family. It might be the same person, if this marriage to James B. McDaniel did not last long, but if so, it is curious that she would use her maiden name on both marriage records.

Rowan Co. marriage book 1, p. 52, records license and bond issued 12 May 1884 for marriage of James B. McDaniel and Ruth Epperhart, surety by D. D. Epperhart, permission from H. T. (or H. J.) Epperhart. The marriage is also recorded in marriage register A, p. 75, as Joseph B. McDaniel and Ruth Epperhart, married 13 May 1884, witness D. D. Epperhart. (The ‘Joseph’ probably represents the clerk misreading the minister’s handwriting and assuming that a “Jas.” was a “Jos.”)