Ruth was born the tenth of fourteen children. Her mother was 35 years old and her father was 42 when she was born. In 1805 her father had settled in an area on Wills Creek near its source that is now in Seneca Twp., Noble Co., Ohio and began farming. He built a mill and began distilling whiskey in addition to farming, to support his growing family. When Ruth was about eight a post office was opened at Bates' Mill and her father was named Postmaster. About the time Ruth turned fourteen her father was ordained a Methodist Minister. Ruth attended his services with her family and listened attentively to his sermons that were frequently orated in the family barn with parishioners balanced on the kegs that held the whiskey produced by her father's distillery.

About 1840 John Valentine Bowersock moved from Pennsylvania with his father and his brother Jacob and family to the adjoining county of Belmont, and providence effected his meeting Ruth Bates. On March 25, 1841 Ruth married John in Guernsey Co., Ohio. The marriage was not performed by her father but rather by Ashbury Gardner. Noble County was not formed until 1851 and included the area of Guernsey County where Ruth and John resided. At the time Ruth was 21 years old and John was 29. Eleven months later their first child, a daughter they called Ruth Ann, was born. Ruth was 40 when her youngest son Walter Marshall Bowersock was born. Ruth and John had nine children during those 18 years that included six girls and three boys. Their daughter Nancy died in 1856 at age 10 months, but all of their other children married and had children.

When Ruth chose to name her second son Timothy Bates Bowersock she started a tradition that endures today. Whether she chose the name Timothy because it was the name of her father, or because it was the name of her younger brother we cannot know for certain; possibly her love of both men played a role. Her son Timothy Bates Bowersock chose to name a son Oscar Bates Bowersock, Oscar named a son Martin Bates Bowersock, Martin named a son with the second name of Bates, as did his son and his grandson. Only time will reveal if the tradition will extend beyond the 6th generation.

John and Ruth Bowersock lived in Beaver Twp. for several years after they were married. Then they sold their land and bought in Seneca Twp. at the head of Mud Run. Ruth was 40 when her mother died in February; her youngest son was born that June. The following May her father remarried a lady twelve years older than Ruth and a few months later Ruth died at age 42 years 5 months and 22 days. Her youngest child Walter was one year old. Ruth died at the home she and John had made at the head of Mud Run.