A History of Kentucky Baptists From 1769 to 1885, Including More Than 
800 Biographical Sketches, J. H. Spencer, Manuscript Revised and 
Corrected by Mrs. Burilla B. Spencer, In Two Volumes.  Printed For the 
Author.  1886.  Republished By Church History Research & Archives 1976 
Lafayette, Tennessee. Vol. 2, pp 182-183 [Woodford County]

JAMES P. RUCKER was a native of Amherst county, Virginia, and was born 
Feb. 9, 1784.  He was brought by his parents, to Woodford county, 
Kentucky, where he was raised up in the midst of a large and respectable 
family.  In early life, he professed conversion, and was confirmed in 
the Methodist church, of which his parents were members.  He commenced 
preaching at about 20 years of age.  After some years, he had occasion 
to search the Scriptures for authority to administer infant baptism.  
This led him to investigate the whole subject of baptism, and resulted, 
as usual, in bringing the candid investigator to the Baptists.  He was 
soon afterward ordained to the "ministry among the Baptists."  Of him, 
Elder John Dale says:  "Brother Rucker gave himself up almost entirely 
to the work of the ministry, preaching day and night.  His field was 
large.  In several counties of this State his labors were greatly blest.  
In Owen, Gallatin, Fayette, and many other sections, he was the happy 
instrument in bringing many to Christ, and had the happiness of 
baptizing hundreds, and was greatly beloved by the people of his 
charge."  About 1838, he moved to Shelbyville, where he engaged in 
secular business.  He had some misunderstanding with his partner, which, 
however justifiable he may have been in the matter, gave him 
considerable annoyance, and he did not preach much afterwards.  He 
compiled a hymn book, under the title of Rucker's Hymns.  He died, while 
on a visit to a stepson, near Charleston, Ind., Jan. 24, 1858.

Rucker Dale
=
Amherst-VA Owen-KY Gallatin-KY Fayette-KY Shelbyville-Shelby-KY IN

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/woodford/rucker.jp.txt