It is understood that the original family name in England was Rutherford but for some unknown reason Michael changed it to Rudiforth.

In 1858 Michael Rudiforth emigrated to the United States and located at Avon, Lorain County, Ohio. His wife followed later with their five oldest children, traveling by sailboat. It took them six weeks to cross the Atlantic. The youngest, Salena, was a tiny baby and the twins, Mary and Anna, who were two years old, became sick and were unable to walk before they reached this country.

On November 19, 1861, Michael enlisted as a private in the U. S. Army and assigned to Company F, 43rd Ohio Infantry Regiment. He was honorably discharged from the service July 13, 1865, and on the 25th of that same month settled in Ottawa County.

For a while Michael Rudiforth carried the mail to and from Cleveland for several post offices, including the Dove Post Office, making the trip with team and two seated wagon two or three times a week.