Meaning vigorous strong robust is american english by 1848.
Origin of the phrase rugged individualism.
Look it up now.
In the english language the word individualism was first introduced as a pejorative by utopian socialists such as the owenites in the late 1830s although it is unclear if they were influenced by saint simonianism or came up with it independently.
An advocate of rugged individualism as a social or economic ideal.
Herbert hoover speech in new york oct.
A hardy self reliant independent person.