Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Ruesch, Frederick 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 6, 2008, 1:03 am

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

Frederick Ruesch is one of the worthy citizens that Germany has furnished to 
Will county, his birth having occurred in Mecklenburg, Schwerin, Germany, 
April 27, 1854. His parents, John and Anna (Sass) Ruesch, were likewise 
natives of the fatherland, whence in 1872 they emigrated to the new world, 
taking passage on the steamer Germania, which sank on a subsequent trip to 
this country. The father was not long permitted to make his home in the new 
world, for his death occurred six months after his arrival, he being fifty-
seven years of age. His widow was left in very limited financial circumstances 
and the care of her family in a strange land. She survived for a long period, 
her death occurring in 1905, when she had reached the extreme old age of 
ninety-three years, for her birth occurred in 1812. Previous to her marriage 
to Mr. Ruesch, she had wedded a Mr. Blevernecht, by whom she had a son and 
daughter, Rudolph and Dora, both of whom reside in this country. By her second 
marriage she became the mother of two sons and three daughters: John; 
Frederick, of this review; Sophia, deceased; and two daughters, who died in 
infancy. Mrs. Ruesch was a devoted member of the German Lutheran church. 
Frederick Ruesch, the second son of his father's family and the younger of the 
two surviving members, was educated in the schools of Germany, where he was 
reared to the age of eighteen years, when, in 1872, he accompanied the family 
on their emigration to the United States. Landing at New York, he made his way 
from that city to Mokena, Illinois, where he remained for four months, and 
from there made his way to Joliet and secured employment in the rolling mills. 
He entered the mills March 1, 1873, and, his ability being recognized, he 
received successive promotions until at the time he severed his connection, 
March 1, 1902, he had worked his way up to a responsible and remunerative 
position, receiving as high as two hundred and eighty dollars per month. 
During the time of his employment at the mills he carefully husbanded his 
earnings, which he invested in two hundred and forty acres of land, this 
constituting a valuable and well improved farm. After a continuous connection 
of twenty-nine years in the mills, he removed to his farm, for the close 
confinement had somewhat impaired his health. He then engaged in general 
agricultural pursuits, in which he is meeting with very gratifying success, 
being accounted one of the leading farmers of New Lenox township. He is 
systematic and methodical in carrying on his work, using only the latest 
improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and following the most 
progressive and modern methods in his work, so that his labors are rewarded by 
rich and abundant harvests each year, thus adding greatly to his financial 
resources. Mr. Ruesch was married to Miss Minnie Duvel, who was born in 
Mechlenburg, July 23, 1855, a daughter of John Duvel. Her parents are both now 
deceased, having passed away in this country. They were devoted members of the 
German Lutheran church. Unto our subject and his wife have been born eight 
daughters and three sons, namely: Annie, the wife of Conrad Smisser, who is 
engaged in the plumbing business at Evanston, and by whom she has one child; 
Carrie, the wife of Paul G. Thurm, the present assistant postmaster of Joliet, 
and by whom she has one child; Minnie, deceased; Geneva, who is acting as 
bookkeeper for a leading firm of Evanston; Fred and Sophia, who are at home; 
William, who is pursuing a course in pharmacy at the University of Illinois; 
Henry, who is attending school; Bertha and Augusta, twins, born October 20, 
1894; and Ethel, who completes the family. Reared in the faith of the German 
Lutheran church, Mr. Ruesch is still identified with that denomination, while 
his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He came to this 
country when a young man and, losing his father soon after, he was dependent 
upon his own resources from his early manhood. He possessed the determination 
and enterprise so characteristic of the German race and with a courageous 
spirit began life in the new world. Owing to his ability and close application 
his worth was soon recognized so that he won rapid advancement, which placed 
him in a responsible and remunerative position, so that he was enabled to 
invest in valuable farming property, which now supplies him with a good living 
and many of the comforts of life, and also permits him to give to his children 
good educational advantages. He is a public-spirited man, loyal to the best 
interests of his adopted country, and is today numbered among the leading 
citizens of his locality. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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