Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Ruhe, William 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 7, 2007, 8:51 pm

Author: Genealogical & Biographical Record

WILLIAM RUHE, treasurer of the Crete Farmers' Township Mutual Fire Insurance 
Company, was born in Rumbeck, at Schaumburg, Germany, November 30, 1839. His 
father, Frederick, a native of the same town as himself, engaged in 
contracting and building there.  When he was forty-five years of age he 
decided to come to America, and purchased tickets for himself and wife and 
their five children, but before the day of starting arrived he was taken sick; 
after an illness of two weeks he passed away.  Immediately after his burial 
the family proceeded on their journey, shipping from Baden and landing in New 
York after a voyage of forty-two days. Thence they journeyed to Chicago, but a 
month later left that city and came to Will County, settling six miles south 
of Crete. This was in 1855, and William was then a boy of almost sixteen.  For 
a year he worked on a farm, after which he followed the carpenter's trade.  
Being the eldest of the children, the responsibility of caring for the family 
fell upon him after his father's death.  This trust he nobly discharged, 
earing for the others until they were old enough to become self-supporting.  
In 1861 he bought a farm in Washington Township, this county, but three years 
later he sold the place and, after spending two months in Chicago, settled in 
Crete, where he has since resided.  He has engaged in contracting and building 
continuously, with the exception of five years when he was manager of the 
Crete Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of sash, doors and blinds. His 
mother, who bore the maiden name of Louisa Mathias, made her home in this 
county until her death at seventy-two years of age.  Of her children, the 
second-born died at thirteen years; Louis is living in Crete; Dora married 
Herman Grote, and lives in Minnesota; and Mary is the wife of Henry Homeyer, 
of Iroquois County, Ill.

July 6, 1865, our subject married Sophia Roller, who was born near the same 
town as himself.  She came to America when eighteen years old and has made her 
home in Crete since her marriage, having first come to this village in 1860.  
Seven children comprise their family, viz.: Sophia, wife of John Lucke, of 
Crete; William, a carpenter and builder; Emma, wife of August Hartmann; 
Amelia, at home; Bertha, who married Albert Frye, of Watseka, Ill.; Henry, a 
clerk; and Augusta, at home.  The family are connected with the Lutheran 
Church.

In political views Mr. Ruhe is independent. In 1879 he served as township 
collector.  For eight years he was village trustee, and for four years served 
as president of the village.  The Crete Farmers' Township Mutual Insurance 
Company, of which he is treasurer, was organized in 1861, and reorganized 
twenty years later. It has since grown to be one of the most important 
enterprises of the locality, a result that is largely due to the energy of its 
officers.  At this writing Christ Scheiwe is president and Herman Schweppe 
secretary.  There are over twelve hundred  policies, representing nearly two 
million dollars, in force in six townships. Of all the mutual companies in the 
entire state, this company has the finest record. Its success has indeed been 
remarkable.  June 7, 1884, Mr. Ruhe was appointed agent for the company, his 
territory being Will, Monee, Washington and Crete Townships.  In 1897 Crete 
and Monee Townships were given to his son-in-law, John Lucke, and Will and 
Washington to H. F. Wilke.  In January, 1898, he was elected a director of the 
company and its treasurer, which positions he has since filled, giving a bond 
of $56,000 in his official capacity.  His attention is closely given to the 
details of the company's business.  As treasurer, he is accurate in the 
keeping of accounts, and his books are models of neatness and accuracy.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900

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