Bio: Ruder, George (Commemorative Bio - 1895)

Poster: Crystal Wendt

George Ruder

George Ruder was born in Nuremberg, Bavaria, September 7, 1827, and was a son of Wolfe and Kathrina Ruder. The family are of German ancestry, and Wolfe Ruder, as was his father before him, was born in Germany.

George Ruder was educated in his native land, and in early life learned the brewing business in his father’s brewery, worked at his trade in some of the large cities of Europe, and traveled extensively through Germany. He came to the United States in 1854, locating first in Milwaukee, and worked at his trade in that city for upward of two years. In 1856 he removed to Stevens Point, Portage Co., Wis., purchased a brewery under construction, and was in business there for four years. Here he married Louisa Schmidt, who was born in the Province of Posen, Germany, April 25, 1835, and they became the parents of the following named children: Louis, Herman, Clara, Emma (wife of Henry Momburg, residing in Wausau), Edward (residing in Merrill), Henry, William, Louisa, Helen, and Emil. The last named, who was proprietor of a brewery in Merrill, Lincoln Co., Wis., passed away May 23, 1894, at the age of thirty-four years, leaving a widow and six children. The parents of Mrs. George Ruder, Godfried and Henrietta (Geilhardt) Schmidt, were born in Germany.

In 1860 George Ruder removed to Wausau, Marathon County, and erected a brewery; which he conducted up to 1887, when he retired from active business. In 1888, with his wife and daughter Emma, he paid a visit to his native land, and spent more than a year traveling in the country and visiting his relatives and friends, going to Berlin, Munich and other places. His death occurred December 29, 1893, in Milwaukee, where he had gone for medical attendance, and he was buried in Wausau Cemetery. Mr. Ruder was village president and an alderman of the city of Wausau four years.

Henry Ruder, secretary and treasurer of the George Ruder Brewing Company, was born at Wausau, Marathon Co., Wis., April 20, 1871, and is a son of George and Louisa (Schmidt) Ruder. He received his primary education in the public schools of his native city, and also attended the Mayers College, Milwaukee, for three years, graduating from that institution in 1889. After completing his college course he returned to Wausau, entered the office of his father’s brewery as bookkeeper, and, after the stock company was formed, in 1892, he was elected to his present position of secretary and treasurer. On May 22, 1892, he was united in marriage with Miss Alma Kickbusch, daughter of August and Amelia Kickbusch, who were both born in Germany, and are now residents of Wausau. Mr. Ruder is a member of the Wausau Liederkranz and of the West Side D. A. U. V. He is one of the live, progressive young business men of the community, and highly esteemed as a citizen.

---Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin Counties of Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade and Shawano. publ. 1895 by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago 1110 pages, illustrated; Page 496