San
Joaquin County
Biographies
FREDERICK AUGUST RUHL
To a considerable degree the present
prosperity of California may be attributed to the German-American citizens of
the state, men who came to the west in an early day and gave their most earnest
endeavors to the upbuilding of the country.
With them they brought the characteristics of the German race, thrift,
economy and industry, which have contributed to their success. These traits, supplemented by the American
quality of enterprise, brought prosperity to the late Frederick August Ruhl,
who came to the United States in 1860, and to California in 1867. In 1869 he settled in Stockton, and for many
years carried on a hardware and plumbing business, but eventually disposed of
his interests and retired.
Mr. Ruhl was born in Prussia,
November 8, 1839, a son of Matthew and Edna Ruhl; and there he attended school
between the ages of six and fourteen, and from then until he was eighteen
served an apprenticeship in the plumber’s trade in Hesse-Cassel. Upon the expiration of his time he began to
work as a journeyman plumber, and in that capacity he traveled throughout his
native country. Crossing the ocean in
1860, he settled in New York City and secured work at his trade. When the first call came from President
Lincoln for 75,000 men, he offered his services to his adopted country, and was
accepted as a private in the 5th New York Infantry, with which he
was ordered to Washington and detailed to act as guard of that city. At the expiration of four months he was
honorably discharged and upon his return to New York City resumed work at his
trade. In 1867, Mr. Ruhl came to
California via the Isthmus and settled in Sacramento, where for two years he
worked at his trade. During the year
1869 he removed to Stockton and with his savings of $950 opened a plumbing shop
in a building that stood on the site of the old Mansion House. Later he became interested in the hardware
business and thereafter continued the two kindred enterprises with growing success
for a long period. In 1903, Mr. Ruhl
suffered the loss of his store and contents by fire, which entailed a loss of
$10,000. About that time, with his
oldest clerk, F. E. Goodell, he organized a company and incorporated what was
known as the Ruhl-Goodell Company, Mr. Ruhl being the president. Soon afterward he sold his interest to his
partner and retired from the business.
He then became the president of the Security Land Company of Stockton,
but was mainly retired from active labor, enjoying in quiet content the
comforts accumulated by long years of industry.
After retiring from the business in 1907, he took a trip back to his old
home in Germany.
Mr. Ruhl’s
marriage united him with Miss Mary Christ, a native of Germany; and they were
the parents of one daughter, Hattie, who married William H. Lorenz, the
president of the First National Bank of Lodi.
On account of his war service, Mr. Ruhl was a pensioner of the
government. All movement for the
betterment of Stockton or the advancement of the state received his staunch
support, and he was always ready to aid worthy projects to the extent of his
ability. Mr. Ruhl served four years in
the city council. With many of his
fellow countrymen he enjoyed the activities of the Turn Verein. Upon the organization of the Improved Order
of Red Men he became one of its charter members, and he was also a member of
Stockton Lodge No. 11 of the Odd Fellows.
Long connection with the business interests of the city gave him a wide
acquaintance throughout Stockton and vicinity, and his death was a great loss
to the community.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
1043-1044. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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