San Joaquin County
Biographies
FREDERICK AUGUST RUHL
F. A. RUHL.-- One of the
busiest hives of industry to be found in Stockton, and yet one over which no
boast is made, is the establishment of the gentleman whose name heads this
sketch, which has been built up from very small beginnings, at the present
location, on Hunter street square. Mr. Ruhl has a model store for the sale of
stoves, ranges, and everything pertaining to a heating or culinary
establishment, but the portion of his business which will receive attention
here is the manufacturing department, which has sent Stockton-made goods many
hundred miles from this city. He manufactures all kinds of tin-work, as well as
piping and pump machinery of his own invention, and in making these articles
uses in some instances appliances which have been thought out and perfected by
himself. Twelve men here find steady employment and in turning out his pumps,
two men are kept busy the year round. It is universally conceded that the pump
for which Mr. Ruhl obtained his patent in 1875 has no superior, and he turns
out twelve sizes, four of deep and eight for shallow wells. He buys his brass
cylinders direct from the factory in New York, and keeps a man, assisted by two
boys, constantly busy fitting up valves. The trade in these pumps extends to
great distances, and to Mexico alone he has already sent thousands of dollars’
worth, while the demand in all directions is constantly improving. He has
forges for coppersmith and blacksmith work required in his business, and
constantly employs a first-class coppersmith. He also has a pipe department.
About the entire place one thing is noticeable, and that is, that there is a
place for everything, and everything is in order, while each employé
has his own particular duty.
Mr. F. A. Ruhl, who found the business
above mentioned, is a native of Germany, born in the town of Rothenburg,
Hesse-Cassel, on the 8th of November, 1839. His father, Matthew
Ruhl, and his mother, whose maiden name was Bodenstadt, died when he was ten
years of age, and he was thus left, a mere boy, to fight the battle of life as
an orphan. According to the governmental regulations in Germany, he attended
public school between ages of six and fourteen years, and then commenced the
tinsmith’s trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of four years. After
that he worked in his native country as a journeyman until 1860, then emigrated
to America, sailing from Bremen and landing at New York after a voyage of
twenty-one days, a quick trip for a sailing vessel. He worked at his trade in a
big factory in Brooklyn until the troubles between the factions culminated in
the outbreak of the Rebellion. He was among the first to respond to the first
call of the President for volunteers to defend the stars and stripes, and on
the 15th of April enlisted in the service of the Union, being
assigned to Company B, Sixth New York Regiment. The command left New York on
the 17th, moved along the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
to protect its property and its operation. When relieved, they were ordered to Washington,
and thence to Harper’s Ferry to cut off the rebels retreating from Bull Run. As
the results did not turn out as surmised, their movements was, of course, not
successful. Their term of enlistment having expired, the members of the command
were sent home and discharged. Mr. Ruhl resumed work at his trade, and made
money quite rapidly. He was employed for a time in the establishment on the
corner of Front and Adams streets, which is now owned and operated by the
Havemeyer Company, and afterward in other places, one of his last places of
employment being at Williamsburgh. He worked in that section of country all the
time until 1866, and in December of that year started for California. He left
New York by steamer, crossed the Isthmus of Panama, and landed at San Francisco
from the steamer “Oregon” on the 10th of January, 1867. A few weeks
later he went to Sacramento, and entered the employ of Gillig, Mott & Co.,
afterward changing his working place to the establishment of Holbrook &
Merrill. When the firm established a branch house in San Francisco, he went
there to work for them, while there, Mr. Sanders, of Stockton, met him, and
induced Mr. Ruhl to come to this city to work for him. He was in Mr. Sanders’
employ until 1869, when he started in business for himself where the Mansion
House now stands, afterward removing to his present location. He saw at once
that pumps were what were needed here, and set about supplying the demand. This
is one of the secrets of his success in business, having the foresight to
discern in time the needs of the country in which he had cast his lot.
Mr. Ruhl was married in this city, June 1,
1872, to Miss Mary Grieth, a native of Saxony. They have one daughter, Hattie,
who, at the date of this writing, is completing her education at Mills College.
Mr. Ruhl is a member of Stockton Lodge, I.
O. O. F.; of Rawlins Post, G. A. R.; of the Stockton Turn-Verein, and Red Men.
He was for four years a councilman of this city.
Mr. Ruhl’s history since coming to this
country has been quite a remarkable one: when he arrived at Sacramento he had
but $5, and when he commenced business here, he had saved up $900. He has made
a fine success of his business enterprises, and is now able to retire if he
wished, but his habits of industry would not permit him to lie idle at his age.
Even yet he gives his attention to the improvement of mechanical appliances,
his latest invention being a spraying pump for the use of orchardists and
others, which was patented November 10, 1885, and which has attracted very
favorable attention.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 604-606. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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