Ruch is my maternal grandmother's maiden name. The graphic below begins with her father, Robert A. Ruch, his parents Arnold Ruch and Sophia Maibach to the right, and his siblings below him.
Arnold, his older brother Jacob, and Sophia all immigrated to the United States on the same ship at the same time. The name of the ship was Veendam, and the port of departure was Rotterdam, The Netherlands. It arrived at Ellis Island on April 7th, 1893. The manifest says that Sophia's last residence was in Reiserneil, Switzerland and Arnold and Jacob's was Huttmjk, Germany. Neither of these places come up with any meaningful results when I search for them on Google, so they were probably written or transcribed incorrectly or the names of the places changed and it's not mentioned online. I don't know. It's really rather frustrating.
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| According to ancestry.com, this is a photo of the Veendam. |
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| Ship's Manifest; Jacob, Arnold and Sophia are toward the bottom. |
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| From ellisisland.org |
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| From ellisisland.org |
After they arrived in Ellis Island they traveled to and settled in Wisconsin. Jacob and Sophia were married in Green County, Wisconsin on 27 April 1893, 20 days after arriving in America (Wisconsin Marriages pre-1907, Vol. 6, pg. 0152) Their daughter, Minnie, was born 8 months later in December of 1893 (1900 Federal Census). It appears they must have conceived her while on their voyage to America. Their son, Jacob Jr., was born 13 February 1895 (WWI draft registration card). In 1895 there was a Wisconsin State Census and there is a Jacob Ruch in Monroe Ward 4 listed. It is a very vague census, so I can't be certain it is the same Jacob, but I am going to assume it is since the location is correct. I cannot find Arnold on this census. In November of 1899, Sophia gave birth to her and Jacob's 3rd child, Freda (1900 Federal Census). Sadly, Jacob died on 6 April 1899 and the young age of 32 and never met his 3rd child (Headstone).
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| Jacob Ruch's Headstone: Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe, WI |
After Jacob passed away, his little brother Arnold stepped up. He married Sophia on 22 February 1900. The 1900 federal census shows that they lived in Clarno Town, Green County, Wisconsin and that Arnold was a cheese maker. That is so awesome! It also tells us that Arnold and Sophia's parents were all born in Switzerland. The 1905 Wisconsin census tells us that Arnold and Sophia lived in Jordan Township and had three children of their own. Robert (my great grandfather) was born in 1901. It is killing me that I don't know his exact birth date. I cannot find it anywhere online and it's not on his headstone. I will have to try to find some records in person sometime when I make it back up to Wisconsin, I just haven't a clue where to go. Anyways, after Robert came Margaret, born 16 April 1904, and Sophia, born 25 June 1905. The 1910 federal census tells us that the entire family lived in Wayne Township, Lafayette County, Wisconsin and that Arnold is a farmer. The 1917-1918 WWI draft registration card for Arnold says that he was tall with a medium build, brown eyes and brown hair. The 1920 federal census tells us that the family lived in Winslow Township, Stephenson County, Illinois and that Frieda moved out. According to the 1930 status, Robert is the only one still living with Arnold and Sophia and they now live in Wiota Township in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Arnold has gone back to making cheese for a living and Robert is a laborer at the cheese factory.
On 18 December 1930, Robert married Emma Lee Edwards of Gratiot, WI in Freeport, IL. In May of 1931 they welcome their first daughter, Shirley, into the world. Two years later in March of 1933 they had their second daughter, Wilma (my grandmother). Two weeks later Robert suffered a ruptured appendix and died. It is such a strange coincidence that he died at the same young age as his uncle, Jacob. Both men died much too young, and it's is tragic that they died when their children were so little.
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| Robert Ruch's Headstone: Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe, WI |
As for Arnold and Sophia, Arnold passed away in 1932 at the age of 60. Sophia lived to the age of 93! She didn't pass away until 29 May 1969.
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| Arnold Ruch Headstone: Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe, WI |
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| Sophia (Maibach) Ruch Headstone: Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe, WI |
As for Arnold and Sophia's other children, I was unable to find anything other than census data for Minnie Ruch.
Jacob Ruch is described as short and slender with brown hair and brown eyes on his WWI draft registration card. Me married Louisa Rufenacht, daughter of Fritz Rufenacht and Anna Elizabeth Rothenbuehler, around 1922. Louisa was born 12 OCT 1898 in Green Co., WI and died 19 MAY 1953 in Lena, IL. Together they had a daughter, Marjorie Louise Ruch, who was born 7 MARCH 1923 and died 19 MAY 1953. The family lived in Green Co. WI and Stephenson Co. IL where Jacob made his living as a farmer. There is conflicting census data on where Jacob was born. The 1900 and 1930 census say he was born in Wisconsin, but the 1910 and 1920 census say he was born in Illinois. I can find no birth record outside of the census information. Marjorie Ruch married Harold Larse on 15 OCT 1941 in Lafayette Co., WI. They lived in Gratiot, WI. You may have noticed above that Jacob, Louisa and Marjorie all share the same death date. They died in a car accident in Illinois, as detailed in the following article:
Freda Ruch married Fred Weiss on Valentine's Day, 1931. I assume this was her second marriage since I cannot find her on the 1920 or 1930 census. According to this other family tree on ancestry.com, Freda and Fred had three daughters; Helen, Marian, and Marlene. According to the social security death index, Freda died 21 May 1986 at the age of 86 in Monroe, WI.
Margaret married John Cotherman on 20 December 1923. John was born 8 August 1902. The 1930 census has them in Monroe, WI with their daughter, Marian M.. John is listed as a farmer. Other family trees on ancestry.com tell me that Marian Margaret was born 22 June 1924 and died 29 July 2002 in Belleville, WI. Also, Margaret and John had a son, John, born 7 December 1935. John died 25 February 1965 and Margaret died 19 March 1978 in Monroe, WI.
Finally, Sophia married Alvin Marti on 14 June 1923 and they had two daughters, Virginia, b. 10 December 1923 d. 17 November 1988, and Delores, b. 8 July 1938. They also raised my grandmother, Wilma, after both her parents passed away. On the 1930 census shows them living in Monroe, WI and Alvin is listed as a farmer. Alvin was born 7 March 1899 and died 30 April 1989. Sophia died 5 September 1992 in Monroe, WI.
Obit of Alvin MARTI [excerpts]
Alvin W. MARTI, 90, of 1740 15th St, died Sun 30 Apr 1989 at his home. Born 7 Mar 1899 in Monroe Twp, Green Co, he was the son of Christopher & Anna (BRECHLIEN) MARTI...attended Round Grove School...married to the former Sophia Anna RUCH 14 June 1923 in Freeport...farmed for a short time & worked at Fairbanks Morse in Beloit...served with the Monroe Police Dept from 1931-1964. After his retirement he worked in various cheese plants. Survivors include his wife, Sophia; two daughters, Delores MARTI of Monroe & Mrs Ralph (Wilma) WELLS, Hartford; three sisters, Emaline HOLLOWAY & Marie COTHERMAN, both of Monroe, & Selma SMITH, Hillsboro IL; a grandson & one great grandson...preceded in death by a daughter, Virginia 17 Nov 1988; a brother, Roy, & two sisters, Frieda CLARK & Mildred MARTI. Funeral...Wed [3 May 1989] at Stuessy Funeral Home with Christian Science reader Charles WELLINGTON conducting the service. Burial...Greenwood Cemetery...
Thank you for taking the time to read through my Ruch collection. If you are a decedent of a Ruch and think you may belong to my family tree, please leave a comment below. I'd love to hear from you!
Click here for the RUCH LINEAGE write out.
Click here for the RUCH LINEAGE write out.
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