Claim: In 1845, the Wallonian (a group native to Belgium) Jacques Piedboeuf, together with Hugo Jakob Talbot, Johann Leonhard Neuman and Theodor Esser, founded the steelworks OHG Piedboeuf & Co, Aachener Walz- und Hammerwerk; taken over in 1851 by Carl Ruëtz, which then continued as the Kommanditgesellschaft Carl Ruëtz & Co – Aachener Hütten-Aktien-Verein Rothe Erde.
Evidence: Walloons (/wɒˈluːnz/; French: Wallons [walɔ̃ (listen); Walloon: Walons) are a Romance ethnic group native to Belgium, principally its southern region of Wallonia, who primarily speak langues d'oïl such as Belgian French, Picard and Walloon. In 1845 the Wallonian Jacques Piedboeuf, together with Hugo Jakob Talbot and the mechanical engineers Johann Leonhard Neuman and Theodor Esser, founded the steelworks OHG Piedboeuf & Co, Aachener Walz- und Hammerwerk on the site of a former estate. It remained until being taken over in 1851 by Carl Ruëtz, from which point it continued as the Kommanditgesellschaft Carl Ruëtz & Co – Aachener Hütten-Aktien-Verein Rothe Erde.