The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-07
THE LATE SENATOR ROUTIER.
HIS DEATH A LOSS TO THE
COUNTY.
Was an Enterprising Citizen, an
Honest Man, and Generous
to a Fault.

to a Fault.
The death of ex-senator Joseph Rou-
tier, which was announced in these col
umns yesterday morning, removes one
of the oldest and best citizens of the
county.
Some years ago Mr.. Routier was con-
sidered one of the most prosperous
fruit growers in this part Of the State,
and his splendid orchard and beautiful
home on the bank Of the American
River, midway between this city and
Folsom was regarded as among the
finest in the State. When the fruit in,
dustry was at its hight Mr.. Reuter-
was prosperous, but in the days of his
prosperity he neglected to provide for
future uncertainties.
He and his accomplished wife enter
tanned With lavish hand, and there
was rarely a week in the year when
they DID not have several friends at
their home enjoying country life The
best of cooks were always employed,
and the elegant dinners at the REUTER-
mansion were on par with the best
that could be obtained at the high
class French restaurants Of the me-
tropolis.
Senator Reuter- was one the most
open hearted and generous men that
ever lived. In the days of his pros
perity no one appealed to him in vain
for help, financial or otherwise. The
first serious setback he encountered
was caused by the failure of the firm
Of NJ r. Brewer q Co., fruit commits
sion merchants of this city, by which
Mr.. Router lost $4,000 or more. Short
~ afterward came the slump in fruit
prices. and having no capital on which
to fall back, Mr.. REUTER- was forced to
borrow money. One loan was followed
by another until his place became so
heavily mortgaged that the income
from his orchard was barely enough to
meet the interest and his household ex-
penses. This condition of things grew
worse and worse until about year
ago, when he was obliged to turn over
his property to his creditors. Since
then he has continued to reside on the
old homestead as manager under a
small salary.
Some ten years ago Mr. and Mrs.
Reuter- lost their only son, George, and
this was severe blow to them. To add
to all their other troubles, Mrs. Rou-
tier was stricken with paralysis about
six years ago, from which she never
made full recovery, and for the last
year or two has been helpless in
valid 1t is believed the loss of her
husband will hasten her demise, as
they were devoted to one another
Since the death of George Routier,
his children, daughter and son, have
made their home most Of the time with
their grandparents, who were greatly
attached to them, their mother having
married again. Lucy, the daughter, is
now the wife of John c. Catlin (son of
Judge Catlin) a wellknown young
lawyer in this city.
Joseph Reuter-, as the deceased was
generally known, was but an abbrevia-
ton of his full name, which Is that of
of one Of the noble families Of France,
quite prominent in the history of that
country. Mr.. Reuters full name was
Charles Marie Joseph Timoleon Rou-
tier de Bullemont, but he was so in
tenseiy republican that on coming to
this country he adopted the simple
name of Joseph REUTER-. as being more
in accordance with American SIM
plcity and taste.
Mr. Routier was born in the De-
partment of Somme Province of Pr
cardy France, in 1925. He received
university education and at the same
time became imbued with the repub
lican sentiment that was SO frequently
coming to the front in those days,
though every other member of his fam
lily was a Royalist. About the time
he left college the revolution of 1851
broke out, following closely on that of
1913, which made Louis Napoleon Bon
aparte President. Three years later
Napoleon perpetrated his famous coup
detat, dssolving the Assembly and
assuming dictatorial powers. 1t was
then that the subject of this sketch
joined the ranks of the Republicans,
not only as an agitator but as a SOL
der. and he bore to his grave scars re-
ceived in battle during that short but
memorable event in French history.
Then Mr. Reuter- went to Paris, and
in 1893 he arrived in California. He
was probably the first man in Sacra
meto County to engage in fruit tree
planting on a large scale, and set out
and managed an orchard for Captain
Folsom, on the American River, near
Mormon Island, subsequently purchas-
ing the land on which he had since
lived. 1t was he who introduced the
French prune into California.
He served several terms as Justice of
the Peace for Brighton Township, and
in 1877 was elected to the Assembly on
the Republican ticket. He served his
constituents so earnestly and faithfully
that in 1880 he was elected to and
served one term in the Senate. Failing
| of further preferment at the hands of
the Republican party, Mr.. Reuter- af-
terward affiliated with the Democracy
| He also served a term as President
| of the State Fish and Game Commits
sion, under appointment by Governor
Bartlett, and made a splendid record as
1 such. Mr.. Reuter- was 10 years of
age, but up to the time of the accident
| a few days ago he was a hale and ac-
i tive man.
| The funeral will take place tomorrow