The evening times., 1899-07-08
4 FAMILY OF FIGHTERS.
Fou- Generations Represented IN the
American Ranks.

Fou- Generations Represented IN the
American Ranks.
From the Philadelphia Recordl
Greatgrandfather to grandson, an un-
broken line of four generations, father and
son included. all brave and patriotic men.
II is record of healthy age TO be prouI
of, and il belongs 10 the Ruhe family OF
this city. Three are still livirg The old
est, John F., died when within a year of
four score. He was captain in the War
of 1872. and command O. the Alien Ora
goons of Allentown, Pa. For many years
he was president of the Old Northampton
Bank, of the latter place, and was subse-
quently for a long period associate judge
in Lehigh county. His career, which lad
been a remarkably successful one, closed
in 1859
William Ruhe, grandfather still lives at
1883 North Twentieth Street, and is nov
approaching his ninetieth year. On the
very day that Sumter was fired upon he
enlisted and became one of the First De-
tenders. He was in the Baltimore rios
when Northern troops were attacked while
hurry ing 10 the Nations Capital in re-
sPonse 10 Lincoln's call for volunteers.
Three times he was enrolled in the army
and at the expiration of each term was hon
orably discharged. On the first occasion
he had served as one OF thi three months
men, the next time he had been deafened
by conclusion while attached to the First
Pennsylvania Artillery. but he could not
remain away from the front. and was soon
III the ranks OF Company X, of the Two
Hundred and Ninth Infantry. In the field
at the close OF the war he was present az
Lees surrender He still displays with
pardonable pride the gold medal given by
the Government to First Defenders Mr.
Ruhe's wife is also living. They have been
married siXty-seven years.
Capt. Walter a. Ruhe, the next in line.
is a prominent member of Post s. G. \. r.,
and is popular with all who know him.
He was a private in Company G, Eigh-
teenth Illinois Infantry, enlisting July u,
1861. On account of serious illness he was
discharged but after recuperating he rails
ed a company of cavalry and was CHOSEN
first lieutenant. The Government ut the
time felt that it had a sufficiency of mount
ed men. and so the company was never
mustered into service.
Ruhe'S patriotic ardor would not let
him rest idly while others were fighting
for their country, and when the war with
Spain began he organized Company X. of
the Old Guard Regiment. The quota of
the State was. however. filled and it dis
not go into service. The late Gen. John
A. Logan was warm friend of the Phila-
delphian. the latter having carried the
gallant Illinois commander off the field,
when wounded at the battle of Fort DON
elson. February u, 1862. The captain
lives at 1922 North Sixteenth Street
His son, great-grandson of William, is
Frank c. Ruhe. He received a military
education at Nazareth Hall Military Acad-
emy, and was captain of his company at
the school, He had always had a desire
for military life since he was a child and
when the opportunity offorded at the be-
ginning of the Spanish war he joined his
fathers company. but finding that it would
not be called on he enlisted in Company
H, of the Second Pennsylvania Volunteers.
When the latter regiment was mustered
out he wanted to get under fire and TO
do SO was enlisted in Company H, of the
Sixteenth United States Infantry Today
he is fighting out in the Philippines.