My Genealogy Hound

BRUNO F. RUDER was a native of Saxony, Germany, born June 26, 1848; but from 1863 until the time of his decease, April 17, 1895, he was a respected resident of Northampton, Mass. He was a son of John Frederick and Caroline (Papp) Ruder, both natives of Saxony. The father was a locksmith by trade, following it uninterruptedly through the years of his activity, which were comparatively few, his death occurring when only thirty-three years old. His widow subsequently emigrated to America, coming hither at the instigation of Robert Ruder, who had settled in Holyoke prior to that time.

Bruno began earning his own living as soon as he came to this country, having learned the trade of a tool-maker and locksmith while in the Fatherland, being thus enabled to secure a position in the machine shop of the Arms Pocket-book Manufacturing Company, with whom he worked industriously for several years. In 1870, having saved some money, he married Katharina C. Chandler, a native of Northampton, a daughter of Pomeroy Chandler. Soon after their union Mr. and Mrs. Ruder opened a restaurant at 46 King Street, which proved attractive to the public; and in the course of a few years they built up an extensive and remunerative business. In 1872 he bought the restaurant and the lot on which it is situated; and some years later, in 1885, he purchased his fine residence property at 378 Elm Street, and built the commodious house in which he lived until his death, and which his widow and her family still occupy. Mr. Ruder was an energetic, capable, and honest man of business, highly esteemed by all with whom he came in contact, and quite active in social life, being an official member and Trustee of Steuben Lodge, D. O. H., and one of the founders of the Independent Club of Northampton, which at one time had a very large membership of Germans.

Seven children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ruder, two of whom, Nellie and Frederick, each died when fifteen months old. The record of the five living is as follows: Emma S. is the wife of Evon F. Huebler, of Northampton; Annie M., a young lady, at home; Louis F., a promising young man of nineteen years, now studying pharmacy; Sidonia, sixteen years old; and Caroline, twelve years of age. These children constitute a bright and intelligent family, and have inherited in a marked degree the musical talent of their father.

Evon F. Huebler, the husband of the eldest daughter, was born in Saxony, Germany, and came here with his mother when a child of three years, in 1867, joining his father, Frank Huebler, who had emigrated to this country the previous year. He is the eldest of seven living children born to his parents, who have buried five children, two having died in Germany and three in this country. Mr. Huebler attended the district school until twelve years old, when he began the battle of life as a clerk in a grocery store, remaining one year. He then became a printer’s devil in the office of the Hartford Daily Times, where during his seven years’ apprenticeship he served as compositor much of the time, occasionally acting as foreman. On arriving at years of maturity, Mr. Huebler formed a partnership with John H. Van Keuren, under the firm name of Van Keuren & Huebler, and started the Wethersfield Weekly Farmer, which they published for a year and a half. Then, in company with several others, he organized a stock company for publishing the Winsted Daily Evening Citizen, and was engaged as business manager and general superintendent of the company until October, 1894, when he came to Northampton, where he now resides. He is still a stockholder in the company, which is well established, the stock being valued at fifteen thousand dollars. His happy union with Miss Emma Ruder was solemnized on March 28, 1894.

A lifelike portrait* of Mr. Bruno F. Ruder is herewith presented.

*Editor's note: Portrait was included in the original printed book.