FRITZ RUDOLPH

From Der Nord Westen, 28 Feb. 1901:
Fritz Rudolph died last Sat. morning, one of the first German settlers of our
county. He would have been 88 yrs. of age on Fri. next week. He was born in
Arnstadt, Thuringia, on 08 Mar. 1813. He received a sound schooling in Germany,
then learned the dyer's trade which he pursued throughout Germany and Austria.
He came to America in 1848 and spent a year in Philadelphia before coming to
Manitowoc in 1849. With his brothers Gottlob and Ernst as well as his brother-
in-law, he worked a farm in Town Newton. Two years later he moved to Manitowoc
and opened a wine and liquor business which prospered. In 1860 he married Doris
Salomon, a sister of Governor Edward Salomon, with whom he lived a happy but
childless marriage until her death in Mar., 1899. Though he has no children of
his own he raised the orphaned children of his brother-in-law and formally
adopted one of them, Wilhelm. He gave up the wine business in 1886 and pursued
the life of a private man, giving his attention to his garden. Every morning and
every evening he was seen taking a walk through the streets of our city, always
stopping to chat with friends, until last Christmas when the walks had to stop.
He grew weaker and weaker until on Sun., 8 days ago, he was no longer able to get
out of bed, when his condition worsened until his death. On Mon. afternoon he was
buried in the city cemetery alongside his wife. (Long article)
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Manitowoc Citizen, February 26, 1901:
FRED RUDOLPH LAID TO REST—From Mondays Daily News
This afternoon at two o'clock the last sad rites were performed over the body
of Fred Rudolph and his remains were laid away at the Evergreen Cemetery. The
bier was one mass of flowers, the condolences of friends and relatives. At two
o'clock the house was crowded with sorrowing friends and relatives come to pay
their respects to their departed friend. The funeral sermon was preached by
Justice H. Falge after which the remains were taken to the Evergreen Cemetery
for interment. The pallbearers were Max Richter, Edward Schuette, Charles
Hutchausen, Julins Linstedt, F. Schultz and Emil Teitgen. The Frier Saengerbund
of which the deceased was a member had charge of the music. Fred Rudolph one of
the best known residents of this city who has been ailing for the past month
passed away at his home on South Eighth street at 6 o'clock this morning, aged
88 years. The deceased was born March 8, 1813 in the city of Arnstadt, Province
of Thuringia, Germany. In 1848 he emigrated to America, and landed at Philadelphia
where he resided about a year, when he came to Manitowoc in 1849. After trying
farming for several years in the town of Newton, he moved to the city where he
lived continuously until his death. For over thirty years he was an active business
man, conducting successfully the largest liquor store in the city until 1886, when
he sold out to his son. He was a progressive man constructing several store
buildings at the corner of Eighth and Franklin streets. He was married in 1860 to
Miss Doris Salomon sister of Ex-Gov. Edward Salomon and General Fred Salomon. Mr.
Rudolph has a rugged constitution and a man of sympathetic and kind feeling. Not
being blessed with children, he took unto his home the four orphan children of his
brother-in-law Mr. Hottelman, who were educated and taken care of by him as his own.
The youngest child, William, he legally adopted. The funeral will take place Monday
afternoon at 2 o'clock from the house.
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From Der Nord Westen, 08 Mar. 1900:
"It was 87 years ago today that our upstanding German fellow citizen
Fritz Rudolph first saw the light of day." (Long laudatory article of praise.)
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[cause: old age]