Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 431 - 432

GEORGE RUTER, one of the early settlers of Sedgwick County, came here in time to add his quota to its progress and development, which has been carried on so rapidly and to such a remarkable degree. He first opened his infant eyes in the little Kingdom of Hanover, on the other side of the Atlantic, on the 13th of February, 1843. His parents, Christopher and Mary Ruter, the father now deceased, were also of German birth and parentage, and the former spent his entire life upon his native soil. The mother is still living, and makes her home in Denver, Col.

        The subject of this history, who is numbered among the most enterprising and successful farmers of Salem Township, is the proprietor of 240 acres of fine land on sections 10 and 15. This he has accumulated by his own industry and perseverance, as he started out in life dependent upon his own resources and with a limited experience of the world. He was but twenty-three years of age when he left his native land, setting sail in the winter of 1866 from Hamburg, and after an ocean voyage of twelve weeks on a sailing-vessel landed in the city of New York.

        Young Ruter soon left the metropolis, and proceeding directly westward, took up his residence first in Will County, Ill., hence a year later he crossed the Mississippi to Wabaunsee County, this State, where he employed himself laboring until the winter of 1870. Thence, in the month of February, determined to acquire a piece of property, he made his way to this county and pre-empted nearly a quarter of section 11, in Salem Township. This, it is hardly necessary to say, was a tract of wild prairie, over which the plowshare had never passed. His wants were few, and he was enabled to live economically, and soon began to make a decided change in the condition of his purchase, which he sold in a few years at a good figure.

        Mr. Ruter located upon his present farm in 1882, where he has since resided, and has now a beautiful residence, with a commodious barn and the other out-buildings required for the successful prosecution of his calling. Nature provided him with sound sense and good judgment, which have enabled him to make wise investments and to carry on his farming operations in the most judicious manner. When he came to this section of country game was plentiful, including deer, antelope and wild turkeys, many of which he laid low with his rifle, and whatever else the family lacked in the pioneer days they were always provided with the choicest of wild meats. He has watched with unabated interest the rapid growth and development of Southern Kansas, and is numbered among its most useful and enterprising men.

        Mr. Ruter was first married, in the spring of 1868, to Miss Mary Seekamp, who was a native of Hanover, and, by whom he became the father of one child, a daughter Minnie, who was born Dec. 28, 1868, and lives with her, father. Mrs. Mary Ruter departed this life at her home in Salem Township, in December, 1884.

        The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married on the 8th of May, 1886, was formerly Miss Mary Steinmiller, who was born April 26, 1858, in the Kingdom of Bavaria. Her parents, Frederick and Catherine (Gurtz) Steinmiller, also of German birth and parentage, continue upon their native soil. To Mr. and Mrs. R. was born a daughter, Feb. 8, 1888. Our subject and wife are prominently identified with the German Lutheran Church at Wichita, and our subject, politically, is independent. He is regarded as among the leading men of his township, the friend of every worthy enterprise, and is the Clerk of School District No. 35.

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