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Peter Ruden

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Peter Ruden

Birth	:	20 Jan 1842 Roodt-sur-Syre, Canton de Grevenmacher, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Death	:	26 Sep 1878 Shelby County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Saint Boniface Cemetery, Westphalia, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.7219009, -95.3944016
Plot	:	SC-20-05
Description	:	Suggested By: David KLEIN (49976711) from familysearch.org; Identifier 1383266; Creator Ruden, Eliza Phillips Birth Date 21 Jan 1843 Birth Location Betzdorf,Canton de Grevenmacher,Grevenmacher,Luxembourg * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Peter Anton Schnuettgen and his wife Maria Anna Francisco Josepha (nee Hitze) Schnuettgen had eight children. The three youngest, Theodore (born Feb 7, 1850), August (born 30 March 1853) and Johann (born 20 Dec. 1857) are the only children who came to America. I have... Read More	Suggested By: David KLEIN (49976711) from familysearch.org; Identifier 1383266; Creator Ruden, Eliza Phillips Birth Date 21 Jan 1843 Birth Location Betzdorf,Canton de Grevenmacher,Grevenmacher,Luxembourg * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Peter Anton Schnuettgen and his wife Maria Anna Francisco Josepha (nee Hitze) Schnuettgen had eight children. The three youngest, Theodore (born Feb 7, 1850), August (born 30 March 1853) and Johann (born 20 Dec. 1857) are the only children who came to America. I have heard August came first and helped or encouraged his brothers to come here. August, I understand was one of the early people who came to Westphalia. In 1878 he was having an argument with Peter Ruden. Tradition has it that it was on the farm which Paul Zimmerman now has, and that the confrontation between August Schnuettgen and Peter Ruden occurred just north of where the farmstead now is. Peter Ruden had a knife, and August said to him "Don't come any closer!" But Ruden kept coming and in self~defense August shot and killed him. Before he died, Ruden said his being shot should not be held against August since he, Ruden, had been warned not to keep coming, but he did, and the shooting was a consequence of his not heeding the warning clearly given him. The Westphalia Cemetery Directory shows Peter Ruden was born in 1842 and died in 1878. His wife was the former Magdalene Miller and they had a child, also named Peter. On Jan. 17, 1879 August Schnuettgen was indicted for murder. Bail was set at $8,000. The case number was 423. The prosecution was handled by D. B. Daily. August's lawyers were Wicks & Burke. The trial began on Aug. 19, 1879. The story in the Harlan Tribune for Aug. 20, 1879, said: Tuesday morning the case of the State of Iowa against August Schnuettgen was called, and the day was consumed in selecting a jury. At this writing, Tuesday, 4 o'clock P.M., no jury has been sworn. The case seems to elicit considerable interest, the court house being crowded. Major Anderson and J. W. DeSilva appear for the prosecution, Wicks a & Burke for the defense. The paper for August 27, 1879, said: The Ruden~Schnuettgen Murder Trial As we reported in last week's Tribune, this was the first case called in court. Tuesday, Wednesday and until Thursday noon the time was occupied in hearing testimony. During this time the body of the court room was crowded. Attorney Makepeace, of Dubuque, opened the case for the prosecution, followed by attorney Army Burke, on the part of the defense, he being followed by Platt Wicks, Republican candidate for Representative. Mr. Wicks occupied about one hour Thursday and Friday forenoon in an exhaustive argument upon the theory of self~defense. Major Anderson closed the argument Friday and the case was given to the jury under instructions from the court. The jury were out until Saturday afternoon when they brought in a verdict of manslaughter, and the judge sentenced him to five years imprisonment. Mr. Schnuettgen is a young man about twenty~seven years old, and has always borne a good name among his acquaintances for honesty, uprightness and every element to make a good citizen. It is a terribly unfortunate affair and surrounded by mysteries unfathomable. August faces the realities bravely however, and in conversation with a Tribune representative, expressed less consideration for himself than for his relatives and friends. His attorney has 90 days in which to file for an appeal. The record will be thoroughly canvassed before a decision will be arrived at as to the propriety of appealing. The sentence was that the defendant be confined at hard labor in the penitentiary at Fort Madison for five years. The witnesses for the prosecution were listed as Geo. W. Makepeace, Anthon Himerman, Emile Herbert, Mary Herbert, Ernest Frank, William Jacoby, Jacob Ruden, Phillip Graff, Taylor Kunkel, John Prubgin, and Joseph Kramer. The Penitentiary tells me August's number was 2954 and he was committed August 26, 1879, from Shelby County, for the crime of manslaughter, 5 years, age 26, Light complexion, native of Germany, occupation of carpenter, Catholic religion, sentence commuted on March 13, 1882. Aunt Emma told me that August's brothers got the Governor to commute the sentence. On Feb 10, 1886, August married Louise Block. I had that the marriage wasat Fort Madison, but a check of marriage records there did not locate it. The biographical History of Shelby and Audubon Counties, published in Chicago in 1889, has this account: August Schnuettgen, a native of Prussia, has been identified with the interests of Shelby County since 1873, when he emigrated to America, and settled in Westphalia Township. He was born March 30, 1854, and is a son of Anton and Mary A. (Hitze) Schnuettgen, both deceased. August was the sixth child in a family of seven, three of whom reside in America. He was reared in his native country to farm life; he acquired a common~school education, and worked at the carpenter's trade one year previous to coming to America. For twelve or thirteen years he followed this business in this country, and worked on a farm for one year. In the fall of 1885 Mr. Schnuettgen came to Earling, and erected a large two story brick building, in which he opened a stock of hardware, tinware, stoves, pumps, and furniture; he also attends to the undertaking of Earling and vicinity, keeping a full line of burial robes and undertakers' supplies. His stock in both lines is unequaled in most towns the size of Earling. He also owns forty acres of land in Westphalia Township, 100 acres in Union Township, a house and lot in Panama, and his property in Earling. He has erected most of the school buildings in Westphalia and Union Townships, besides a good number of dwelling houses. Mr. Schnuettgen has probably done as much as any other citizen of the county toward the advancement and growth of the town of Earling. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party. He was married February 10, 1886, to Louisa Block, daughter of Henry and Mary A. (Bolte) Block, who was born in Fort Madison, Iowa, October 5, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Schnuettgen are members of the Roman Catholic church. The Harlan Tribune for June 19, 1907, has this item: Died on Sunday evening, August Schnuettgen aged 53 years. His death came very suddenly as he was confined to his bed only about two days. Mr. Schnuettgen was an old resident of Earling, having conducted a hardware and furniture store here for several years. He leaves a wife and two brothers to mourn his loss. He died on June 23, 1907, without a will, and his probate file thus gives considerable detail in regard to his brothers and their children in Germany. I do not have the amount of his estate, but for that day it was quite considerable. Those of you who visit the Earling cemetery should note his tombstone, which is the tallest in the cemetery, and supposedly the statue thereon came from Italy and cost $2000, which in today's money would be what? At least $20,000. August's life indicates that even though one makes a mistake hard work and determination can overcome the ill effects of the mistake. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Peter Ruden's memorial?
Peter Ruden's memorial is located at: Saint Boniface Cemetery, Westphalia, Shelby County, USA.
When did Peter Ruden death?
Peter Ruden death on 26 Sep 1878 in Shelby County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Peter Ruden's memorial?
Latitude: 41.7219009
Longitude: -95.3944016

Family Members:

Parent

Peter Ruden

(1806 - 1881)

Barbara Gloden Ruden

(1812 - 1860)

Spouse

Magdalena “Lena” Müller Ruden

(1850 - 1932)

Siblings

Elizabeth Ruden Jarding

(1836 - 1891)

(1840 - 1909)

(1848 - 1930)

(1850 - 1917)

(1853 - 1938)

Elizabeth Ruden Jacoby

(1856 - 1888)

Katharena Ruden Schmitt

(1859 - 1901)

Children

Peter Ruden

(1877 - 1959)

Mary Magdeline Ruden Rushenberg

(1878 - 1957)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Boniface Cemetery
Westphalia, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7219009, -95.3944016

2. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Earling, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7797012, -95.4207993

3. Saint Marys Cemetery
Panama, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7332993, -95.4811020

4. Washington Township Cemetery
Panama, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7305984, -95.4867020

5. Harlan Cemetery
Harlan, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6594505, -95.3281403

6. Lincoln Township Cemetery
Harlan, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6422005, -95.4028015

7. Rose Hill Cemetery
Kirkman, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7317009, -95.2767029

8. Union Township Cemetery
Defiance, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8269005, -95.3471985

9. Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery
Defiance, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8269005, -95.3450012

10. Slates Cemetery
Kirkman, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7605000, -95.2521000

11. Saint Mary's Cemetery
Portsmouth, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6519012, -95.5233002

12. Doyle Cemetery
Earling, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8051000, -95.5087000

13. Cass Township Cemetery
Portsmouth, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6272115, -95.4958362

14. Gallands Grove RLDS Holcomb Cemetery
Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8342018, -95.4788971

15. Abel Galland Memorial Cemetery
Manteno, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8370000, -95.4932500

16. Fairview Township Cemetery
Corley, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5856500, -95.3207500

17. Bowmans Grove Cemetery
Harlan, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6617012, -95.2130966

18. Folck Cemetery
Harlan, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6198000, -95.2456000

19. Oak Hill Cemetery
Irwin, Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7813988, -95.2074966

20. Danway Cemetery
Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7296982, -95.1900024

21. Manteno Cemetery
Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8343964, -95.5367355

22. Astor Cemetery
Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8636017, -95.2853012

23. Chambers Cemetery
Persia, Harrison County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6018982, -95.5681000

24. Red Line Cemetery
Shelby County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7178574, -95.1517029