John Ruedger Obit

--Paxton Record.  14 October 1880.

Hannah Marie (Whittier) Bunker

 

--Roberts Herald.  8 January 1919.  Page 1.

Obit

--Paxton Record.  23 December 1915.

Obit

 

 

L. E. Bressie Lewis Edward Bressie, son of William F. and Ann (Finger) Bressie was born at Salem, Washington County, Indiana, April 17th, 1845, and died at his home in Roberts, Illinois, Saturday, September 6th, 1924, aged 79 years 4 months and 19 days.
When barely 18 years of age, viz. April 1863, he enlisted in Company C 117th Indiana Infantry and was first sent to Indianapolis for guard duty but was soon sent down through Kentucky into Tennessee where they were in a number of engagements the most severe being at Blain's Cross Roads. They were at Cumberland Gap on the cold new year's day noted in history, Jan.1, 1864. Here Mr. Bressie and most of his regiment were without shoes but had soles fastened to their feet with thongs. On that day they marched 23 miles in that condition. He continued his service with that regiment until discharged and then re-enlisted in Co. C 144th Indiana Infantry and served until the close of the war being discharged August 12, 1865.
January 4, 1866, he married Miss Sarah Ann Suplee at the home of her parents at Salem, Indiana. To them were born three children Albert J. of Bloomington, Charles E. who died at Roberts August 12, 1920, and Minnie Bertha who died at the age of 6 years. He leaves to mourn his death one son, seven grand-daughters, and eight great-grandchildren, also one sister at Olney, Illinois, and numerous other relatives and a host of friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Bressie came to Roberts in 1874 and he worked as plasterer for eleven years, then for three years dealt in harnesses, boots and shoes. In 1888 he purchased the general merchandise store of Flora & Newman which he conducted for many years since which he has lived a retired life. He was an active member of Melvin Post No. 500 G.A.R., Lyman K. of P. and of Gibson City Lodge A.F. and A.M., also a member of the Congregational Church in Roberts. He was a man of sterling character, strong personality, and determined energy. He served his community in various official capacities, and was ever known as a man whose personal opinion and integrity could not be swayed by hopes of popular applause.
The funeral services were held at the Congregational Church in Roberts Sunday afternoon, September 7th, at 2:30 o'clock, Rev. J. O. Ferris and Rev. J. T. Killip officiating. The remains were then laid to rest in Lyman Cemetery. Lyman Lodge K. of P. had charge of the ceremony at the grave.
Among those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Samuels and family, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Overymeyer, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Overymeyer and B. Kenney of Clinton, Lem Smedley and Mrs. Hall of Rantoul, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hawthorne and family and Mrs. E. Roberts of Urbana, Mr. and Mrs. Fidell Hummel of Strawn and Mr. and Mrs. Kirker Hawthorne and H. M. Hawthorne of Piper City.
--Roberts Herald.  10 September 1924. 

Obit

--Paxton Record.  20 January 1910.

Photo John Ruedger Jr.

John Ruedger (left in above photo), the son of John F Ruedger. Young John was only 6 when his father died.  John Jr. and this oldest brother, Reynold, were raised by the Blesch family.  John Jr. attended Valparaiso College, and this photo was taken at that time.

--Photo by Barbara LeRoy.  Roberts Illinois History Group FB Page.  July 2018.

John Ruedger's Family

From Barbara Leroy: 

 

"I got this information from John Ruedger who was raised by the Blesch family after his parents, John and Margaretha (Gurrad) Ruedger, died in the 1880s. Mary Rosa Blesch (wife of Jacob Blesch) was a younger sister of Margaretha (Gurrad) Ruedger, and the youngest of the Gurrad family to reach adulthood. Their father (Mary Rosa and Margaretha) was Lenhardt Gurrad, who was a merchant of some kind in Europe, who traveled around. He was born in Alsace. When he came to the United States on 11 Jun 1846, he had a money bag full of gold! He used it to purchase a lot of land in south Cook County near what was then called Bremen Station, and is now Tinley Park. At least two of his sons, Francis and Mathias, enlisted and served during the Civil War-Francis being captured and sent to Andersonville Prison! One of Lenhart's sons, John, was a photographer, which is why I have so many Gurrad photos! As Lenhart and his wife, Anna Mary (nee Miller) grew older, they gave the farm over to Mathias. Anna Mary died around 1879; Lenhart passed 20 Jan 1882, leaving a substantial estate to be divided among his living children. The photo below is Lenhart himself.

 

--Photo and Comments from Barbara Leroy.  June 2018.