Philip Ruebsamen, one of Decatur's oldest and best known citizens, whose death occurred Saturday night, had lived here sixty-eight years and enjoyed the respect of the community all that time. He would have been ninety-one years old in December. He had been in feeble health for a long time, suffering from complications incident to old age.
Mr. Ruebsamen was born in Bavaria, Germany, Dec! 31, 1838. He came to the United States when he was only nine years old. He came to Decatur in 1861 and this has been his home ever since. He was a patriotic citizen and the only reason he was not in the Union army during the Civil war was that he was not allowed to enlist. He tried hard enough. He went to Bloomington after the recruiting officers in Decatur had turned him down, but had no better luck with the officers there. Then he went to Vandalia and tried to enlist there, but was again rejected. Mr. Ruebsamen was at that time of such frail appearance that he was not considered strong enough to stand the hardships of army life. He begged to be given a chance to demonstrate what he could stand, but was rejected on every hand. He lived longer than any of those who rejected him and many younger men who were admitted to the service. He was personally known to all of the soldiers who went from Decatur and was popular with them. They had the same feeling for him they would have had if he had actually been at the front with them.
For a number of years he conducted a saloon in Decatur, and his place was always free from disorder. He permitted no unnecessary noise in his place, never kept open a minute longer than the ordinance permitted and never sold a drink on Sunday or to a minor or to an intoxicated person. There was never a more abiding citizen than he.
Mrs. Ruebsamen, whose maiden name was Miss Pauline Pfeiffer, died in 1909. She and Mr. Ruebsamen were married in Decatur in 1864. He is survived by the following children: John Frank Ruebsamen of St. Louis, Albert Ruebsamen of Decatur, George Philip Ruebsamen of Chicago, Mrs. Anna Snarr, with whom he made his home, and Mrs. Preston T. Hicks, also of Decatur. He also leaves a brother, George Ruebsamen, of Omaha, Neb He has one grandchild.
The funeral will be at the Dawson & Wikoff chapel. The burial will be in Greenwood cemetery. The family requests that no flowers be sent.
Decatur, IL Review Nov 11, 1929 p11
Mr. Ruebsamen was born in Bavaria, Germany, Dec! 31, 1838. He came to the United States when he was only nine years old. He came to Decatur in 1861 and this has been his home ever since. He was a patriotic citizen and the only reason he was not in the Union army during the Civil war was that he was not allowed to enlist. He tried hard enough. He went to Bloomington after the recruiting officers in Decatur had turned him down, but had no better luck with the officers there. Then he went to Vandalia and tried to enlist there, but was again rejected. Mr. Ruebsamen was at that time of such frail appearance that he was not considered strong enough to stand the hardships of army life. He begged to be given a chance to demonstrate what he could stand, but was rejected on every hand. He lived longer than any of those who rejected him and many younger men who were admitted to the service. He was personally known to all of the soldiers who went from Decatur and was popular with them. They had the same feeling for him they would have had if he had actually been at the front with them.
For a number of years he conducted a saloon in Decatur, and his place was always free from disorder. He permitted no unnecessary noise in his place, never kept open a minute longer than the ordinance permitted and never sold a drink on Sunday or to a minor or to an intoxicated person. There was never a more abiding citizen than he.
Mrs. Ruebsamen, whose maiden name was Miss Pauline Pfeiffer, died in 1909. She and Mr. Ruebsamen were married in Decatur in 1864. He is survived by the following children: John Frank Ruebsamen of St. Louis, Albert Ruebsamen of Decatur, George Philip Ruebsamen of Chicago, Mrs. Anna Snarr, with whom he made his home, and Mrs. Preston T. Hicks, also of Decatur. He also leaves a brother, George Ruebsamen, of Omaha, Neb He has one grandchild.
The funeral will be at the Dawson & Wikoff chapel. The burial will be in Greenwood cemetery. The family requests that no flowers be sent.
Decatur, IL Review Nov 11, 1929 p11
Philip Ruebsamen, one of Decatur's oldest and best known citizens, whose death occurred Saturday night, had lived here sixty-eight years and enjoyed the respect of the community all that time. He would have been ninety-one years old in December. He had been in feeble health for a long time, suffering from complications incident to old age.
Mr. Ruebsamen was born in Bavaria, Germany, Dec! 31, 1838. He came to the United States when he was only nine years old. He came to Decatur in 1861 and this has been his home ever since. He was a patriotic citizen and the only reason he was not in the Union army during the Civil war was that he was not allowed to enlist. He tried hard enough. He went to Bloomington after the recruiting officers in Decatur had turned him down, but had no better luck with the officers there. Then he went to Vandalia and tried to enlist there, but was again rejected. Mr. Ruebsamen was at that time of such frail appearance that he was not considered strong enough to stand the hardships of army life. He begged to be given a chance to demonstrate what he could stand, but was rejected on every hand. He lived longer than any of those who rejected him and many younger men who were admitted to the service. He was personally known to all of the soldiers who went from Decatur and was popular with them. They had the same feeling for him they would have had if he had actually been at the front with them.
For a number of years he conducted a saloon in Decatur, and his place was always free from disorder. He permitted no unnecessary noise in his place, never kept open a minute longer than the ordinance permitted and never sold a drink on Sunday or to a minor or to an intoxicated person. There was never a more abiding citizen than he.
Mrs. Ruebsamen, whose maiden name was Miss Pauline Pfeiffer, died in 1909. She and Mr. Ruebsamen were married in Decatur in 1864. He is survived by the following children: John Frank Ruebsamen of St. Louis, Albert Ruebsamen of Decatur, George Philip Ruebsamen of Chicago, Mrs. Anna Snarr, with whom he made his home, and Mrs. Preston T. Hicks, also of Decatur. He also leaves a brother, George Ruebsamen, of Omaha, Neb He has one grandchild.
The funeral will be at the Dawson & Wikoff chapel. The burial will be in Greenwood cemetery. The family requests that no flowers be sent.
Decatur, IL Review Nov 11, 1929 p11
Mr. Ruebsamen was born in Bavaria, Germany, Dec! 31, 1838. He came to the United States when he was only nine years old. He came to Decatur in 1861 and this has been his home ever since. He was a patriotic citizen and the only reason he was not in the Union army during the Civil war was that he was not allowed to enlist. He tried hard enough. He went to Bloomington after the recruiting officers in Decatur had turned him down, but had no better luck with the officers there. Then he went to Vandalia and tried to enlist there, but was again rejected. Mr. Ruebsamen was at that time of such frail appearance that he was not considered strong enough to stand the hardships of army life. He begged to be given a chance to demonstrate what he could stand, but was rejected on every hand. He lived longer than any of those who rejected him and many younger men who were admitted to the service. He was personally known to all of the soldiers who went from Decatur and was popular with them. They had the same feeling for him they would have had if he had actually been at the front with them.
For a number of years he conducted a saloon in Decatur, and his place was always free from disorder. He permitted no unnecessary noise in his place, never kept open a minute longer than the ordinance permitted and never sold a drink on Sunday or to a minor or to an intoxicated person. There was never a more abiding citizen than he.
Mrs. Ruebsamen, whose maiden name was Miss Pauline Pfeiffer, died in 1909. She and Mr. Ruebsamen were married in Decatur in 1864. He is survived by the following children: John Frank Ruebsamen of St. Louis, Albert Ruebsamen of Decatur, George Philip Ruebsamen of Chicago, Mrs. Anna Snarr, with whom he made his home, and Mrs. Preston T. Hicks, also of Decatur. He also leaves a brother, George Ruebsamen, of Omaha, Neb He has one grandchild.
The funeral will be at the Dawson & Wikoff chapel. The burial will be in Greenwood cemetery. The family requests that no flowers be sent.
Decatur, IL Review Nov 11, 1929 p11
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