Ludwig Family

The Ludwig Family Papers document the lives of members of the Ludwig family since the arrival of Michael and Daniel Ludwig in Philadelphia in 1733. They immigrated to the American colonies from the Palatinate region in Germany. In order to save enough money to bring other family members to America, the brothers established a paper mill and farmed.

Few documents relating to the Ludwig family's experiences in the eighteenth and early part of the nineteenth centuries exist in the collection at the Bentley Historical Library. Fuller documentation begins in 1884 with the birth of Claud Cecil Ludwig on a farm in Sunfield, Michigan. His parents were Warren Edwin Ludwig and Lucinda Sweitzer Ludwig. Claud's early childhood was spent on a farm in Lake Odessa, Michigan. Later the family moved to Portland, Michigan, where Warren Ludwig opened a variety store. Claud worked in the store and attended the Ferris Institute where he studied commercial law. During this period, he also married Ruby Newman. They had three children. In 1911, Claud bought the store which his family had established. Another merchant offered to buy the store in 1913. Claud sold the store and moved to Lansing, Michigan. There he entered the real estate business. He joined the Lansing Real Estate Board and in the following years served as its president. Claud Ludwig also served on the Lansing Chamber of Commerce and the city's Planning Committee. Both he and Ruby Ludwig were active members of their community. They established and taught Sunday School classes for the Baptist Church. During this time, Claud also served on the Y.M.C.A. board at both the city and state level.

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