Herman Ruhe was born in Germany in 1870 or 1871. He married Lizzie Stacey in June 1896 and they had three children: Ester Jane, Richard Melvin and Arthur James. The family came to Juneau in the early 1900's and Ruhe opened the Juneau Painting and Decorating Co. Ruhe was active in BPO Elks 420 in Juneau and a member of the Masonic Lodge. On April 2, 1907, he was elected to the Juneau City Council, a position that lasted until April 1908. He and Arthur Ferte, who owned a sign company next door in uneau, moved to Ellensburg, Washington in 1909, and formed the American Painting Co. Ruhe and Ferte returned to Juneau from 1912 until 1914. Ruhe's family remained in Ellensburg. It is possible that Ruhe's business was located in Seward during some of his time in Alaska. Herman Ruhe died on September 14, 1941, in Ellensburg, Washington.
From the description of Herman Ruhe collection, 1906-1909. [graphic]. (Alaska State Library). WorldCat record id: 49623879
