Julius Ruge Passes Away
January 6, 1910 Manning Monitor

One of the Best Known Citizens in Carroll County Died Last Friday.

Friday shortly after the noon hour the sad news of the death of Julius Ruge was given out from his home in this city. To many it was almost incredible for they had seen him on the street the day before apparently in good health. Thursday morning he went down to his office but shortly after arriving there was taken with severe pains in the kidneys and about ten o'clock went home and laid down on the bed hoping to get relief. But so rapidly the pain increased that medical aid was summoned but without avail. His pain continued to increase and though opiates were given they failed to entirely deaden the pain. He remained in this condition until about nine the next morning when he became unconscious and so remained until death relieved him of his suffering which was too intense for human endurance.
Julius died December 31, 1909.

For several years the deceased has been a great sufferer from a diseased condition of the kidneys. At times he has been unable to be out of bed for a week at a time and was just recovering from an attack of this kind. He had only been able to be down town for a few days previously, but said he was fast regaining his strength and felt that he would be all right in a few days. In this he was mistaken for his disease returned in so aggravated a stage that flesh and blood could not withstand the ravages of the attack.

A year ago he went to Chicago and consulted Dr. Murphy, the specialist, and was informed that unless he submitted to an operation his chances of life were poor. This he was also informed by the local physicians but to all he turned a deaf ear. He said that he would never have the knife used on him. It may be that in this he was right but it must be also admitted that his medical advisors were also right in their diagnosis of his case.

Mr. Ruge was a man of over six feet and weighed 280 pounds, broad shoulders and naturally full of life and action. From his looks he enjoyed the best of health and the public new little of the pain he suffered during, the last few years of life. His disease is known as uremia, a diseased condition of the kidneys. His ailment was the same as that which caused the death of C.A. Daniel early last fall. The great pain which the patients afflicted with the disease are compelled to suffer is largely due to the stoppage of the urine which poisons the blood and sets up an inflammation that pervades the entire system. For thirty hours before death Mr. Ruge was so afflicted.

Julius Ruge was born at New Liberty, Iowa, February 8, 1869. He was united to Miss Theresa Garfing in March 1890. After residing at West Liberty one year after marriage they moved to Manning where they resided until nine years ago when they moved to this city where they have made their home since. When the deceased came nine years ago he entered the county clerk's office as deputy for Fred Miller who had just been elected to that office. After serving for years as deputy he was unanimously elected to that office, not having opposition in his own party for the nomination and the republicans recognizing his ability and popularity made no nomination against him. To this office he was re-elected without opposition. During the eight years he filled the office of clerk and deputy he gave excellent satisfaction and will be remembered as one of the most efficient officials the county ever had. In 1908 he was nominated at the primary election to the office of secretary of state on the democratic ticket. While he was not successful he made a good showing and acquitted himself with honor to his party and his friends.

The funeral services were held at the residence Sunday afternoon, Rev. J.W. Everts of the Presbyterian Church, conducting the services. The choir was Mesdames Mitchell and Wagner and G.W. Thomas and J.W. Everts.

The remains were taken to New Liberty that evening where they were laid to rest in the family lot. There were present at the funeral and who also accompanied the remains to their last resting place, besides the wife, three brothers of Mrs. Ruge, John Garfing of Leigh, Nebraska, and William and Henry Garfing of Olivet, South Dakota, and two brother-in-laws, John Borgmann and Herman Lamp, of West Liberty.

The deceased was a man of many excellent traits of character and was always jovial and happy and was a great favorite with the public. No man held the confidence of his fellow men to a greater extent than did he. Strictly honest and scrupulously square in all his transactions, whether in private or public life won for him the esteem and confidence of his neighbors and friends.

He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, in which he carried $1000 insurance and also a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge of this city and had a policy for $2,000 in the K.P. Endowment Life Company and belonged to the Masonic lodge and also was a Royal Arch Mason. The members of the Masonic order had charge of the funeral and escorted the remains to the depot Sunday evening and when they arrived at Cedar Rapids the order assisted the friends in every way possible while in that city.

All of the relatives of the deceased have passed away with the exception of one brother and his whereabouts is unknown. The wife has living besides the relatives who were present at the funeral an aged father who lives at the old home at West Liberty.

The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the widow and the bereaved relatives in this sad hour of their sorrow and deep affliction, for they have suffered and irreparable loss in the death of their husband and friend, who was beloved and honored by his fellow men.
Carroll Sentinel.