Peter Reuther
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Manitowoc 1st district
In office
January 1, 1872 – January 6, 1873
Preceded bySvend Samuelson
Succeeded byCharles Rudolph Zorn
Personal details
Born(1836-02-08)February 8, 1836
Laubach, Grand Duchy of Hesse
DiedAugust 6, 1905(1905-08-06) (aged 69)
Brillion, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeBrillion Township Cemetery, Brillion, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAugusta Rossberg
Children
  • Louis Reuther
  • (b. 1861; died 1922)
  • George C. Reuther
  • (b. 1864; died 1928)
  • Henrietta A. (Schlichting)
  • (b. 1867; died 1942)
  • Louise R. (Andrews)
  • (b. 1869; died 1966)
  • Otto Frederick Reuther
  • (b. 1871; died 1944)
  • Sara Reuther
  • (b. 1875; died 1957)
  • Emil J. Reuther
  • (b. 1879; died 1955)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Volunteers
Union Army
Years of service1864–1865
Rank1st Sergeant, USV
Unit45th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Peter Reuther (February 8, 1836 – August 6, 1905) was a German American immigrant, carpenter, and Republican politician. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing southern Manitowoc County during the 1872 session.

Biography

Reuther was born on February 8, 1836, in Laubach, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse (now central Germany).[1] He emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1854, settling first in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.[2] At Sheboygan, Reuther went to work as a carpenter and soon moved to the town of Centerville, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, where he was a contractor.[3] He also became involved in local politics in Centerville, and was elected to seven terms as town clerk.[2]

During the fourth year of the American Civil War, Reuther was drafted into the Union Army and was enrolled in Company B of the 45th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.[4] Reuther was promoted to first sergeant shortly after the regiment mustered into federal service.[2] The 45th Wisconsin Infantry was sent to Nashville, Tennessee, and remained there on guard duty until the end of the war.[5]

Reuther returned from the war and became involved with the Republican Party of Wisconsin. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1871, running on the Republican Party ticket. During the 1872 session, he represented Manitowoc County's first Assembly district, which then comprised roughly the southern half of the county.[1] He ran for re-election in 1872, but was defeated by Democrat Charles Rudolph Zorn.[6] He was twice a candidate for sheriff, but was not elected.[3]

Later in life he moved to Brillion, Wisconsin, in Calumet County, where he worked as a liquor wholesaler and retailer. He was also elected commander of Grand Army of the Republic post 222.[2]

He died at his home in Brillion on August 6, 1905.[3]

Personal life and family

Peter Reuther was the fourth of five children born to George Reuther and his wife Anna Margaretha (née Mickel). Reuther's parents and all five children emigrated to the United States. His younger brother, Jacob, served in the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment in the Civil War.[2]

Peter Reuther married Augusta Rossberg, another German immigrant, on October 28, 1861. They had seven children.[2] His second son, George, later served as register of deeds for Manitowoc County.[3]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1871, 1872)

Wisconsin Assembly, Manitowoc 1st District Election, 1871[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 7, 1871
Republican Peter Reuther 669 64.58% -3.42%
Democratic Oliver Schunk 367 35.42%
Plurality 302 29.15% -6.83%
Total votes 1,036 100.0% -22.34%
Republican hold
Wisconsin Assembly, Manitowoc 1st District Election, 1872[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 5, 1872
Democratic Charles Rudolph Zorn 738 50.34%
Republican Peter Reuther (incumbent) 728 49.66% -14.92%
Plurality 10 0.68% -28.47%
Total votes 1,466 100.0% +41.51%
Democratic gain from Republican

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Official Directory". The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1872. p. 450. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Brown, H. O.; Brown, M. A. W., eds. (1888). Soldiers' and Citizens' Album of Biographical Record of Wisconsin. Grand Army Publishing Company. p. 221. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Died - Peter Reuther". The Manitowoc Pilot. August 17, 1905. Retrieved August 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Forty-Fifth Regiment Infantry". Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861–1865 (Report). Vol. 2. Office of the Adjutant General of Wisconsin. 1886. p. 770. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  5. ↑ Quiner, Edwin B. (1866). "Regimental History–Forty-Second to Fifty-Third Infantry". The Military History of Wisconsin. Clarke & Co. p. 862. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Official Directory". The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1873. p. 447. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
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