HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS, E. Polk Johnson, three volumes, Lewis Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, Vol. III, p. 1224. [Kenton County] FERDINAND J. RUH--Mr. Ruh is one of the successful contractors and representative young business men of his native city of Covington, Kenton county, where he was born on the 14th of November, 1883, and he is a son of Anton and Monica Ruh, of whom more detailed mention is made in a sketch dedicated to the father on other pages of this work. Ferdinand J. Ruh gained his early educational training in the parochial schools of Covington and later was a student in St. Joseph's College, in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, for three years. After leaving school he secured employment in the tile manufactory in Covington, but he was thus engaged only a short time. He then began the study of law, but he soon realized that he had more definite predilection for business pursuits than for the legal profession, and he thus secured a position in the Citizens' National Bank, in which he was employed for several months. At the age of nineteen years he went to Colorado in the capacity of secretary to a railroad promoter, and he remained in the west for a period of eighteen months. Upon his return to Covington he became interested in the organization of the Kenton Supply Company of which he was one of the incorporators and with which he was actively identified for three years, at the expiration of which he disposed of his interests therein and engaged in the cement business. In March, 1910, he incorporated the business as the F. J. Ruh Company, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars, and he has since been president of the company, which shows a large and prosperous business in the contracting line. He is also treasurer of the company and John Exterkamp is secretary. The company does contracting and all kinds of cement work. In 1900 Mr. Ruh also formed a partnership with William C. Kircher, a well-know carpenter and builder, and they have since conducted a prosperous business in the erection of houses, which they have placed upon the market. In politics Mr. Ruh is a staunch adherent of the Democratic party, and he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church, holding membership in the parish of St. Patrick's church. On the 12th of September, 1906, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Ruh to Miss Pettus L. Hiles, who was born and reared in Covington and who is a daughter of William C. and Mary (Sommers) Hiles, the former of whom was born in Bracken county, this state and the latter in Covington, both being representatives of honored pioneer families of this state. The parents of Mrs. Ruh now resides in Covington, and on the other pages of this work appears a sketch of the career of Mr. Hiles. Mr. and Mrs. Ruh became the parents of three children: Ferdinand J., Jr., who died at the age of thirteen months, and Virginia and Willis. Ruh Exterkamp Kircher Sommers Hiles = Bracken-KY Cincinnati-Hamilton-OH CO http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/kenton/ruh.fj.txt