Ruegger, John G.

Born: 1821-11-28 Switzerland

Died: 1869-12-11 Highland, Illinois

Alternate name: Reugger

Born near Lucerne, Switzerland, John George Ruegger was known throughout his lifetime as George Ruegger. He was a distillery owner, soap manufacturer, hotelier, postmaster, and county sheriff. He immigrated to the United States in 1840, settled in Highland, Illinois, and eventually became a naturalized citizen. From 1844 to 1849, he co-owned a distillery in Highland with partners Jacob Eggen, Ludwig Gruetli, and Henry Hermann. He married Josephine Durer on October 30, 1848. They eventually had at least five children together. In 1850, he was working in Highland as a soap maker and owned $200 in real property. In 1856, he purchased a local hotel known as the Switzerland House. Later that year, on November 24, 1856, President Franklin Pierce appointed Ruegger postmaster for Highland. Ruegger conducted postal business out of the Switzerland House. He appears to have lost his position as postmaster for a time in 1857, but returned to it on December 15, 1857, then served until May 8, 1861. As of 1860, he owned $6,500 in real estate and another $500 in personal property. He served as sheriff for Madison County from 1864 to 1866.

Walter B. Stevens, Centennial History of Missouri: One Hundred Years in the Union, 1820-1921 (St. Louis: S. J. Clarke, 1921), 5:503; History of Madison County, Illinois (Edwardsville, IL: W. R. Brink, 1882), 111, 113, 430; Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, Madison County, 30 October 1848, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Highland, Madison County, IL, 592; Amos P. Spencer, Centennial History of Highland, Illinois: 1837-1937 (Highland, IL: Highland Centennial Association, [1937]), 232; Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971, NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls, Records of the Post Office Department, RG 28, 1855-1865, 20a, National Archives Building, Washington, DC.; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1857 (Washington, DC: A. O. P. Nicholson, 1857), *335; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1861 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1862), 364*; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Highland, Madison County, IL, 97; Gravestone, Highland Cemetery, Highland, IL.