----Source: NEILLSVILLE PRESS (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 11/01/1923

Rude, John H. (26 SEP 1842 - 27 OCT 1923)

John H. Rude, one of the oldest residents of this city (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.), died at his home here in early hours of Saturday morning, Oct. 27, 1923. His death was due to old age and to the effects of injuries received some years ago.

John Rude was born at Tellamarken, Norway, Sept. 26, 1842, and was the son of Oliver and Cornelia Thompson Rude. They came to America in 1861, and settled on a farm at Mt. Prairie, Minn. The year following, Jan. 2, 1862, John, who was still under 20 years of age, enlisted in Company B of the Nineteenth Wis. Infantry. After a month spent at La Crosse recruiting the company, they went to Racine and were mustered in. He had a varied war experience, spending six months at Madison guarding Southern prisoners, later as guard at Portsmouth, Va. In the fall of 1862 and 1863 he saw much active service, being in battles at Drury's Bluff, Fair Oaks, and in the actions in front of Petersburg, the defense of Richmond. He was sick for a time in the hospital, and after the fall of Richmond, was sent there for a time, then to Washington, where he was mustered out. He returned then to the farm in Houston, Minn. There he worked in a store for three years, then in lumber camps during several winters, working in the log drive on the Mississippi River in spring. He worked for a time on a farm in Iowa. In 1873 he came to Neillsville and found employment as a carpenter and painter. In 1874 he was married to Martha Strand. They built a home in Neillsville, which was afterwards burned. He then built the house that was his home until his death. In 1909 he went to North Dakota and for a time was employed at painting and repairing stations on the Great Northern Line. At Minot he was struck by a passenger train and so seriously crushed that he never fully recovered from his injuries.

He joined the Freemasons at Osage, Iowa, and on Feb. 5, 1874 demitted from the lodge there and joined the lodge in Neillsville, which for well nigh a half century he has been a most faithful member. He was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star. During the years that the G. A. R. was active in Neillsville he was one of the most earnest members.

To Mr. and Mrs. Rude were born six children: Georgia, who died about six years ago; Oscar, who was a soldier in the Spanish-American War and is deceased; Josephine, Mrs. Peter Johnson of Neillsville; John, who is engaged as a traveling salesman, but makes his headquarters here; George, who home is now in Chicago, and Mary Rude, present County Treasurer of Clark County, and who with her brothers and sister has taken the kindliest care of the aged father in his declining years.

Mrs. Rude preceded her husband in death, dying in 1904.

The funeral of Mr. Rude was held at the home Monday afternoon, Rev. Longenecker officiating, the Eastern Start ceremony also being used at the home and the Masonic ceremony at the cemetery.