The son of Anton and Monica Ruh. He was born in Covington on December 19, 1878. Like his father, Joseph pursued a career in the brewery business. Joseph Ruh was also the brew master at Bavarian Brewery in Covington. In 1919, with the passage of the Prohibition Act, Joseph Ruh was placed in charged of Bavarian’s ice operations. Joseph and Ferdinand Ruh purchased the Bavarian icehouse in 1925, which they renamed the Kenton Ice Company.
Joseph A. Ruh was also involved in suburban development activities. He was a partner in the Ruh Development Company which was incorporated in 1930. Other incorporators included: J. Ruh of South Fort Mitchell, John B. Brinker of Covington and Alvin Rabe of Covington. The company was responsible for the development of the Lucerne Subdivision and several other subdivisions in the City of South Fort Mitchell. Several Covington breweries re-opened following the repeal of Prohibition. In 1934, the Heidelberg Brewery began brewing beer. Joseph Ruh was hired as the brew master and vice president in charge of production. In 1939, he received the prestigious grand prize at the International Brewing Exposition in Paris, France.
Ruh retired from Heidelberg Brewery in January 1946. In early May 1946, Ruh and his wife purchased a farm on the Amsterdam Pike. It was on this property that he collapsed and died on May 12, 1946. His wife, Katherine Bruemmer Ruh survived him. He was also survived by three children: Carl Ruh, Anthony F. Ruh and Mrs. Thomas F. Bahr. Mass of Christian Burial was held from St. Patrick’s Church, Covington with burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. One of the couple’s children, Carl Ruh, later held the office of Kentucky State Representative and Sheriff of Kenton County.
Kentucky Post, September 8, 1929, p. 10, September 3, 1930, p. 3, May 12, 1946, p. 1and August 16, 1999, p. 4k; Commonwealth of Kentucky Death Certificate 1946.
