WSP04798

• File Number: 8141
• Description: Fryingpan-Arkansas Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1964
• Author: R W Danielson
• Title: Ruedi - a biography of John Ruedi
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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l~ip~ened to mention it to Mr. Ruedi, the latter looked for his

money box in its hiding place in his bedroom and found it gone.

He cautioned Hough to say nothing to the boy. Later he tactfully

and in a kind way made more effort to get his small guest to talk.

Slowly he learned from the lad that his father had been killed

in a Leadville mine accident; that his mother was doing washing

for the miners and the boy picked up the laundry and delivered it.

He said he wanted to go farther into the mountains and find a gold

mine for himself so that his mother would not have to do washing

any more. Finally he also told his name.

Mr. Ruedi wrote to the mother in Leadville. By return

mail the lonely boy received a letter saying how worried and

sleepless his mother had been over him. She needed his help and

could scarcely get along without him. She sent his train fare,

and wrote that she and his little sister would meet the next

day's train from the west. John Ruedi, busy all day at his fish

ponds, found his young guest happy and gay that evenin. No mention

was made of the lost money box, but later, when he went to his room

Mr. Ruedi found it, with the contacts intact, in its hole under-

neath his bed.

The Basalt Journal of September 29, 1906, says: "John

Ruedi sold his ranch to Mr. Loren Brown". John then moved to

Baggs, Wyoming where he continued ranching where he died of an

apparent heart attack a year or more later. The present owners of

the Ruedi homestead are Mr. and Mrs. William Framrn.

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