This starts with JOHN MICHAEL RUETH born in 1837. .Both he and his parents were born in Bavaria, Germany He married two times. I was told that both times was to one of the WEIGAND sisters. He fathered 5 children by his first wife who died shortly after the last birth. The first wife gave birth to *John M in 1867--Mary, 1869--Frank, 1871--Lena, 1874, George 1876. They were all born in the US. His second wife, Monica Weigand (also born in Bavaria, Germany) gave birth to my grandfather, Joseph Frank Rueth Sr, who was born 4/16/1879, to Monica when she was 22 years old.(She was born in 1857) She (Monica ) raised all 6 children as her own. Only one of the five children by the fir The two girls were catholic and very religious. I believe they both moved to a type of nun quarters at the church compound in Portland,Oregon.

About Bavaria, Germany:
. Bavaria is Germany's southernmost state. It is Germany's largest and oldest state. Its perception of itself and its sovereignty have evolved from a history spanning over one thousand years. This heritage is still alive today. It has always been a crossroads of trading routes to the Mediterranean and Southeast Europe. Since the Alps had never formed an impassable barrier, Bavaria was open from an early time to the influences of Mediterranean culture. They were entrenched in the Bavarian way of life, in the principle 'Live and let live' .
The name Rueth in Germany was known as Rüth. Note the double dots over the u.

*John M Rueth born in 1867 married a 24 yr old named Rosina born around 1876. I have not found out if they had any children. They lived in DC area at the time