William Rath

William Rath was born in Hamburg, Germany on January 28, 1849. Rath grew up in Hamburg and attended public schools there for his initial education.[1] His father, Hans, lived his entire life in Germany. His mother, Mary, died at William's home in Ludington, Michigan, after living in America for twenty years.[1][2] Rath emigrated to America at the age of 21. He entered New York City, and then made his way to Michigan, arriving in Ludington on June 21, 1870.[1][3]

Rath served as an apprentice locksmith, but did not complete his apprenticeship. He then assisted his father in the stonemasonry trade as an assistant stonemason laborer shaping stones. He also learned how to put stucco on buildings.[4]

Rath married Lucy Rickhoff, who was also of German descent, on July 17, 1870. This was the culmination of a courtship begun in Germany. They had one child, Jennie. They also had two adopted daughters named Ella and Jessie.[5] They were devout members of the local German Lutheran church, St. John's Lutheran.[4]

Rath's first jobs were as a laborer in Ludington sawmills. Eventually, he was promoted to lumber inspector, gaining him other responsibilities. His success in the lumber industry made him a lumber baron.[6] Rath was a member of the Ludington Board of Trade from its beginning and their president for two years.[3] He regularly reported on the freighter traffic in the harbor.[7][8] He was also a collector of customs for the port for over a decade.[9][10]

Rath became a part of the firm Weimer & Rath in 1880. Around 1890, he suffered a large financial loss after falling victim to a fraudulent copper mining investment scam perpetrated by a man named Goldsborough.[4][11] Later he developed a partnership with Ludington businessman Warren Antoine Cartier. The two formed the lumber business of Rath & Cartier.[1] Rath founded the Ludington State Bank in 1901 with Charles G. Wing.[3][10] Rath and Wing also founded another bank in Mason County called Fountain Bank.[1][10] Rath was also involved with the Manistee Watch Company and the Star Watch Case Company.[1][12]

Rath belonged to the Ludington board of aldermen for ten years.[3] As a member of the county board of supervisors he represented Ludington.[3] He belonged to the Republican Party and was elected as the mayor of Ludington from 1910 to 1911.[5][13] He ran for a second term but was defeated by his Democratic opponent Joseph Zelf by one vote.[14][15] Rath was a leader in raising funds for local and charitable causes. He was involved in many corporations and held stock in concerns throughout the nation.[4]

Rath had extensive real estate in Mason and Manistee counties and owned a cottage on the south beach at Epworth Heights, a Ludington summer resort.[16] He was the first president of the resort's Country Club.[17] Rath also owned commercial property in Chicago. Through these real estate holdings he became a wealthy man.[5]

When memories of the town's founder, James Ludington, faded, Charles Street was renamed Rath Avenue for William Rath.[upper-alpha 1] The William Rath Building, which is in the 100 block south of Ludington Avenue, was presented to the Salvation Army. The building served as the Salvation Army's headquarters from 1936 to 1961.[20] Rath and Antoine E. Cartier bought the Cartier Park land near Lincoln Lake. He bequeathed $25,000 for its improvement and gifted it to the city.[5][10][21]

Rath died from a heart attack on August 10, 1916.[4] His remains are interred at Lakeview Cemetery in Ludington.[22] His estate was the subject of two lawsuits over prior businesses he was involved with.[23][24] Rath is memorialized in a mural showing him drinking from a Fountain of Youth, a stylish trend in the late 1800s.[10] The mural is located at 106 N. Rath Ave; it was painted by Ludington artist Therese Soles.[10]

• William Rath at Find a Grave