Five years before Nevada became a state, 18-year-old Jake Rodenbah settled in Carson Valley. A German immigrant who came West with the hope of striking it rich, he was one of the first to discover gold in the Pine Nut Mountains.
Jake was credited with establishing one of the largest silver mining operations in Douglas County and providing charcoal to the Carson City Mint as well as the mines in Virginia City, Bodie and Aurora. In the 1860s, there was a lot of traffic traveling through his property carrying supplies from Virginia City and Carson City to other mining camps south, so he constructed a way station for travelers to stop and refresh before making the steep climb over hill named after him. His was one of the last stations built, but according to Nyle Nation in "The Pine Nut Chronicle," it was one of the most popular. Jake's Place was an important stop where horses could rest and drink water before continuing to Carter's Station, the next stop along the Bryon Toll Road, the precursor to Highway 395.
When mining interests declined in the 1890s, Jake began developing his 800-acre ranch into a successful sheep operation and grew alfalfa to feed the stock. He built a power dam at the bend in the Carson River to irrigate the fields. After Jake's death at age 71 in 1913, his wife, Delilah, continued to operate the way station before selling the ranch in 1916 to another German immigrant, Ludwig Ruhenstroth, for a reported $20,000.
Louis, as Ludwig was known, arrived in Carson Valley in the late 19th century, and after marrying Ida Bassman in 1900, settled on a ranch near Centerville Lane, where they raised sheep and started a family. Daughters Luwine, Viola, Eva Grace, Rubel and Jennie, and sons Henry, Louis Roy and Warren were born in the white ranch house that still stands. With the purchase of the Rodenbah property, they now had two ranches - one that stretched from the base of the Sierra Nevada to what is now Highway 88 and the other from the base of the Pine Nut Mountains across what is today Highway 395 to the Carson River. The family split their time between the two properties, trying to run the way station at Jake's Hill as well as tend to several thousand sheep and alfalfa fields. Unfortunately, it proved too much, and the way station closed in March 1917.
Just two months later, daughter Lois was born in one of the outbuildings on the property at 1909 Wiseman Lane. Later that year they began construction of a two-story red brick home at a reported cost of $7,000. Eva Grace and Warren died before the age of 2. Louis never married and worked the ranch until his death in 1948 in a motorcycle accident on Centerville Lane. The tragedy deeply affected the family, as their then-youngest son was only 29. The oldest son, Henry, took over the ranching operations on the Ruhenstroth ranch, switching the focus from sheep, cows and alfalfa to only alfalfa. Henry was a pilot during World War II and known in the Valley to be a good refrigerator repairman. "He never had any formal training, but the stores would call him when their refrigerators broke down. The wheels of industry were always working in his head," longtime Carson Valley resident Bill Schwake recalled.
The original route for Bryon Toll Road, now Highway 395, ran directly in front of the Ruhenstroth house. There was a bridge over the irrigation ditch where water from the Carson River, courtesy of the power dam built by Jake Rodenbah, flowed to the alfalfa fields. Two barns near the home were used for hay, wagons and the teams of horses used on the ranches as well as for lambing sheds. The outbuilding that Lois was born in became a bunkhouse for the many ranch hands that worked the property. The carriage house behind the brick home was converted into a guesthouse.
"Viola, Jennie and Lois often told of days spent preparing lunch and dinner for the ranch hands. There was a bell in each of the homes that were used to call the workers to the table," says Viola's granddaughter, Shannon Tadlock.
"My grandmother often told of always having a dessert with each lunch and dinner, so there was always a couple of cakes or pies in the oven. When the ranches were sold, the bells were removed and brought along with the families. The bell from the ranch on Highway 88 went to our home on Douglas Avenue and the bell from the home on Wiseman Lane went to Jennie and Lois in Carson City."
All of the Ruhenstroth children worked both ranches and contributed to the success of the family business. However, as they married and moved away to pursue their own lives, there were fewer of them to continue the ranching business. Henry, Jennie and Lois lived in the red brick home while Viola (who married Fred McMasters) lived in the white ranch house on Highway 88. "Ranching is a good and honest business, but it is very hard work," Shannon said. "My grandmother often spoke of driving the hay wagon and working right alongside the men to get the crops in. Even after a hard day's work, she still had to get the meals prepared for the ranch hands as well as the family.
"I remember as a small child playing alongside my grandma as she worked in the garden at the house on Highway 88. Henry, Jennie and Lois also had a large garden at the big brick house. I also remember my granddad taking me for a ride on his motorcycle to visit with friends and neighbors down the road - the Julian Larrouy family, the Storkes where we got our fresh milk from their dairy once a week, Bill and Janet Schwake as well as Anna Cordes," Shannon said.
"I remember once spending the night with Henry, Jennie and Lois in the big brick house. I slept upstairs with Jennie and Lois, and Henry scared me by telling me there was a bear outside. I never knew whether it was true or not, as Henry was a bit of a tease,"
Louis Ruhensroth died in the home on Wiseman Lane in December 1935 at the age of 78. During the 1950s Ida lived in the Bassman family home in Minden where her father had also lived. A few months before her death in 1959, Ida returned to the Wiseman Lane house to be cared for by her daughters Jennie and Lois. Eldest daughter Luwine married Henry Bassman and settled in Petaluma, Calif. where they had a chicken ranch.
Viola and John moved into the Ruhenstroth ranch on Highway 88, working the family ranch. They had two sons, Larry and Arthur. Larry's children, Shannon Tadlock and Bryan McMasters, were also raised on the ranch until the property was sold and they moved to Douglas Avenue. Rubel married Alfred Nibe and moved to Cotati, Calif.
In 1964, the ranches were sold. Henry, Jennie and Lois moved to Carson City, while Fred and Viola moved to Gardnerville. Henry, Jennie and Lois made weekly visits to Fred, Viola, Shannon and Bryan.
"Jennie and Lois always made a dessert and special sandwiches or salads," Shannon said. "I remember coming home for lunch and wondering what treats they had brought. Even after Henry passed away in 1985, they continued to make the weekly visits, occasionally visiting their cousins, Billy and Alvin Stodieck."
Jennie is 93 and Lois is 90, the only surviving members of the original Ruhenstroth family. There are a few cousins still in Germany, who made contact with them a few years ago. The Ruhenstroth Family Trust donated the property on Pinto Lane where the Ruhenstroth volunteer fire department is located.
Milton Manoukian, the attorney for Henry, Jennie and Lois, has many fond memories of his relationship with the family. "They were very thrifty, ultra conservative and honest as the day is long. I'd have gone broke if all my clients were like the Ruhenstroths," he said. "If they trusted you, that's what made the deal. On the rare occasion that I billed them, Henry would walk the check down to my office the very next day. They attended a family business meeting with their sister Viola in Gardnerville each week, and you could see him driving them through Carson City and Carson Valley. Jennie and Lois would ride in the back seat with their bonnets on, just like you might have seen in Germany many years before."
Jennie and Lois are private people. They spend time reading the Bible, watching "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune," and they enjoy baking and visiting with relatives and friends.
And they always have a home-baked treat to share with visitors.
