LUDTKE, Herman 1849-1907

LUDTKE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 8/16/2010 at 21:02:09

Musician Dies Broken In Spirit

Herman Ludtke of Grundy Center Lives a Life of Mystery

Supposed to Represent a Prominent German Family

His naturally proud spirit broken and his humiliation too great to bear, Herman Ludtke, a "man of mystery" has died at the Grundy county poor farm. Six weeks ago he was sent to the county home, having no one to care for him and not being in condition to care for himself. His commitment was a blow to his pride, and he refused to eat only enough to keep him from actually starving.

Though he claimed his age was 58, it is believed that Ludtke was nearly 70.

A Well Known Musician.

Ludtke, who has lived in the county for 30 years and in Grundy Center for 20 years, devoted most of his time to giving lessons in music. He was a finished musician and gave the appearance of having been well born and highly cultured. He is believed to have come from a prominent family in Holstein, Germany. To some of his friends he admitted that he was the black sheep of the family and that his folks sent him away from home. He came to America because he was promised a big salary to play with a band in New York. He failed to get this job, however, and came west.

May Have Hidden Money.

Ludtke would never tell very much about his past life, but he hinted to those who were close to him that he had considerable money stored away. When he died a committee went through the belongings of his house, but found nothing of value. He received a money order for $600 from his home in the old country about two years ago. If this money was not spent, no one knows where it is. Possibly he has wealth buried somewhere in the county.
-- Waterloo Daily Courier (Waterloo, Iowa), 23 August 1907