Herman Ruhe was born in Germany in 1870 or 1871. He married Lizzie Stacey, of Omaha, Nebraska, in June 1896, and had three children: Ester Jane, Richard Melvin and Arthur James.

Arriving in Juneau in the early 1900’s, he opened the Juneau Painting and Decorating Co. at 205 Seward Street, next door to the Arthur Ferte Sign Co.. He and Arthur Ferte bacame friends and later, business partners. Ruhe was active in BPO Elks 420 in Juneau and a member of the Masonic Lodge.

According to the Seward Weekly Gateway, Ruhe visited Seward on March 17 and 31, 1906, where he considered relocating his business. On April 2, 1907, however, he was elected to the Juneau City Council, a position that lasted until April 1908. In 1909 he and Ferte moved to Ellensburg, Washington, and formed another partnership, the American Painting Co. Ruhe and Ferte moved back to Juneau in 1912 and stayed until 1914. Ruhe’s family remained in Ellensburg. It is possible that his business was located in Seward at some time during his stay in Alaska. Herman Ruhe died on September 14, 1941, in Ellensburg, Washington.