Born in Wyandot County in 1848, Ludwig tried several jobs, including County Recorder of Putnam County, before he made his fortune in the oil business in Ohio and West Virginia. He moved his family to Toledo in 1893.

 

After the death of his wife and son in 1899, he commissioned the largest monument in Woodlawn (at the time) and memorialized his wife Samantha with an imposing polished granite shrine, erected in 1900.  It holds a sculpted replica of her favorite chair. The monument is 57 feet tall, built in 13 sections, and weighs 369,000 pounds. Designed by Toledo's Lloyd Brothers, the monument was inspired by the Albert Memorial in London, England. For more on this monument, visit www.holytoledohistory.com.