Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

RAUBENHOLD, WALTER M.

p.
891

Surnames: RAUBENHOLD, MENGEL, KETNER, SUNDAY, DREIBELBIS, STOYER,
LUCKENBILL, SMITH, MERKEL, SCHAEFFER, MILLER

Walter M. Raubenhold, a foremost citizen of Hamburg, who for over
twenty years has been engaged in the hardware business at that
place, was born May 3, 1850, in Greenwich township, Berks county,
on his grandfather’s plantation, son of William Raubenhold.

Adam Raubenhold, great-grandfather of Walter M.
Raubenhold, was of Brunswick township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where
he was engaged in farming. He was the father of three sons and two
daughters, namely: (1) Peter; (2) William, who had two sons, Adam
and George; (3) Jonathan (Jonas), who had three children, Hiram,
William and a daughter; (4) Mrs. George Mengel; and (5) Mrs.
Ketner.

Peter Raubenhold, son of Adam and grandfather of
Walter M., was born Aug. 19, 1801, and died Oct. 16, 1883. He
married Maria Sunday, born Dec. 23, 1804, died July 12, 1893, in
the eighty-ninth year of her age, and to them were born five
children, as follows: Joseph, who married Elizabeth Dreibelbis, and
had two sons, Peter and George; Catherine, who married Benneville
Stoyer; George, who married a Miss Luckenbill, and had three sons,
Alfred, Albert and William; Polly, who became the wife of Daniel
Smith; and William.

William Raubenhold, son of Peter, was of Windsor
township, born there in 1835. He was reared to agricultural
pursuits, which he followed until his decease in 1871. He married
Hannah Merkel, born Oct. 9, 1839, daughter of John and Esther
Merkel; she died April 16, 1878, aged thirty-eight years, six
months, seven days. To this union were born three children: Walter
M.; Thomas, who married Mary Schaeffer; and Mary, who died young.

Walter M. Raubenhold was educated in the public
schools of Windsor township and at Hamburg, to which place his
mother had removed on the death of the father, in 1871. When
sixteen years of age he entered the store of James L. Merkel, as a
clerk, and there continued until 1884, attending school at
Collegeville in the meantime, for the purpose of acquiring a
business education. Then he opened a general hardware store for
himself at Hamburg, and has continued in the same business in the
same building up to the present time, a period of more than
twenty-four years.

Mr. Raubenhold, having become thoroughly
interested in the cause of education, was elected a school director
from the south ward for four consecutive terms, covering a period
of twelve years, serving as secretary and treasurer for six years,
and while on the board he was one of the building committee which
superintended the erection of the handsome and commodious public
school building on North Third street, in 1893. He was an active
and prominent member of St. John’s Lutheran Church when the
congregation determined to rebuild immediately the edifice which
had been destroyed by fire on April 4th, 1898, and he was selected
as one of the building committee. The beautiful edifice whose
erection this committee superintended reflects in a high degree
their taste, ability and enterprise. When the citizens of Hamburg
were making arrangements for the erection of a public library, in
1903, Mr. Raubenhold, on account of his experience, was placed on
the building committee, and the superior and attractive structure
which the committee erected is a credit to every citizen of Hamburg
borough, as well as to the committee itself. Mr. Raubenhold, upon
the expiration of his term, was re-elected to office, becoming
treasurer of the public library. He again showed his ability when
the subject of supplying Hamburg with water arose as a public
question. He took an active part in its discussion, and on the
organization of the company was elected a director, a position he
has held to the present time, having also acted as treasurer of the
company for eight years.

In 1880 Mr. Raubenhold was married to Catherine
Miller, daughter of David G. Miller, of Hamburg, and two sons have
been born to this union, Franklin and William.

RAUCH, DAVID
B.

p. 1344

Surnames: RAUCH, ZIMMERMAN, LIESER, SAUL, HERTZOG, MOYER, BOSSERT,
LANDIS, BAUS, BENFIELD, MOLL, REPP, BITTENBENDER, FRONHEISER,
GERHART, DERR, KECK

David B. Rauch, farmer near Huff’s Church, in Hereford township,
was born on the old homestead there Dec. 23, 1842, son of John
Rauch and grandson of David Rauch.

David Rauch, born Nov. 27, 1769, in eastern
Berks county, died Dec. 11, 1843, aged seventy-four years, fourteen
days. He was a farmer, and lived in Hereford township, owning the
farm near Huff’s church which is now the property of his grandson,
David B. Rauch, and which consists of 150 acres of fertile land,
improved with good buildings. He built the stone house there in
1830. The old part of the barn was built in 1803 and the other part
in 1823. There is an old burial ground on this tract, covering a
half acre of ground, and about one hundred people are interred
there. As late as 1879 one Elizabeth Zimmerman, unmarried, was
buried there. This was the principal burial ground of the settlers
in the vicinity before the establishment of the one at Huff’s
church. In 1901 Mr. David B. Rauch sold three acres of land, to the
Huff’s Church congregation for cemetery purposes, and on this plot
are now buried a number of people to whose memory have been erected
creditable monuments. David Rauch, the grandfather, and his wife
are buried at Huff’s Church. She was Barbara Lieser, born Feb. 16,
1770, died March 22, 1838, aged sixty-eight years, one month, six
days. They had children as follows: Elizabeth; David, who lived in
Springville, Bucks Co., Pa. (he had a daughter); Barbara, married
to Jonas Saul; Magdalena; Maria, married to Philip Hertzog;
Catharine, married to Abraham Moyer; Rachel, married to John
Hertzog; Henry L. (1813-1850), a watchmaker, who lived in
Washington township, Berks county (his children were Maria, Sarah
and Jefferson); John, mentioned below; and Samuel (1796-1853), of
Hereford, who never married.

John Rauch, son of David, born in Hereford
township, near Huff’s Church, Nov. 9, 1815, died there on his farm
Nov. 10, 1875, aged sixty years, one day. He was a farmer, owning
and working the place which now belongs to his son David B., and
which has been in the possession of this family since 1804, having
formerly belonged to David Rauch. He was a member and deacon of the
Reformed congregation of Huff’s Church. John Rauch married Maria
Bossert, born in 1819, daughter of Adam Bossert; she died March 4,
1880. Mr. and Mrs. John Rauch had children as follows: Maria
(married Martin Landis), David B., Sallie Ann (married John D.
Baus), Caroline (married Horatio Hertzog), Charles B., John B.,
Emmalinda (deceased wife of William Benfield) and Annie (who died
when young).

David B. Rauch commenced his education in an old
pay school, which he attended one winter, and after their
establishment he went to the free schools. He was reared upon the
farm, working for his parents until he was twenty-two years old,
after which he learned the carpenter’s trade. He followed that
calling fourteen years, after which he farmed the homestead for
eighteen years. In the spring of 1894 he purchased the Samuel Baus
farm, in the upper part of Dale, a tract of twenty-seven acres, on
which are a nice set of buildings. Mr. Rauch built the present
house on the place in 1894, and he made an addition to the barn the
following year. The place is an ideal home in more ways than one.
Besides this place, where he still makes his home, Mr. Rauch owns
the old homestead of 150 acres, and he is regarded as a substantial
resident of Hereford township, where he is well known, having
served two terms as auditor and two years as tax collector. Mr.
Rauch is a Democrat in politics.

In the year 1868 Mr. Rauch married Eliza Ann
Moll, daughter of Christophel and Susanna (Repp) Moll, of Hereford
township, farming people, who had a family of nine children,
namely: Horatio, Sarah, Elizabeth, Susanna, Eliza Ann, William,
Daniel, Caroline and Emeline. John and Elizabeth (Bittenbender)
Moll, grandparents of Mrs. Rauch, lived in Siesholtzville. Their
children were: George, Jacob, John, Christophel, Susan, Peggy,
Betzy, Polly, Catharine and Nancy.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Rauch: James M. is mentioned below; Mary married Epheniah
Fronheiser, a farmer of Hereford, and they have children – John,
William, Mamie, Eliza Ann, Katie and James; John, third child of
Mr. and Mrs. Rauch, died in infancy; Allen, a farmer living near
Siesholtzville, married Eve Gerhart, and they have two children,
John and Jennie; Annie married Frank Derr, of District township,
and they have had three children, Claude, Harvey and Stella.

James M. Rauch, son of David B. Rauch, was born
Nov. 17, 1868, and was reared upon the home farm. From early youth
he showed a fondness for books, was studious at school, and when
eighteen years old was licensed to teach public school, receiving
his certificate from Prof. D. S. Keck. His first experience was
gained at the Rhode school-house in Greenwich township, where he
taught one term; then for a term he was engaged in Hereford
township. He then took a competitive examination, and was appointed
Sept. 9, 1893, under civil service rules, to a clerkship in the
treasury department, where he has ever since been employed. Since
July, 1906, Mr. Rauch has also been engaged in dealing in coal, in
which line he has met with success, giving employment to five men.
He deals in wood, coal, coke and ice.

Mr. Rauch married Mary Moll, daughter of Reuben
and Katie (Baus) Moll, and they have had three children, Amy,
Arthur R. (who died when seven months old) and Stella.

RAUCH, FRANK
I.

p. 538

Surnames: RAUCH, ULRICH, HOUDER

Frank I. Rauch, who holds the responsible position of assistant
superintendent of the Reading Eagle Publishing Company, was born in
Heidelberg township, Berks county, Sept. 1, 1854, son of William
and Matilda (Ulrich) Rauch. When he was about five years old the
family moved to Stouchsburg, Marion township, this county. His
earlier education was acquired in the public schools of that
township and later he was sent for some time to the Stouchsburg
Academy. On starting to make his own way in the world he began with
farm work, spending four years in that occupation; he then secured
employment in a store in North Heidelberg, where he clerked for one
year and following that was similarly engaged at Stouchsburg, for a
year and a half. In 1874 he removed to Reading and became
associated with the Reading Eagle Publishing Company, in the
capacity of subscription clerk. Since then he has steadily risen,
becoming, several years after he entered as clerk, bookkeeper for
the concern and for the last ten years having held the position of
assistant superintendent. Mr. Rauch possesses admirable
qualifications for his work and well deserves the confidence which
the company reposes in him.

On Dec. 27, 1881, Mr. Rauch was united in
marriage to Miss Martha Houder, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth
Houder, of Reading both of whom are deceased. Daniel Houder was for
years in the service of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad
Company. Mr. Rauch belongs to St. Paul’s Memorial Reformed Church,
and was secretary of the consistory for three years. Fraternally he
has been quite active and belongs to the Masons, the Elks and the
Press Club of Reading. In the former order he is a member of
Reading Lodge, No. 549, is a past master, and for eleven years
served as secretary. He is also a past officer in the Elks.

RAUCH, JOHN W.

p. 517

Surnames: ULRICH, LANDIS, VOORHEES, STUPP, ZARTMAN, ANDERSON,
GRAEFF

John W. Rauch, secretary, treasurer and general manager of the
Reading Eagle Company, is descended from old established families
of Pennsylvania. The UIrichs, his ancestors on the maternal side,
were among the early farmers of Heidelberg township, Berks county,
while the Rauch family belonged originally in Dauphin county.

William Rauch, father of John W., was born in
Hanover township, Dauphin county. Though his father spent his early
life farming, he learned the carpenter’s trade and came to Berks
county as a journeyman. William became a contracting carpenter, and
followed that trade till his death in 1872 at the comparatively
early age of fifty-four years He married Matilda, daughter of
George Ulrich, a well-known farmer of Berks county, and to their
union eight children were born, namely: one who died in infancy;
Henry, who died aged six; Sarah, Mrs. Jacob Stupp, of North
Heidelberg, who died when forty-two years old; Mary E., deceased
wife of J. M. Landis, private secretary of Vice-President Voorhees,
of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad; George U., a farmer in
Jackson township, Lebanon county; Rebecca, wife of William Zartman,
also a farmer in Jackson township; Frank I., assistant
superintendent of the Eagle Company; and John W.

John W. Rauch was born in Heidelberg Nov. 8,
1848, and he attended the public schools of that district. His
opportunities for an education were limited, however, for when he
was twelve and a half years old he was taken from school and put to
work on a farm. He continued at this connection till he was
eighteen, and then went as clerk in country stores, remaining two
years and six months in the first place, six months in two other
stores, and then returning to his first store position he remained
there three years more. In 1872 he moved to Reading where he was at
first engaged again in a dry goods store, but after five months he
secured a position with the Reading Eagle Company, and has ever
since been connected with that, rising steadily. When he began Feb.
24, 1873, he was subscription clerk; the following year he was made
bookkeeper; Dec. 6,1881, was promoted to the position of
superintendent; and Feb. 1, 1904, had the added responsibilities of
the office of secretary and treasurer laid upon him. There are 117
people on the pay-roll of the Eagle Company, and all of these
employes as well as the general interests of the company are under
Mr. Rauch’s personal supervision The phenomenal growth of the Eagle
in popularity and the extent of its circulation and patronage give
unimpeachable evidence of Mr. Rauch’s entire fitness for the
position he fills.

On Oct. 3, 1868. Mr. Rauch was united in
matrimony to Miss Maria E. Anderson, and three children have been
born to this union: Harry, a linotype operator on the Eagle;
William B., head of the mechanical part of the Eagle advertising
department; and Lillie May, wife of Peter B. Graeff, a stenographer
at Washington D. C. Mr. Rauch was formerly a member of St. Paul’s
Reformed Church, and belonged to the Consistory of that body, but
his name is now on the rolls of the First Reformed Church. He is a
man of wide and varied interests as is shown by the character of
the many organizations with which he is connected. These include
Teutonia Lodge, F. & A.M.; Harrisburg Consistory; Rajah Temple,
Mystic Shrine, Reading; Reading Lodge, B. P. 0. E.; Fraternal Order
of Eagles; Royal Arcanum; Loyal Addition to the Royal Arcanum
Wyomissing Club; Elks’ Home Company; Eagles’ Mountain Home Company;
Americus Club; Commercial Club; Maennerchor; Liederkranz;
Turnverein; and the Board of Trade. In the wide circle of
acquaintance resulting from this diversity of association Mr. Rauch
has numerous warm friends and is held in high esteem by all. He has
the respect of all the employes of the Reading Eagle Company for
the executive ability and the energetic yet courteous manner in
which he manages that establishment. In February, 1898. on the
twenty-fifth anniversary of his service at the Eagle office, he was
surprised by the employes, who tendered him a banquet at the
“Mansion House,” when toasts were drunk to his health. In the
speeches many complimentary remarks were made respecting him. Some
sixty persons, including representatives of other Reading
newspapers participated. It was marked by a cordiality which spoke
volumes of the harmony and good feeling prevailing in the Eagle
office and toward all its neighbors. Mr. Rauch was escorted by a
committee to the “Mansion House” and introduced to the company
while they were seated around the banqueting board.

RAUCH, WELLINGTON H.

p.
1328

Surnames: RAUCH, LIESER, HOFFMAN, GREISS, LIESER, LEESER,
SCHAEFFER, SEAMAN, RICHARD, FREY, BAUS, WALKER, HERBER, LANDICH,
STANGIER, CARL, ROHRBACH

Wellington H. Rauch, farmer in Green Valley, Hereford township,
Berks county, was born Dec. 3, 1852, at Gilbertsville, Montgomery
county, Pa., son of Thomas L. Rauch.

(I) Henry Rauch, the first known ancestor of this Rauch family,
lived in the eastern end of Berks county, being a farmer in
Hereford township. His will, which is on file in the Berks county
courthouse, recorded in Will Book B, page 107, was made Sept. 15,
1783, and was probated April 6th following, so it is presumed he
died in the spring of 1784. George Rauch and George Lahr were the
executors of the will of Henry Rauch, who mentions his “plantation”
in that document. He and his wife, Magdalena, had six sons and five
daughters: George, Philip, Henry, Jacob, David, John, Elizabeth,
Mary, Barbara, Margaret and Magdalena.

(II) Jacob Rauch, son of Henry, settled in Manheim township, in
Schuylkill county, Pa., and from him descend the Rauchs who live in
the coal regions. He died in May, 1811, being survived by his wife
“Gertraut,” and the following children are mentioned in his will,
which is recorded in Book A, page 591, in the Berks county
court-house: Jonathan, Jacob, Solomon, Daniel and Christina. He
provided that his children, as they became of age, should learn
trades.

(II) Henry Rauch, son of Henry, in 1799 lived in Hereford township,
Berks county, where he was the head of a family.

(II) David Rauch, son of Henry, born Nov. 27, 1769, died Dec. 11,
1843, aged seventy-four years, fourteen days. His last will and
testament, made Nov. 6, 1840, is on record in Will Book B, page
107, at the Berks county court-house, and his sons, Henry and John,
were the executors. He married Barbara Lieser (1770-1838), and both
are buried at Huff’s Church. Their children were: Elizabeth, David,
Samuel (1796-1853), Barbara, Magdalena, Maria, Catharine, Rachel,
Henry (1813-1850), and John (1815-1875).

(II) John Rauch, son of Henry, lived near Perryville (now Harlem),
in Hereford township, where he owned and worked a small farm. He
was a weaver by trade, and made all kinds of homespun in addition
to following farming. He is buried above Nazareth, at Bushkill, in
eastern Pennsylvania. By his wife, Hannah (Hoffman), daughter of
Michael, he had three sons, Henry (who lived at Nazareth, Pa.),
Michael (who lived above Nazareth) and John, and several daughters,
one of whom was married to Peter Greiss.

(III) John Rauch, son of John, was known as “Bush John,” to
distinguish him from another John Rauch in the same district. He
lived near Dale, in Hereford township, where he owned a small tract
of land, was a shingle-maker and weaver, and in the winter time
went out butchering among the farmers, becoming well-known in the
pursuit of these various occupations. He was a great hunter and
fisher. He is buried at Huff’s church. He married Rebecca Leeser,
and nine children were born to them: (1) Thomas L. is mentioned
farther on. (2) Benjamin L., a farmer of Washington township, had
children, John F., William F., Manoah F., Benjamin F., James F.,
Rebecca F., Catharine F., Amanda F. and Adam (both of whom died
young) and Emma (married Benjamin Schaeffer). (3) Samuel lived at
various places and died at Philadelphia, where he conducted a
wholesale grocery store. He became wealthy. He married Amanda
Seaman, daughter of Daniel Seaman, of Hamburg, Pa. (4) Hannah
married Henry Richard and lived at Bechtelsville; they had one son
and four daughters. (5) William was twice married, first to Maria
Frey, by whom he had two children, Katie and John, and afterward to
Mrs. Caroline Baus. There were no children born to the second
marriage. (6) Reuben L., who is unmarried, lives at Hereford and is
engaged in huckstering. (7) James L., who lives in Hereford
township, is a shoemaker and basket-maker by occupation. (8) John
died young. (9) Henry died young.

(IV) Thomas L. Rauch, son of John, born in Hereford township, Aug.
10, 1825, died June 25, 1905, aged seventy-nine years, ten months,
fifteen days. He received a good education, learning to read both
German and English, and when eighteen years old went to learn the
blacksmith’s trade from John Walker. He followed that calling for
fifty years, retiring some five years before his death. Mr. Rauch
is buried at Huff’s Church, having belonged to the Reformed
congregation of that church, which he served as elder. His wife,
Catharine Herber, daughter of Henry and Susan (Landich) Herber, of
Greenwich township, born Feb. 24, 1824, died Jan. 29, 1896, aged
seventy-one years, eleven months, five days. Five children were
born to them: Lewis died in infancy; Henry H., a blacksmith, died
in Clayton; Wellington H. is mentioned farther on; Rosa Ellen died
when eleven years and two days old; Anna Rebecca, deceased, was the
wife of William E. Stangier, of Reading.

(V) Wellington H. Rauch received his early education in Hereford
and Washington townships, Berks county, he being fourteen years old
when his parents moved to Hereford township. Later he attended the
Boyertown Academy. He was reared to farming in Hereford, and also
learned the blacksmith’s trade from his father, following that work
in connection with farming until 1900, since which time he has
devoted himself exclusively to farming. He has twenty-eight acres
of very productive land, and raises excellent crops. For many years
Rauch’s smith shop was a very busy place, many coming from a
distance to have blacksmith work done there. The blacksmith shop
was built in 1867, by Thomas L. Rauch, who built the large stone
house in 1893.

On Sept. 14, 1883, Mr. Rauch married Susanna A.
Carl, daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca (Rohrbach) Carl, of District
township. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Rauch are members of
the Reformed congregation of Huff’s church, of which he was a
deacon for eight years. Mr. Rauch is a Republican in politics.

RAUDENBUSH, ABRAHAM S.
(DR.)

p. 687

Surnames: RAUDENBUSH. SCHOLL, GEARHART, ALTHOUSE, CRESSMAN,
CLYMER, LEIDA, SCHULL ROSENBERGER, TRUCKSESS, STAUFFER.

Abraham S. Raudenbush, M. D., of Reading, Pa., was born July 24.
1841, in Montgomery county, son of Abraham and Mary (Scholl)
Raudenbush, and a grandson of George and Mary (Gearhart)
Raudenbush. George Raudenbush, great-grandfather of Dr. A. S., came
to America from Germany, and settled in Bucks county, near
Sellersville. He was a farmer and shoemaker by occupation; and
there spent the remainder of his life. He had two sons, Peter and
George.

George Raudenbush, son of the emigrant George,
was educated in the schools of Bucks county and early took to
agricultural pursuits, following these successfully throughout his
life. After his death his wife resided with a daughter, Mrs.
Harriet Althouse. He was the father of ten children; as follows:
Jacob, George, Abraham, Samuel, Jesse, Enos, Sallie (m. Jacob
Cressman, of Bucks county), Harriet (m. Thomas Althouse), Matilda
(m. John Clymer), and Elizabeth (m. a Mr. Leida). In religious
belief the family were members of the Reformed Church. Mr.
Raudenbush was a Democrat. He died in 1848, aged about eighty
years, and his wife in 1852, when seventy-seven years old. Abraham
Raudenbush received but a meagre education in the schools of Bucks
county. He was reared to farming pursuits, and carried on farming
near Sellersville, later removing to the edge of Montgomery county,
and there remained for several years. He later went to
Sellersville, and there purchased the old Abraham Schull farm, on
which he continued to live until 1863, when he sold the farm,
retired and in 1882 moved to Reading to reside with his son. He
died in 1892, aged eighty-eight years. His wife died in 1882, aged
seventy-six years, the mother of six children: One daughter died in
infancy; James is deceased; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of
Enos Rosenberger, of Kutztown; Mary married Jacob Trucksess, and
lives in Montgomery county; Abraham S.; and Louisa died in infancy.
Mr. Raudenbush was a member of the Reformed Church, in which he was
deacon and elder. In politics he was a Democrat.

Dr. Abraham S. Raudenbush was educated primarily
in the schools of Montgomery county and took advanced studies at
Freeland Seminary (now Ursinus College. Early in life he evidenced
a desire for the medical profession, and read medicine under Keeler
& Groff of Montgomery county and remaining with them two years,
when he entered Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia.
graduating with the class of 1863, with the degree of M. D. His
first field of practice was Adamstown. Lancaster county, where he
remained eighteen years, and he then located in Reading, opening an
office at No. 233 South Fourth street. After four years spent at
this office, the Doctor removed to his present location and here he
has been actively engaged in practice. The Doctor was for some
years was a member of the medical staff of the Reading Hospital,
being one of the first to hold that position after the hospital
opened its doors to the public, and he continued in that capacity
until 1902, when he retired. He still retains his position,
however, on the staff of examiners of students for resident
physicians. He is connected with the Reading and Berks county
medical societies and the Pennsylvania Medical Association, as well
as the American Medical Association. He was formerly a member of
the Lehigh Valley Medical Association, which meets but once a year
for the benefit of the public, and was a Tri-County Sensorial
District for Schuylkill Berks and Montgomery counties. The Doctor
is fraternally connected with the Royal Arcanum In politics he is a
Democrat, but is broad and liberal in his views.

In 1865 Dr. Raudenbush married Miss Sarah
Stauffer, daughter of Henry Stauffer, of Lancaster county, and one
child was born to this union: Charles H., who is a druggist of
Reading, keeping one of the finest pharmacies in the city.

RAUDENBUSH, CHARLES HUNTER
(DR.)

p. 614

Surnames: RAUDENBUSH, STAUFFER, STEIN, THOMPSON, STEEN

Cr. Charles Hunter Raudenbush, who conducts a thriving drug
business, at Reading, Berks Co., Pa., was born Oct. 7, 1866, at
Adamstown, Lancaster county, son of Dr. A. S. and Sarah (Stauffer)
Raudenbush, whose history appears elsewhere in this work.

Dr. Charles H. Raudenbush attended the public
schools of his native place, and after graduating there from
entered the State Normal School at Millersville. After two spring
terms at the latter institution, Dr. Raudenbush came to Reading
with his father, and in 1882 entered the high school of the city
from which he was graduated with the class of 1886. In October of
the same year he entered the drug store of J. H. Stein, at Eighth
and Penn streets, Reading, remaining until October, 1889, when he
attended a course of lectures on pharmacy at Philadelphia.
Graduating from The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1891, Dr.
Raudenbush returned to Reading and engaged again with Mr. Stein,
with whom he remained until March, 1896, and on May 1st of that
year he engaged in business on his own account, opening a store in
the Mansion House building. This was the location of his business
until April, 1905, when, feeling the need of larger quarters he
removed to his present place, No. 39 North Sixth street, where he
has since continued. Mr. Raudenbush has one of the finest equipped
pharmacies in the city, and he has won the steady trade of a large
patronage.

On Oct. 26, 1898, Dr. Raudenbush married Mattie
B. Thompson, daughter of Isaac F. and Lydia (Steen) Thompson, of
Coatesville, Chester Co., Pa., and to this union have been born one
son and one daughter, Charles B. and Helen T.

RAUDENBUSH, RICHARD B.

p. 1563

Surnames: RAUDENBUSH, BAUM, ECKENRODE, ESTERLY, ETTINGER, HEMMIG,
MERKEL, SCHLICHTER, SCHUSTER, WENTZEL, ZACHARIAS

Richard B. Raudenbush, who owns and operates a valuable farm in
Cumru township, Berks county, is one of the leading citizens of his
community, where the greater portion of his life has been spent.
Mr. Raudenbush was born in Manor township, Lancaster Co., Pa., son
of Joseph and Sarah (Baum) Raudenbush.

John Raudenbush, the great-grandfather of
Richard B., was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, where he followed
the milling business. He and his two brothers came to America, one
settling where St. Louis now stands, one in Schuylkill county, and
John in Goshenhoppen, below Boyertown. He was one of the earliest
millers of this portion of the State, an occupation which he
followed until his death. His son, also named John, learned the
milling trade under his father, and this business he followed in
Lancaster countyfor many years, coming thence to Berks county. His
death occurred in Cumru township, and he was buried at Yocom’s
Church, of which he was a Reformed member. Mr. Raudenbush married a
Miss Hemmig, also buried at Yocum’s, and to them were born: Adam,
John, Daniel, Joseph, Henry; Eva m. Levi Hemmig; Elizabeth m. Henry
Eckenrode and Sarah m. George Esterly.

Joseph Raudenbush, the father of Richard B., was
born in 1821, in Lancaster county, and for 30 years followed the
trade of his father. He then purchased a farm of 147 acres in the
Poplar Neck district, the one now owned by his son, Richard B. Here
he made many improvements and erected all of the present buildings
with the exception of the house. Mr. Raudenbush died in his 66th
year, while his wife, Sarah, daughter of John and Elizabeth
(Zacharias) Baum, lived to be 77 years of age. These children were
born to Mr. and Mrs. Raudenbush: Mary A., died at the age of 13
years; Elizabeth m. Augustus Schuster; Richard B.; John, deceased;
and Sarah A. m. Ezra Wentzel.

Richard B. Raudenbush attended the schools of
Berks county, and as a boy worked on his father’s farm, which he
has operated since his parents’ death. This farm, which is one of
the finest in Cumru township, is situated on the Pennsylvania
railroad, which company purchased 3-7/10 acres of his land, on
which to lay tracks to enter Reading. He has a fine herd of cows,
and his milk finds a ready market in the city of Reading. Mr.
Raudenbush’s farm commands an excellent view of the Schuylkill
river and the mountains.

Mr. Raudenbush married Elizabeth A., daughter of
Isaac Schlichter, of Reading, and to this union have been born five
children: Sara A. m Levi Ettinger, of Cumru township; Joseph S. and
Franklin S. are at home; Annie E. m. Samuel Merkel; Matilda I. is
at home. Mr. Raudenbush is a member of Yocom’s Reformed Church. In
1893 he was made a Mason in Chandler Lodge, No. 227, F.& A.M.,
and he also belongs to Reading Chapter, No. 237.

RAUENZAHN
FAMILY

p. 719

Surnames: RAUENZAHN, WEIDNER, BALLETT, BROWN, WENTZEL, MANNVILLE,
BECHTEL, HUGHES, WILEY, PERKINS, SMITH, PENROSE, EVANS, SEIDEL,
BUSH, LEVAN, HARTMAN, LEASE, DIETRICH, BOWER, WOLF, HOUCK

Rauenzahn. Christian Rauenzahn, a native of Manheim, Germany, where
the family was one of prominence and wealth, was a son of Herr von
Rauenzahn. Christian Rauenzahn left his native country for cause,
being at that time well supplied with means, and settled in
Richmond township, Berks Co., Pa., where he became the owner of
about 700 acres of land, but he died in very humble circumstances.
He is buried in a private burial ground on the old Weidner farm
below Pricetown and his grave has no head-stone. Christian
Rauenzahn was survived by his wife, Hannah, who died at an advanced
age in 1836. Among their children were: Gideon; Isaac; John;
Christian; David, who lives in Ohio; a son who died in Indiana; and
Mrs. Daniel Ballett. Christian Rauenzahn was the owner of a large
Bible, the printing of which was begun in 1527 and was completed in
1535. This was a rare and valuable book, and the commissioners of
the Centennial, held at Philadelphia in 1876, made some effort to
secure it to place on exhibition, sending a man from Philadelphia
to Pricetown, he however failing to secure it. This old relic
passed from Christian to his son Gideon, and from the latter to his
son John, who procured it at public sale, and was sold by him to a
concern in Philadelphia.

Gideon Rauenzahn, son of Christian, was born in
Richmond township, and died upon his 231-acre farm in Ruscombmanor
township, in about 1867, when nearly eighty years of age. He was a
stone mason by trade, an occupation which was adopted and followed
by seven of his sons. He married Elizabeth Brown, daughter of
Daniel Brown of Pricetown, and they had a family of thirteen
children, as follows: Solomon met his death by drowning, in 1842;
Sarah m. Benjamin Wentzel; Hannah m. Daniel Mannville, and died in
Oklahoma; David died at Philadelphia in 1887; William B.; Daniel
was a stonemason at Pricetown; Jacob, carried on that trade at
Reading; Elizabeth m. Nicholas Bechtel; Israel, a stone mason of
Reading, met his death in a railroad accident; Gideon was a stone
mason of Reading; John, a stone mason of Philadelphia, is now
deceased; Mary m. Amos Brown, of Stowe, Pa.,; and Emeline died
young.

William B. Rauenzahn was born May 6, 1831, in
Ruscombmanor township, Berks county, and was reared on his father’s
farm, upon which he worked until past eighteen years of age, at
which time he learned the blacksmith’s trade in Ontelaunee
township, with Abraham Hughes. This occupation he followed for two
years, and then went to Perry township, where he spent a like
period at the trade, and in 1857 he came to Reading, where he
entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. He
was a flue-welder for this company at the pipe mill for nine years,
and altogether worked for this company as a blacksmith for fifteen
years. Mr. Rauenzahn is one of the few living men in this locality
who have shod oxen, this occurring in 1850, 1851 and 1852 while he
worked at his trade in Ontelaunee and Perry townships. In the
former district there lived many Quakers, among them the Wileys,
Perkinses, Smiths and Penroses, and Dr. Wiley had a yoke of oxen
which were shod by Mr. Rauenzahn on numerous occasions. These big,
strong beasts were used at the plows, as well as in wagons, and
Wash Wiley used them to haul flour to the boat landing at
Shoemakersville. Mr. Rauenzahn recalls many interesting incidents
of his younger days, among which might be mentioned the following:
It was during his term of apprenticeship, and he was working out
during haymaking and harvesting time to earn spending money, his
employer being Quaker Smith. They were hauling in hay with four
good horses, when the large wagon-load of hay became “stuck” and no
amount of urging could make the horses go another inch. At this
time the yoke of big oxen were hitched up to the wagon, and to the
surprise of all these beasts pulled the load away with comparative
ease, which the four horses could not budge. Mr. Rauenzahn was a
member of the Reading police force under Mayor Charles F. Evans
from 1873 to 1879. Since May, 1903, he has lived a quiet life, his
retirement being due to his incapacitation from an extraordinary
case of hiccoughs, which continued for seven weeks. The case
puzzled physicians and attracted wide-spread attention, local and
metropolitan papers alike giving much space to it and remedies
being sent to Mr. Rauenzahn from all over the country. He was
eventually cured by Dr. A. N. Seidel, of Reading, by the use of a
common remedy. For many years Mr. Rauenzahn has been a member of
Salome Lodge of Odd Fellows No. 105, and the American Mechanics,
both of Reading. He is a Republican in politics, and during 1856,
when James Buchanan was elected president, he served as judge of
election in his district. He and his family are members of the
Evangelical Association.

In 1853 Mr. Rauenzahn was married to Willia
Bush, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Brown) Bush, born Aug. 17,
1830, who died Sept. 15, 1891, and they had these children: Henry
B.; Solomon and Thomas, who died young; Emanuel, who resides in
Milwaukee, Wis.; Sallie, who died young; Emma, who met her death in
1889, aged twenty;-five years, in the silk mill disaster; and
Zipporah, m. to Allen Levan.

Henry B. Rauenzahn was born Aug. 16, 1854, in
Ontelaunee township, and as a boy came to Reading, where he spent
his school days. For many years he was a sand contractor, but in
1885 he embarked in the hotel business at Tenth and Green streets,
and since 1898 he has conducted the “North End Hotel.” He is very
popular in his district, and enjoys a large and lucrative business.
Fraternally he is connected with Salome Lodge No. 105, I. O. O. F.,
Reading.

Mr. Rauenzahn was married to Mary Hartman, Aug.
7, 1875. She is the daughter of Henry and Hannah (Lease) Hartman,
granddaughter of John Hartman, and great-granddaughter of Jacob
Bowers, who lived to the remarkable age of 103 years. To Mr. and
Mrs. Rauenzahn there have been born sixteen children, as follows:
William, Lillie and Lottie, deceased; Harry S.; Luther; Naomi;
George; Lester; an infant son; Emma; an infant son; Edith; an
infant son; Dorothy, and two who died in infancy.

Harry S. Rauenzahn was born July 3, 1880, and
died April 11, 1909, in Reading, Pa. He attended the public schools
until sixteen years of age, at which time he learned the
coach-painting trade at the Keystone Wagon works from Charles
Dietrich, now deceased. This he followed at Reading for nine years,
after which he worked at the Pullman shops at Wilmington, Del., for
nine months, and subsequently returned to Reading, and assisted in
the erection of the 126-foot brick stacks at the Philadelphia &
Reading shops. In 1904 Mr. Rauenzahn became a trolley car conductor
for the Reading United Traction Co., and there he continued until
his death. He was a resident of the Thirteenth ward, owning a brick
residence at No. 2044 Kutztown road, purchased by him in 1905. He
was a member of Camp No. 663, P. O. S. of A., of Reading, and Tent
No. 446, K. O. T. M., also of this city. With his family he
belonged to Grace Reformed Church of Alsace, before joining which
he was a deacon of Trinity Reformed Church.

On Sept. 29, 1904, Mr. Rauenzahn was married to
Anna Wolf, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Houck) Wolf of Chester
county, and they had two children: Luther E., born Nov. 4, 1905,
died July 22, 1906; and Marie E.

RAVEL,
GEORGE A.

p. 503

Surnames: RAVEL, MOULD, FIDLER, BITTING

George A. Ravel, a merchant of Reading, is a native of that city,
born there Dec. 28, 1865, son of George Ravel Sr. The father still
resides in Reading, but has retired after his long years of labor
as an iron-molder.

George A. Ravel was sent first to the public
schools, and then to a parochial one, but at the age of twelve his
attendance stopped altogether, and he went to work as an errand boy
for Jonathan Mould. He worked for him from 1877 to 1887, and was
promoted a number of times acting as clerk in various departments,
and finally being put in charge of the domestic department. After a
year spent in Chicago, still in the mercantile line, Mr. Ravel
returned to Reading, and on Oct. 13, 1888, opened a store of his
own in a private house located at No. 113 North Ninth street. He
began with a room twenty by thirty feet, but two years later he
built an addition twenty by forty-five feet, and remained in those
quarters until 1897. He then bought the property and erected a
store building 20 x 100 feet, four stories in height, where he
carries a full line of notions, dry goods and ladies and
gentlemen’s furnishings. He employs twelve clerks, and has a
constantly increasing volume of trade. In 1903, as he felt his
health failing somewhat from overwork, Mr. Ravel took Mr. E. P.
Fidler in as a partner, thus lightening his own responsibilities.
Mr. Ravel has also gone extensively into building operations,
lately, and during the past four years has erected forty buildings
in different parts of the city. He is a most capable business man,
with unusually good judgment, and ranks among the most successful
merchants of the city.

The wife chosen by Mr. Ravel was Miss Annie M.
Bitting, daughter of Jacob and Sallie Bitting, both now deceased.
Three sons have been born to this union, Harry, Walter and George,
all attending school. The family reside at No. 1257 Eckert avenue.
Mr. Ravel is a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, but his wife
belongs to the Reformed Church.