Rauch, Lewis bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 568-569; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Lewis Rauch. There is no higher praise possible than to say of a man, “he has helped both himself and others in journeying through the passing years.” And this remark applies undoubtedly to him whose name heads our sketch.
Mr. Rauch is a prominent and successful agriculturist and stockman of section 12, Pleasant Township, and stand high both in business and social circles, having the esteem and confidence of the community. His native home was Prussia, and in that country he first saw the light of day on the 9th of June 1833. His parents, John and Catherine (Rumline) Rauch were Prussians; the mother died when our subject was only two years of age, and the father when he was in his fifteenth year, thus leaving him to the tender mercies of the world, at the time when he really needed the love of home.
Our subject received a fair education in his native tongue and picked up the English language after coming to America. He reads and writes with all ease in both English and German. In the spring of 1849, he emigrated to America, taking passage at Bremen on a sailing vessel. After a voyage of seven weeks and three days he landed in Baltimore, being at the time seventeen years old. Immediately after landing he commenced to work out as a farm hand in Maryland, and thus continued through several years, receiving in compensation for his services only from $5 to $10 per month and his board. But saving his money he was finally able to rent, and afterward bought land in Adams County, Pa., having sold the property left him by his father in Germany. He continued to reside on his farm in Pennsylvania for two years, being about sixteen miles from Gettysburg, and after the bloody battle at that point he visited the field of slaughter and beheld the corpses of the unknown dead strewed like leaves over the ground.
Our subject was drafted into the Federal Army, and owing to this fact and other troubles became financially embarrassed. Not caring to serve he was forced to pay $1,000 for a substitute, and his wife and two children died about that time. In the fall of 1864, he moved with his two sons to Illinois, settling first in Sangamon County, and later came to Fulton County. He worked for a time at the blacksmith’s trade in Astoria, having given attention to this trade for some time. He located on his present estate in the year 1868 and has made this his home since that date. He owns one hundred and sixty-three acres of valuable land, and has a blacksmith shop on his farm. He had only $9 when he landed in this State, but is at the present day very well fixed in life, and looked upon as a good business man.
Mr. Rauch appreciated the value of money and has practiced strict economy and saved something each month, and thus it is that people succeed. Energy and economy hand-in-hand will conquer any circumstances however adverse they may be. Both he and his wife are members of the Reformed Church, and he has served as Elder for several years. His sympathies are with the Democratic party, and he is interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of this community.
The subject of our sketch is a popular man as is proven by the fact of his being chosen to hold public offices and positions of trust. He is at the present time School Trustee for Pleasant Township. Mr. Rauch was married in Maryland, in 1855, to Miss Lydia Stonesifer, and to this union were born four children, of whom only two are living, viz: David T. and Samuel, both of whom reside in this township. After the death of the mother of these children, our subject was again married, this time to Miss Nancy Weese. To them was born one daughter – Mary E. wife of Eli Strammel of Astoria, Illinois. Once more he was deprived by death of the companion of his home, and on May 23, 1867, married Miss Talitha Smith, daughter of Arthur and Mary (Bohanan) Smith. This marriage has been blessed with eight children, of whom four are living, viz: Lewis E., a school teacher; Thomas J.; Nathaniel H,; and Talitha B.
Mrs. Rauch’s father was a native of Virginia, being born in that State in 1793. He served in the War of 1812. Her mother was born in the State of Tennessee. They moved to Illinois in 834, settling in Pleasant Township. Her birth occurred in Fulton County, February 14, 1841, and here she passed her childhood, and was here educated. Her father built the first log cabin schoolhouse in this part of the country, and was largely instrumental in building up this place. And thus every day furnishes us examples of the wonderful results that industry, strict integrity of purpose, and natural ability accomplish.