RABBAS, Henry

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, p 164

Henry RABBAS, grain dealer, [a resident of Alma, Buffalo County, Wisconsin], 
was born 16 December 1829 in Prussia. He came to America in 1859 and first 
located at Two Rivers [Manitowoc County, Wisconsin], and was for three years 
engaged in milling. In 1862 he removed to Alma, and has since been in the 
grain and commission business. In 1864 he [Henry RABBAS] was married to 
[Miss?] Mary HEOFLING [HEFLING?], a native of Germany. They have three 
children: Helma, Jennie, and Henery [Henry?].

[The RABBAS family is enumerated in the 1880 census of Alma: Henry RABBAS, 
age fifty, commission merchant, born in Prussia (about 1830 from his census 
age) to parents also born in Prussia; his wife, Mary RABBAS, age 
thirty-eight, born (about 1842) in Prussia to parents also born there; and 
Henry's three children, all attending school, and all born in Wisconsin to 
parents born in Prussia: (1) Helma RABBAS, age fifteen, born about 1865; 
(2) Jennie RABBAS, age eleven, thus born about 1869; and (3) Henry RABBAS, 
age eight, born about 1872. A servant, Louisa ERNE, single, age eighteen, 
born in Wisconsin to Prussian-born parents, completes the household.]

[Also enumerated in the 1880 census for Alma, Buffalo County, Wisconsin, is 
another RABBAS family: Fredrick T. RABBAS, age forty-eight, merchant, born 
in Prussia (about 1832 by his census age) to parents also born there; his 
wife, Mary RABBAS, age thirty-nine, born (about 1841) in Switzerland to 
parents also born in Switzerland; and Fredrick's two sons, both born in 
Wisconsin to a father born in Prussia and a mother born in Switzerland: (1) 
Jefferson R. RABBAS, age twenty, a butcher, born about 1860; and (2) Frank 
R. RABBAS, age eighteen, at home, by his census age born about 1862. 
(Completing the household are three persons unrelated to Fredrick T. RABBAS: 
Josephena RICHARD, age nineteen, servant, born in Wisconsin to Wisconsin-born 
parents; Catharina KNECHT, age eighteen, servant, born in Wisconsin to 
parents born in Switzerland; and William SCHROEDER, age twenty-six, cigar 
maker, born in Germany to parents also born in Germany.) The proximity of 
residence in a small community, similar origin, and closeness in age of 
Fredrick RABBAS suggest he is likely related to Henry RABBAS. Bracketed 
material added by submitter (who is not researching these surnames) to 
support and clarify information given in the biography and to raise 
questions.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly