Surname R

RAKOW, MRS. ALBERT
Mrs. Albert Rakow, 68, Bellflower, California, died Tuesday at her home in that city following several months of illness.
Funeral Services are planned Friday at Bellflower where burial will take place. Surviving are Mr. Rakow, a brother, Walter Schmunk of Winneconne and several nieces and nephews. The Rakows resided in this city until a year ago when they left for California.

RAPLEY, CHARLES, and PARKS, MARY FREEMAN (See Parks also)

Charles Rapley was (b. 1821- d. 28 April 1857)  born in either New York as stated in the 1881 census by his son George or in England as noted on his son Charles’ death certificate.   A record of his death is found in the Fond du Lac Journal May 2, 1857  “Death notice by A W Reeder city Undertaker. Died in this city , on the 29th ult, Charles Rapley , aged 36.”  In the  History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 531_532, George indicates his father “was an expert mechanic, and a past master of the Masonic Lodge at Fond du Lac”. 

 Charles married Mary Jane Freeman some time after 1852 in Fond du Lac, WI.  Mary Jane Freeman, the daughter of Dennis & Mary Freeman, was born October 25, 1834 in New York.  She died July 7, 1897 in Barron, Wisconsin.

 Charles and Mary had two sons: Charles J., born July 20 1856, Fond du Lac, WI, died July 1, 1915 in Minneapolis, MN; and George Henry,  born May 12 , 1857 in Fond du Lac, WI., died February 6, 1942 Chetek, WI.

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Biography - Submitted by Jeannette Rapley Sauntry

RAPLEY, CHARLES L. married March 22, 1890 Barron county, Wisconsin to Dorothy Mary Ewer born July 26, 1872 Barron county, WI. and died January 27, 1950  Minneapolis, MN.  She was the daughter of Henry and Mary (Tolerd) Ewer.    The 1902 Minneapolis city directory lists  “Charles J Rapley  tmstr. r. 611 17th Ave N”. Family history indicates he worked either on the railroad or for the Minneapolis city streetcar company.  Charles and Dorothy are buried at Crystal Lake Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN. They had five children:  George Rapley born Feb 23, 1910, Minneapolis, MN, died February 21, 1990 Minneapolis, MN, burial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. MN.; Theodore Rapley is named as the informant on George’s death certificate, perhaps he was another son; Jesse L. Rapley living with Dorothy in 1916 may have been the third son. Of the two daughters, one may have been Jeanette living with Dorothy in 1916 and the other, Marcella Knoll who was the informant at the time of Dorothy’s death.

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Biography - Submitted by Jeannette Rapley Sauntry

RAPLEY, GEORGE HENRY, married November 25, 1884 at Sumner , WI to Luella Jane Richardson born August 31, 1868 at Richland, WI. died March 13, 1920 at Rice Lake, WI., daughter of John Wesley Richardson and Sarah Jane Martin of Henrietta Twp, Richland County , WI.   The marriage was conducted by L.  F. Grilley J.P. who was the father in-law to George’s half sister Emma Parks.  Witnesses to the marriage were JH Hiller (Hilar) and Gertrude Stites.   George & Luella lived in the Sumner/Chetek area and raised nine daughters and six sons.  George was employed for a time by Knapp, Stout & Co., was a postmaster at Cameron and co-owner of the general store in Cameron with John Shipman and later owned a farm Chetek.

RAU, ALBERT, has been successfully engaged in business as a wholesale and retail flour and feed merchant of Fond du Lac since 1908, his establishment being located at No. 214 South Main street. His birth occurred in Nevada, Missouri, on the 2nd of August 1869, his parents being Michael and Alwin (Schneider) Rau, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Wisconsin. Michael Rau remained a resident of the fatherland until twenty-one years of age and then crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating at St. Louis Missouri, where he was married. Subsequently he made his way to Chilton, Wisconsin, in an emigrant wagon and there worked as a laborer for several years. Later he took charge of an elevator at Chilton, conducting the same until the time of his retirement. He is a Methodist in religious faith, while his wife belongs to the Lutheran church. They are still residents of Chilton, Wisconsin. Michael Rau served as a private throughout the entire period of the Civil war and made an excellent record as a brave and loyal defender of the Union during that long and sanguinary struggle. Unto him and his wife were born eight children, as follows: Albert, of this review; William, who is a resident of Chilton, Wisconsin, Selma, who is the widow of Jacob Haessley and resides in Chilton; Herman, who is now serving as sheriff of Calumet county, Wisconsin, and makes his home at Chilton; Clara, the deceased wife of William Link; George, living in Antigo, Wisconsin; Ernest, who is a barber of Chilton; and Meta, the wife of John Huntz, of Wausau, Wisconsin.

Albert Rau, who was a little lad of six years when his parents established their home in Chilton, was there reared to manhood and attended the public schools in the acquirement of an education. After leaving school he learned the carpenter's trade and followed that occupation for six years, while later he worked at the butcher's trade for a similar period. Subsequently, he spent three years as an employee of the W. W. Cargill Company in an elevator at Chilton and was then transferred to Black Creek to conduct a station for that firm. After acting in that capacity for four years he spent two years at El Dorado in the service of the Lytle-Stoppenback Company of Milwaukee. In the fall of 1905 he came to Fond du Lac and for three years had charge of the elevator of the W. W. Cargill's Company on West Second street. Serving his connection with that concern, he embarked in business on his own account as a flour and feed merchant and has since conducted both a wholesale and retail business of this character with gratifying success.

On the 12th of June, 1895, Mr. Rau was united in marriage to Miss Anna Engelnecht, a native of Germany, whose parents were early settlers of Athens, Marathon county, Wisconsin. They lived to an advanced age and reared a family of four children, namely; Gustav, Louisa, Augusta, and Anna. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rau has been born one daughter, Irene.

In politics Mr. Rau is a staunch republican, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in St. Peter's Lutheran church, to which his wife also belongs. He is now serving his second term as church trustee and has acted in that capacity for six years altogether. He belongs to the Krankenverein of St. Peter's Lutheran church and is also a member of the Lutheran Aid Association, now serving for the third term as secretary of branch No. 75. His aid and cooperation can be counted upon to further every movement calculated to benefit the community and he and his estimable wife are aheld in high regard by their many friends.

RAUCH, Elvir Ernst
AGED VETERAN OF CIVIL WAR DEAD
Elvir Ernst Emil Rauch Dies at Campbellsport Campbellsport, WI. - March 22
Mr. Rauch, a Civil War Veteran and a resident of Campbellsport and vicinity for many years, the last of a family of fourteen children, died here Sunday at the age of eighty-six years. He had been in failing health for some time. Mr. Rauch was born December 12, 1839 at Darmstadt, Germany and came to America with his parents when he was five years old. The family settled
in the Town of Franklin, Milwaukee County, where they lived until 1847, when they went to the Town of Ashford. For the past several years Mr. Rauch has made his home in the village of Campbellsport. On October 7, 1861 Mr. Rauch enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry being discharged on October 10, 1864. When he returned from service he settled on a farm at Ashford and on December 9, 1880 was married to Bertha Utke. In September 1889, they moved to Auburn, residing on a farm there until 1921, when they moved to Campbellsport. Mr. Rauch leaves his widow and the following children; Mrs. John Braun,
Mrs. William Edwards and Charles Rauch of Campbellsport; and Mrs. Enos Dyke of Waldo. One son died in infancy. There are also eleven grandchildren surviving.
Funeral Rites - Dated: 3-23-1926 The funeral of Elvir Ernst Emil Rauch, Civil War veteran who died Sunday at Campbellsport, will be held at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning at the German Reformed church at Campbellsport, the Rev. Wm Zank will officiate and burial will be in the Rauch family cemetery in the Town of Ashford.

RAUSCH, MRS. CLARA
Mrs. Clara Rausch, wife of Henry Rausch, of the Town of Forest, died at 9:30 o'clock this morning in the city after a two week illness. She was 34 years of age. Besides her husband she leaves five daughters, Nora, Neta, Ethel, Delia and Pauline; also two sons, Conrad and Albert; five sisters, Mrs. Charles Hageman of Eldorado; Mrs. August Pfeifer of the Town of Forest; Mrs. Henry Pfeifer of Mahnomen, Minnesota; Mrs. Otto Bindert of Friendship; and Miss Elsie Rosenthal of the Town of Forest. She has also one brother, Frank of Jericho. The body was removed to the Murray and Dobrindt undertaking parlors and this afternoon were taken to the residence.

REBEDEW, MRS. MARY
Mrs. Mary Rebedew, widow of Joseph Rebedew, died at her home, 395 Cedar Street, at 6 p.m. Thursday, age 74 years. Mrs. Rebedew was born in Canada, coming to Wisconsin when a small child. She is survived by five children, Mrs. Frank Baatz of Milwaukee, Mrs. Guy Hibbard, Frank and Fred Rebedew of this city and Mrs. E. Sylvester of West Allis. The funeral will be held from the residence at 8:30 a.m. Monday and at 9 a.m. from St. Joseph's church, the Rev. J.J. Coflins officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

REHORST, ANTHONY, Intelligent activity is a sure basis of success in any occupation and it is to his possession of this quality as a prominent factor in his character that Anthony Rehorst owes his present prosperity.  He has operated a farm in Fond du Lac county near Eden for a number of years and is one of the best known agriculturists in this district.   He was born in Walworth county, in the southern part of the state of Wisconsin, on the 4th of December, 1847, and is the son of Theodore and Anne (Ossendorf) Rehorst, both natives of Germany.  His parents were married in their native country and came to America in 1841, bringing with them their oldest son John, who later lost his life in the Civil war.  The father settled in Walworth county and here his family resided until 1856.  He bought a tract of land there and actively engaged in its cultivation during the period of his residence thereon.  He cleared and developed the land and afterwards built a large farmhouse upon it in which he lived until the time of his death, September 13, 1895, while in his eighty-fifth year.  His wife's death had long preceded his and occurred in 1888, when she was sixty-eight years old. Anthony Rehorst was one of seven children.  He received his early education in a little log schoolhouse in the neighborhood of his father's farm near Eden.  He was reared at home and was familiar with the details of farm life at an early age.  He worked upon his father's holdings during his youth and early manhood and it was not until he was thirty-six years of age that he purchased the interests of his brothers and sisters in the home farm and began its management for himself.  He has been identified with agricultural interests in the vicinity of Eden all during his active life.  He has  made many improvements upon his property, has erected modern barns and outbuildings and has operated his holdings along the most approved agricultural principles. On January 1, 1874, Mr. Rehorst was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Conley, a native of New York state and a daughter of Patrick and Katherine Conley, who came from Ireland in 1857 and settled for a short time in New York.  They later removed to Wisconsin and located in Eden.  To Mr. and Mrs. Rehorst have been born six children, four of whom are still living, Frank, George, John and Albert.  Clara and Emma are deceased.  Frank is an operator in the Eden telegraph station, George is a clerk in the Milwaukee postoffice, and Albert is residing at home.  John spent two years at the University of Valparaiso, Indiana, and was graduated with the degree of M. D. from Marquette University, Milwaukee, in 1911, after which he removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he is now engaged in St. Joseph's Hospital. Anthony Rehorst gives his political allegiance to the republican party.  He has served as town assessor of Eden for two years and has recently closed a long period of service as clerk of the school district.  He belongs to St. James' Catholic church of Eden and is an active worker in its behalf.  He is one of the substantial and enterprising citizens of Fond du Lac county and his life's labor has been valuable to its development.

REICHEL, MISS DORA
Miss Dora Reichel, who has resided in this city for the past three years and has followed the profession of trained nurse, died in Milwaukee at 7 o'clock this morning from Typhoid fever. The deceased left here the first of September and went to the home of her sister in Milwaukee where soon after she was taken ill with the fever. The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock and internment will be at Milwaukee. Dr. Flora Read with whom Miss Reichel was associated here, was present this morning when she passed away.

 REICHLING, GEORGE

 George Reichling, 71, a lifelong resident of the county, died here at 12:10 a.m. today after an extended illness. Born  August 27, 1877, at Taycheedah, he was married to Katherine Feyen, who died in 1924. Surviving are a daughter and a son, Sr. M. Jovita, a member of the Sisterhood of St. Agnes, who teaches at Decatur, Indiana and George N. Reichling of Monrovia, California; three brothers, Nicholas, of Taycheedah, and John and Henry, city, and a sister, Regina A., city. Funeral services will be held at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the W. A. Bidlingmaier funeral home, J.E. Murray in charge, and at 9 a.m. at St. Mary's church. Burial will be in St. Peter's cemetery at St. Peter.

RETZLAFF, FREDERICK
Frederick Retzlaff, age 56 years, died Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 at the family residence in the Town of Byron. Mr. Retzlaff has been ill since last June and confined to his bed for the past three weeks. He is survived by his wife; two sons, Erwin of Camp Robinson; Alfred of the Town of Byron; one daughter, Edna; one brother, August Retzlaff, Town of Byron; three sisters, Mrs. William Kolterman of Leroy; Mrs. William Hein of Pueblo, Colorado, and Miss Mary who made her home with Mr. Retzlaff.
He was born in Germany and came to the Town of Byron when he was sixteen years of age, where he has always resided. The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 1:30 from the residence, the Rev. Paul Bergman officiating. Interment will take place in Rienzi Cemetery.

ROATCH, JAMES S.. now living a retired life at Ellsworth, Wis., was born in Bennington county, Vermont, February 27, 1821. His parents moved to the state of New York when James was a young boy, and settled in Montgomery County, where he received his education, and remained until twenty-eight years old. He engaged in farming in New York State, and about 1855 came to Wisconsin, settling in Fond du Lac county, where he purchased eighty acres of timber land. He cleared it up and made a home, and there lived upwards of twenty years. At the end of this time he moved to Pierce County, and settled on 160 acres of timber land in Harland township. This wooded farm he cleared and made a home for himself and family where they lived until 1891, when he moved to Bay City, having sold part of his farm. He bought forty acres near Bay City, where he lived for twelve years. Selling this farm he moved to Ellsworth and has lived a retired life ever since. He voted for Abraham Lincoln, and has continued to vote the Republican ticket since that time. Mr. Roatch was married in New York State when he was twenty-seven years old, to Sally Ann Wilbur. She died, leaving ten children, all of whom are still living. All were born in Wisconsin, except the two oldest, who were born in New York State.
Mrs. Roatch died two years after she came to Pierce County, and is buried at Bay City, Wis. Mr. Roatch married for his second wife, Mrs. Luticia Mason, widow of D. S. Mason. By this union, there has been no issue. The names of the children by the first marriage are: Abigail Agenet, wife of Henry Lawrence, of Barron county. Betsey A. W., wife of Simson Rand, a farmer of Barron county, Wisconsin. Edward Franklin is a farmer and resides in Barron County. He married Miss Conroy. William R. is proprietor of the Ellsworth House. He married Miss Buchmaster. Thomas Peirson resides in Hartland Township, Wisconsin. Almon James married Martha McMaster and resides in Minnesota. Horace Alias married Minnie Spriggle and resides at Bay City. Storrs Perry resides in Harland Township on a farm of 100 acres. He married Maggie Conroy. Adora Amelia is the wife of E. C. Ames, of Ellsworth, Wis. The other is Rancel Adelbert. All of the children of Mr. Roatch were educated at Fond du Lac and in Pierce County. There were only four or five homes in Ellsworth when Mr. Roatch came to Pierce County. He has seen Pierce county change from its wild and primitive state to the rich and highly cultivated farms of today, and has done his full share towards making Pierce County what it is at the present time.

RODRIGUES, RAYMOND
RUEPING EMPLOYE DIES
Raymond Rodrigues Expires At Age of 26; Four Children Survive Raymond Rodrigues, 26, an employee of the Fred Rueping Leather Co., died at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the city. Surviving relatives include the widow; three daughters, Mary, Socorro,
and Rebecca and a son, Antonio; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rodrugues, a brother, Ignatius and a sister, Miss Louise Rodrigues of this city. Funeral services will be conducted at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday from the residence, 19 John street and at 9 a.m. from St. Louis Church. The Rev. Julian Racette will officiate and burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

ROTTMAN, JACOB
Jacob Rottman, a native of Bavaria Germany, settled in Washington County Wisconsin as early as 1843, where he purchased 40 acres of farm land on Section 15 in Germantown. Here he met and married Barbara PFEIL on December 18, 1844 at Christ Church. Jacob's parents and siblings are unknown, but appears he had family in Fond Du Lac County. The Pfeil's, also early settlers of Washington County, were a large family and many lived in the nearby townships. Barbara's parents are unknown to us at this time, but appears she had a brother, or possibly a cousin, Phillip Pfeil, who came to Washington County from Heppenheim, /Rhine Hessen, Germany in 1846.

Jacob Rottman was in his 30's when he married, born about 1809- 1810. Barbara's year of birth was determined to be ca. 1819. They had five children while in Germantown, Jacob Jr., (married Elizabeth ROCKSTRAH), born Sept 2, 1846, Catherine Mary, (married Carl QUANDT) born Jan 29, 1848, John Bernhardt, (married Marion (KILGORE) born Dec 5, 1849, and Margaret, (married Ludwig BECK) born Jan 15, 1852.

The family had moved to Wayne twp by 1854 and Jacob sold the property in Germantown in July of 1857. In 1858 he was listed as one of the trustees in a deed to purchase land on Section 11, town of Wayne, for the German Methodist Episcopal Church. The other trustees were Henrich Lay, and wife Katherine, Phillip Speilman and Jacob Lay.

Three more children were born while in Wayne twp, Caroline Sophia, (married Joseph HARTL) born Oct 23, 1854, Elizabeth, born 1856 and Paulina Christine, (married Andrew ZACHER) born 1859. In 1867 they were living on a farm one mile south of Kewaskum where they remained until 1869. The Rottmans were listed as members of the ME Church in Kewaskum from March 4, 1855 to Sept 18, 1869 and then moved again to Fond Du Lac County, town of Auburn. It is believed that Jacob Rottman passed away in Fond Du Lac County sometime between 1870 and 1880. Barbara later went to live in Kenosha with her married daughter, Margaret Beck, and died in November 1899.

REITZ, JACOB a practical and enterprising farmer of the Town of Empire, residing on section 13, was born in Hessen, Germany on 30th of March, 1830, and is a son of John and Maggie Meier Reitz. The family numbered eight sons, six of whom are now living---Henry, John, Christian, Jacob, Joseph, George, George, Lewis. The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood in his native land and received his education in the public schools. In his early manhood he resolved that he would try his fortune in the New World, and bidding goodbye to home and friends, left Germany on the 6th of June, 1857. Four weeks were consumed in making the voyage across the Atlantic. He landed at Castle Garden, and after spending the following night in New York City, at once continued his journey until reaching Fond du Lac County, WI, where he had friend living. He secured work as a farm hand in the employ of Mr. Phillips, with whom he remained for three months, when he began working for a brother of this gentleman. He was unmarried on his arrival in this country, but during the following year, 1858, he led to the marriage altar Miss Margaret Petrie, a native of Germany. In the spring of that year, he and his wife were both employed by Mr. Phillips, but after a year, having accumulated by their joint efforts some capital, they purchased a small farm of thirty-six acres on section 12, town of Empire, where they made their home for about ten years. At the expiration of that time, he bought twenty acres, making fifty-six, and two years later added forty-seven acres more, then he sold fifty-six acres, and in 1875, Mr. Reitz purchased 149 acres of land on section 13, constituting the farm which he now occupies, while his son is living on the original homestead. Nine children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Reitz and the family circle yet remains unbroken. They are as follows; George, Henry, Jacob Jr., Katie, Annie, Lewis, Willie, Maggie, and Otto.. They have all received liberal education advantages, thereby being fitted for the  practical duties of this life. This family is an honored and respected one, and holds a high position in the social world. Of determined and energetic nature, Mr. Reitz, though beginning life in limited circumstances, has gained a comfortable property for himself and family. He is truly a self-made man. By industry and ability he has steadily worked his way upward; no petty trial could cause him to relinquish any object for which he was striving, but with a commendable steadfastness of purpose he has pushed forward until attaining the goal. As a citizen, he feels a deep interest in the public welfare, and is liberal in his support of those enterprises which tend to advance the best interest of the community. Heis a warm friend of education, and did effective service for the cause while serving as School Trustee. In politics, he affiliates with the Republican party, and has held the office of Pathmaster, Collector and Treasurer. For a number of years he has been a member of the Lutheran Church and is an upright honorable man, who receives the confidence and respect of all with whom he comes in contact.