John Andrew Rauch

RAUCH, CHASDEK SCHASTEK, CLARK CHRISTENSEN, SMITH

Posted By: Kaye Sanchez (email)
Date: 2/23/2005 at 02:08:04

From: Daughters Ida Rauch Clark and Thursa Rauch Christensen
John Andrew Rauch born-15 Aug 1856 and died 29 Oct 1946 at Waterloo, Black Hawk Co. Iowa.
John was born August 15, 1856 near the German/Poland border. His first marriage was in Germany and a daughter was born to him there. He left Germany to come to a free country and to avoid the draft, which required that you served in the Army for nine years. He returned several times to Germany to see his family, there. He arrived in 1882 and became a citizen in 1887.
On December 4, 1889, he married Sarah Chasdek, (Schastek) daughter of John and Antonia Uldrich Chasdek in Fairbury, Nebraska. He was from Otoe County, NE, at that time.
John and Sarah lived with her folks, in Nebraska, until he got a job on a farm in Monticello, Iowa, where three stillborn daughters were born to them.
They moved to LaPorte City, Iowa when he was able to obtain a job on a farm, that also provided them with a house to live in, working for Elias Fox. This house had dirt floors. He later, sold garden produce out of the back-end of the pickup,to near-by residents. The family was very poor and didn't have a washing machine or a refrigerator. In the fall, the whole family worked in the sweet corn factory. John fished and worked for other farmers.
Five daughters were born to them while they lived in LaPorte City and one son; Thursa Nina, born 12 Sept 1905 married 1. Joseph Smith, 2nd John Christensen, 3rd John Whipple; died 6 Jun 1998 Waterloo, IA, buried at Eagle Center, IA; Ida Ora born 30 Sep 1906, married Luverne Clark; died 6 Dec 1981 Fairbanks, IA, buried Westview Cemetery, LaPorte City, IA; Esther Ruth born 16 Aug 1912; married Forrest Edward Smith Sr.,died 7 October 1971,Waterloo, IA, buried at West View Cemetery, LaPorte City, IA and Agnes Veronica, born 10 March 1916; died 3 Oct 2002 Waterloo, IA, buried at West View Cemetery, LaPorte City, IA.
John died at the age of 90 years, 2 months and 14 days, on October 29, 1946 at 1 PM at his home in LaPorte City. He died of senility and shock, caused after an accident or had a heart attack, while climbing in the upper part of the hayloft. He was found hanging from one arm.
One daughter and a son preceded him in death.
He is buried along side his wife, Sarah, who died August 8, 1939, LaPorte City, IA. Both are buried at the WestView Cemetery at LaPorte City, Black Hawk Co IA.