Blaine Arnim Singing National Anthem at Sugar Land Skeeters Baseball Game

Blaine Armin, son of Emily Petersen Armin, grandson of Becky Bass Galimore, great-grandson of Mayme Rachuig Hause, great-great-grandson of Herbert Rachuig, and great-great-great-grandson of Selma Shulz Rachuig, was part of a school group who sang the National Anthem before a Sugar Land Skeeters minor league baseball game in September.  Blaine is a member of the Westlake Prep School choir who performed that night.

Blaine is the little, blond-haired boy in front of the group.

 

Mayme Rachuig Hause's Memories of the 1940s

My aunt, Mayme Rachuig Hause, sent me the following note.  (Her father, Herbert Rachuig, was Selma Schulz Rachuig's youngest son.)

Pan for Cornbread Sticks

The picture is of my Mother’s iron corn bread stick pan. Today, it hangs above my stove in Nixon, Texas. My thoughts go back to my years at home with my parents and sister Sally as we grew up in Sugar Land, Texas.

When Sally and I were younger and in school, Mother cooked the family pinto beans and corn bread sticks made in that pan. When Mother went to work in the Post Office in Sugar Land, she would often leave a big pot of beans and corn bread sticks for the evening meal. However, when Sally and I came home from school, just like most of the children now, we were starved. The pot of beans on the stove was so inviting that we would always have a bowl and a corn bread stick. Some times if we were hungrier than usual, the pot would be almost empty when we were through with our snack. That was not always a good idea as Mother would be a little upset to say the least. But most of the time she cooked an ample amount for a snack and our meal. Even our German father loved this delicious Southern meal too!!!

On the lighter side about my Daddy’s special treats!

Daddy loved Limberger cheese, and if you are not familiar with this cheese, it has a particularly strong smell. Mother was not always pleased to have it in the fridge for more than a day or two. It came in small wedges wrapped in foil about 2 or 3 bites. Can’t imagine anyone going in and buying a pound of it. WHEW!!!! You don’t see this cheese too much any more, but perhaps in specialty cheese shops now. The Germans were especially fond of it. Maybe when the older generation of my father passed away, there was not much of a demand for it!!!

  

Old Photos from Our Savior's Church in Norse

Our Savior's has a page on Facebook, which I view often.  Several long-time members have posted old photos of the congregation.  Unfortunately, they have trouble identifying most of the people in the pictures.  So far, they've identified one family member, Hulen Hanson, Jr., whose mother was Mildred Rachuig, daughter of Huldina & Rudolph 'Rube' Rachuig.  

If anyone can identify other people in these photos, I'll be happy to pass the information along.

Early 20th century?

Early 20th century?

1950s?

March 1954

Hulen Hanson, Jr. back right.

 

Ernst Walter Viertel & Caroline Henrietta Rachuig

These two photos show Ernst Walter Viertel and Caroline Henrietta Rachuig.  The first photo captures them on their wedding day, October 20, 1931.  The next one shows them a few months later at Christmas.

Ernst's parents were Anna Kamilla Schulz & Hugo Torvell Viertel.  Their family tree (page 4) appears in the upper-right column of this blog.  Caroline's parents were Rudolph 'Rube' Rachuig & Huldina Ickert.  For those of you keeping score, this is another instance of intermarriage between the Rachuig & Schulz families.

I want to thank Dorothy Krueger Mansur for bringing these photos to the recent reunion, so we could scan them.
 

Alma Viertel Knudson

My thanks go to Dorothy Krueger Mansur for bringing this photo to the recent reunion.  It's undated, but it shows Alma Viertal as a young woman.  Her parents were Martha Alinda Schutz and Otto Gustav Viertel.  Their family tree (page 3) is in the upper-right column of this blog.  Her husband was Gustav Conrad Knudson.  My records show she had one son, Howard Hance Knudson, born in 1944.

Will & Hilda Krueger Visit Sugar Land in late '70s

This photo was taken on my parents' patio in Sugar Land, Texas.  Aunt Hilda & Uncle Will (Mr. & Mrs. Will Krueger, Sr.) were on a visit to Sugar Land in the late 1970s.  I remember the visit, but I don't recall the date exactly.  

From left to right: my aunt, Mayme Rachuig Hause, her uncle, Will Krueger, Sr., her aunt, Hilda Rachuig Krueger, and her sister (my mother), Sally Rachuig Kelly.  My thanks go to Dorothy Krueger Mansur for bringing this picture to the recent reunion.

 

Repeat of Schulz Reunion, 1964

I know I've posted this photo before, but this is a much better image than the previous one.  I can identify several people, but there are many I can't. I'd appreciate any help anyone can provide.

This photo was taken at Tobias & Wilhelmine Schulz's homestead near Cranfils Gap.  I think most of the early Schulz family reunions met out there.  I had the good fortune to attend one of those reunions; I think it was in 1962.

My thanks go to Charlie Rachuig for bringing this photo to the recent reunion.

Bosquerama, Bosque County's Centennial Celebration, 1954

 

Charlie Rachuig brought the following photos to the recent reunion.  Even though they are a little 'odd,' I knew exactly what they were.

In May 1954, Bosque County celebrated its 100th birthday.  The exact dates were May 1st to May 8th.  (I've done some research and provided links below.)  I made a trip with my grandmother, Mamie Adams Rachuig, sometime in April 1954, I think.  If we were there during the celebration, I don't remember the parade or any organized events.  Anyway, I remember all the men in our extended family had grown beards, which spooked me a little.  I was just 4-years old, so it all made a big impression on me.

Here are a few pictures of the event, which was called Bosquerama.  Click here for 1st photo.  Click here for 2nd photo.  Click here for 3rd photo.

The idea was to dress like people did in 1854; thus the old-fashioned clothes.  Men let their beards grow, and women could not wear make up.  They had a system of fines, or permits for those citizens who needed/wanted to break the rules.  Click here to read an explanation.  Here is a better look at the permit badges and other memorabilia.

Here are some photos of our extended family in their costumes.

Charles A. Rachuig, Julius Rachuig, Charlie Rachuig, & Betty Rachuig at Will & Hilda Krueger's home in Clifton.

Will Krueger, Sr. standing in his front yard in Clifton.

Will Krueger, Jr., Will Krueger, Sr., & Julius Rachuig in Will, Sr.'s front yard.

Same trio as above 'cutting up.'

 
I can identify all but two people in the next photo. Standing left-to-right: Charles A. Rachuig, Edgar Rachuig, Jerry Belcher, Hilda Rachuig Krueger, Evelyn Rachuig Belcher, Jack Belcher, Walter Rachuig, Sr., Hans Mansur, Dorothy Rachuig Mansur, unknown man, unknown woman, & Julius Rachuig.  Sitting left-to-right: Betty Rachuig with Charlie, Will Krueger, Sr., Alvina Beyerstadt Rachuig, & Will Krueger, Jr.
 

 

The Old Rock Church, Cranfils Gap, Texas

St. Olaf Kirke, better known as The Old Rock Church, is located near Cranfils Gap, Texas.  The church is roughly 6 miles from Our Savior's Church in Norse where we've had the last two family reunions.

I found a short Wikipedia article on the Church.  Click here to view it.  I need to research the Church's connections to our extended family.  

Several reunion attendees visited the church. My aunt, Mayme Rachuig Hause, sent me these pictures.

 

A Photo from July 1995

Charlie Rachuig brought the following picture to the 2012 reunion.  It shows Sally Rachuig Kelly, her son Bruce Kelly, Evelyn Rachuig Belcher, and Dorothy Krueger Mansur.  The date is July 15, 1995, and the location is Clifton.

Evelyn was the last surviving child of Selma Schulz & Julius Rachuig.

 

Camilla Olson & Hugo Schulz Family

My brother Bruce scanned this photo at the 2012 reunion.  Charlie Rachuig had it in his collection of photos.  It shows Camilla Olson & Hugo Schulz with their children.  The photo is undated, but it must have been taken in the '50s.  I think the location is the Schulz homestead near Cranfils Gap, so the occasion may have been a Schulz family reunion.

Wilma Schulz Dean, Elmo Clinton Schulz, Camilla Olson Schulz, Hugo Victor Schulz, Carol Marvin Schulz, & H. V. Schulz.

Group Photo from Recent Family Reunion

Here's a picture of family members who gathered at the recent reunion in Norse, Texas.  We're standing at the entrance of the meeting hall at Our Savior's Church.

 

A Short History of Clifton

I found this short history of Clifton, Texas.  Click here.  I thought it was a good summary, so I've posted the link.

A Ten-Minute Video of Our Recent Family Reunion

Here is a link to a ten-minute video I made of our family reunion at Our Savior's Church in Norse, Texas on Saturday, July 21, 2012.  My brother Bruce scanned pictures which I will post in a few days.  I also have very good pictures of the Old Rock Church near Cranfils Gap.  It has connections to our extended family.

 I identified people as best I could.  I didn't leave anyone out intentionally. 

 

Hans Mansur, 1926-2012

Hans Mansur on the left with his wife Dorthy on her parents' 50th wedding anniversary.  Dorothy's parents Will & Hilda Rachuig Krueger in the center.  Her sister-in-law Mary Hoff and her brother Will Krueger, Jr. on the right.

 

I'm sorry to report that Hans Masur passed away last week.  He was Dorothy Krueger Mansur's husband.  Dorothy is the granddaughter of Julius & Selma Schulz Rachuig and Julius & Emile Krueger.

Hans always enjoyed (and helped organize) the Rachuig-Schulz reunions.  He wasn't a blood relation, but he was very close to my branch of our family.  He's enjoying a heavenly family reunion now.

Here's is a link to a brief obituary.
 

A History of Bosque County (Texas), 1986

I'm not certain if other family researchers have known about this resource, but it was new to me.  It's a history of Bosque County (Texas) published in 1986.  I found histories of various branches of our extended family (e.g., Ickerts, Bernhardts, & Krugers) as well as information on various communities where branches of the family lived.  I'll have to take a closer look at this resource.

I also noted that the Chisolm Trail (a major path for Texas cattle drives) passed through Valley Mills and Morgan.  I never knew this.

Link to history of Bosque County.

W. T. Block Overview of German Immigration to Texas

My thanks to my aunt, Mayme Rachuig Hause, for sending me this overview of German immigration to Texas.  I need to research the Wendish church in Serbin because there are indications my branch of the Rachui/Rachuig/Rachuy family attended the Lutheran Church in that community.  

Regardless, Block provides a good general survey of German immigration to Texas.

Link to W. T. Block article.

Helon Ruth Viertel Knudson

Here's a picture of Helon Ruth Viertel Knudson as a toddler.   Her maternal grandfather was Rube Rachuig.  Her paternal grandmother was Anna Kamilla Schulz.  The picture was taken sometime in the late '30s.

The 2012 Family Reunion is Saturday, July 21st, in Norse

I want to remind everyone that the family reunion this year is on Saturday, July 21st, at Our Savior's Church in Norse.  We had a very enjoyable time there last year, and Helon Ruth Viertel Knudson has reserved the hall for us.  It's a bright, roomy place with everything we need.  The surrounding country-side is beautiful -- so, you'll enjoy the drive out there.  Join us on the 21st.

Here's a link to a Web site with information about Our Savior's Church in Norse.

1940 US Census Records

Some of you may know the 1940 US Census records are now available online.  I've done a cursory review of the records for Bosque County and found several families in our group.  

The most important thing to remember is that the records are not yet indexed by name.  You must search by enumeration district.  To identify these districts you must look at the annotated county maps. You see the census map for most of Bosque County below.  

The enumation districts have numbers that begin with '18.'  The district for the town of Clifton is 18-18.  The map isn't all that detailed, so you may need to do some trial-and-error searching to find your target family.  For example, look at Norse.  It's a small town but it sits on the boundary of two districts: 18-19 & 18-20.  You may have to search both sets of records to find who you're looking for.  You'll see a link to the map on the Census Web site just under the image.  There are 6 map images for Bosque County, and Google doesn't allow much magnification, so you  may want to go to the Census site to get a really good look.  (You can see a highly-magnified view there.)

Link to map on Census Web site.

For example, here is the page showing the Hugo Schulz family in enumeration district no. 18-19.  They appear starting at line no. 31.  (I've provided a link below to the page on the Census Web site, so you can see a highly-magnified view.)

Link to page on Census Web site.

This next page shows Jack Belcher's family on line no. 7.  They also appear in district 18-19.  Jack's wife, Evalyn Rachuig, was the daughter of Julius & Selma Schulz Rachuig. (Click the link under the image to get a magnified view.)

Link to page on Census Web site.