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.