Some Attendees of the 2010 Rachui-Rachuy-Rachuig and Schulz Family Reunion

Some people left before we could take a picture of the whole group. Notice Herbert Schulz wearing his authentic German hat.

Obituary for Alvine Rachuig Bernhardt, 1960

Mrs. Bernhardt Dies on July 15th
Waco Times-Herald, July 16, 1960

Having been in ill health for the past six years and an invalid for the last three, Mrs. Herman Bernhardt, died in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Marie Bernhardt in the Chase Community on Route 1, Clifton at 6:30 o’clock on Friday morning July 15. She had reached the age of 82 years, 3 months and 13 days at the time of her demise.

Mrs. Bernhardt had suffered for several years with hardening of the arteries, and for the last three been bedridden. She had been cared for by her devoted daughter. She seems just to go peacefully to sleep when her death occurred.

Funeral services for Mrs. Bernhardt were held at 2:30 o’clock on Sunday afternoon, July 17 in the Zion United Church of Christ at Womack, near Clifton, and were conducted by her pastor, Rev. Walter R. Simpson, Jr.

During the services Calvin Rueter sang “Beyond the Sunset” and members of the church choir rendered “What a Friend We Have In Jesus”. They were accompanied at the organ by Mrs. Edwin F. Conrad.

Pallbearers were Edgar Phillipp, Rich Hennig, Jr., Edwin Struempler, Herbert Bernhardt, Walter Landau and Otto Zuelke all of Clifton.
Interment followed in the Chase Cemetery.

Obituary Given

A daughter of the late August and Mrs. Henrietta Bernhardt Rachuig, Mrs. Alvine E. Rachuig Bernhardt was born in Washington Co. TX on April 2, 1878. When she was a small girl, she accompanied her family, one of the pioneer families to settle in that section of Bosque County to the Chase Community near Clifton.

Mrs. Bernhardt’s family later moved to a farm along the Bosque River south of Clifton, and it was there that she resided until she reached young womanhood. She was one of ten children in her family and attended the old rock schoolhouse on the banks of the Bosque River in “oldtown” Clifton.

In Meridian on March 27, 1901, she became the bride of Herman Bernhardt, a son of the late Michael Bernhardt. To their marriage also were born ten children – six sons, Albert, Herman, Jr., Otto, Henry, Walter and Herbert, four daughters, Marie [Mrs. Adolph Bernhardt], Annie [Mrs. Tee Smith], Freda [Mrs. Carl Mages] and Louise [Mrs. Grace Smith].

Mrs. Bernhardt was preceded in death by her husband on February 8, 1935, when they resided near Gainesville, and by two sons, Albert of Beaumont and was killed in an auto accident three years ago, and Herman Jr. who died in infancy.

Following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bernhardt lived in the Chase Community in Bosque County until 1905, at which time they moved to Ardmore, Ok. In the later part of the first year, the Bernhardt’s went to Cooke Co. near Gainesville and made their home on a farm near that city for 30 years. They were living ten miles from Gainesville when Mr. Bernhardt’s death occurred in February 1935.

In the fall of 1935, after her husband died, Mrs. Bernhardt, her youngest 4 sons, Otto, Henry Walter and Herbert, returned to Bosque Co. to live and resided on the Henry Isensee place southeast of Clifton. In 1937, they moved to the Blake Jameson place in the Chase community. When Mrs. Bernahrdt’s youngest sons, Walter and Herbert went into the Armed Forces in 1941, she went to live with her son, Otto Bernhardt on Rt. 1 Meridian. She remained there until 1952, then moved to a house near her daughter, Mrs. Bernhardt. When she became an invalid three years ago, she moved into her daughter’s house.

Mrs. Bernhardt was baptized into the Lutheran faith in infancy in Washington County and was confirmed in that faith at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clifton. After her marriage, she affiliated with the Zion United Church of Christ at Womack of which was a member at her demise.

During the years Mrs. Bernhardt received much pleasure from her children and grand children. She also greatly enjoyed being occupied in in any way outdoors. Fishing was her hobby.

Left to survive Mrs. Bernhardt are her four sons, Otto Bernhardt of Rt 1, Meridian, Henry Bernhardt of Waco, and Walter Bernhardt and Herbert of Beaumont. Her four daughters Mrs. Adolph Bernhardt of Rt 1. Clifton, Mrs. Tee Smith of Fort Worth, Mrs. Carl Mages of Waco, and Mrs. Grace Smith of Era; 2 brothers R.O. Rachuig of Clifton and Ric of Wesleco; 2 sisters; Mrs. Louie Larson of Clifton and Mrs. Annie Lange of Haggerman, New Mexico, 15 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

The sincerest sympathy is extended to the members of Mrs. Bernhardt’s family in their bereavement.

August & Henrietta Rachuig Family in 1880 US Census

I've included this document because it shows the 'Rachuig' family is listed as 'Rachui' on this census. (See line #176.) The change in spelling is still a mystery, but this is another bit of evidence that the Rachuigs & Rachuis are branches of the same family.

Joyce & Robert Rachuig Family on a Sunday Morning in the 1960s

I assume this photo was taken in Clifton. If you've been reading Robert & Joyce's series of email messages about their work in starting churches, you'll know they moved around quite a bit. I think this photo was taken before they got the travel bug.

My aunt, Mayme Hause, enhanced this photo of her great-grandmother, Fredericka Henrietta Bernhardt Rachuig. (I never knew her first name was Fredericka.)

Evelyn, Jerry & Jack Belcher, Early 1940s

Not sure of the exact date or location of this picture. It came from the Krueger family album.

Undated Photo of Rachuigs

I don't know the date or location of this photo, and I can't identify most of the people in it. However, I recognize Rich Rachuig, Julius Rachuig, & Hilda Rachuig Krueger. Can anyone help?

Photos from The Lang Family

These photos have good captions, so I won't add anything to them.

The Julius C. Krueger Family Around 1900

The annotation says it all. I'm surprised that Uncle Will has light colored hair. He looks quite a bit like his mother. I don't have exact dates, but they may have had this photo taken in Washington County, Texas (down by Brenham).

[Update: I take it back about the location. It has to be Clifton because I recognize that woven-cane chaise longue. It appears in several studio pictures taken in Clifton.]

Edgar & Evelyn Rachuig around 1918

This is a photo of Edgar Rachuig & Evelyn Rachuig Belcher, children of Julius & Selma (Schulz) Rachuig. HOWEVER, now that I think about it, that could be my grandfather, Herbert Rachuig, who was just a year younger than his brother Edgar. They looked quite a bit alike when they were boys. I'm pretty sure the photo was taken at their parents' home on Hackberry Street in Clifton, and I'm very sure they didn't noodle those catfish out of the Bosque River.

(Update from Mayme Rachuig Hause) My aunt has confirmed that the boy in this picture is Edgar - not her father (my grandfather) Herbert.

Unidentified Family, Possibly Kruegers?

I haven't checked closely, but this may be the same group (or nearly the same) that appears in the next blog entry.

Unidentified Family, Possibly Kruegers?

I know that is Will Krueger, Sr. sitting in the lower left. I presume these are members of the Krueger family, but I can't identify them specifically. If you can help, let us know who they are.

Unidentified Family, Possibly Kruegers?

I don't have any helpful information on these people. They must be connected in some way with the Krueger-Rachuig family, but I'm pretty sure they aren't Rachuigs. Maybe someone will know.

Old Mill in Clifton, Texas

This postcard shows the Old Mill on the Bosque River in Clifton. (I think.) I understand it generated the town's electricity in the early 20th Century. Maybe someone can enlighten us on its history.

Christmas Card from the Rich Rachuigs to the Otto Kruegers, Early 1950s

Many thanks to Gail Ferguson for sending me a scan of this Christmas card. Richard & Anna (Kunkel) Rachuig sent it to Otto & Martha (Bernhardt) Krueger, Gail's grandparents sometime in the early 1950s. (That's my best guess.) Rich & Anna lived in the Rio Grande Valley. They mention that their son Hubert and his family (who lived in Michigan) paid them a recent visit.