The Theodore Rachui Family

I want to thank Linda Rachui for bringing these photos to the recent family reunion.  They are just a few of the pictures we scanned of the Theodore Rachui family.  

The first one is undated, but it shows the family -- parents and children.  I've also provided a scan of an annotation.

The next photo shows Reinhold Rachui who was killed in WWI.  Note the photo was taken in Marlin.   The Theodore Rachui family settled in Perry, Texas -- not far from Marlin.

This last photo shows Theodore with granddaughter Elsie, who was John Rachui's daughter.  Note the photo was taken in Clifton.

 

Noodling & the Rachuig Family

Robert Rachuig, grandson of Rube Rachuig & Huldina Ickert, has sent me a few short messages about his memories of 'the old days.'   His first one concerns 'noodling,' which is the term for catching catfish and other large, rough fish by hand.  My mother and aunt have very clear memories of these noodling expeditions.  Many of you will remember that I've posted pictures of them in the past.

Here's the text of Robert's message plus a picture we scanned at the recent family reunion.

"Robert Rachuig's Family Memories at the home of his grand parents, Rudolph and Huldina Rachuig."

One of the special memories I have of my grand parents is about the family summer get-togethers at their home between Clifton and Valley Mills. It was on or near the 4th of July every year. On many of those occasions, we had a fish fry for family and friends, at their place on the Bosque river. On many occasions, we had a big fishing expedition to catch the fish for the picnic. 

I remember gathering at the Clifton city park and all of the men getting into the river and dragging a long net down the river and catching all the rough fish we could, that was legal to catch in that manner. It was about 5 miles from the park to my grand parents place on the river. Rough fish were fish with scales. However, it was not legal to catch fish by hand, such as catfish. 

My father and his two brothers were raised on the river and knew all the catfish hiding places down in under the banks on the river. They, along with the other men, did engage in the act of taking some of the catfish by grabbing them by hand. They were secretly taken home and became a part of the picnic meal. In the afternoon of the day of the fish fry, large tables were placed in the yard under the live oak shade trees, and a large crowd of family and friends came. On an occasion or two, I remember the local game warden was present.  We did have lots of fun at my grand parents home.

Will Krueger, Sr., an unidentified man, & a young boy with catfish.

A view of the Bosque River

Here's a link to my aunt's memories (with pictures) of July 4th picnics & noodling expeditions.  Click here.
 

Richard Rachuig Family, late 1970s

Charlie Rachuig brought these photos of the Richard Rachuig & Anna Kunkel family to the recent family reunion.  I'm not certain who took the pictures, but I presume they were taken in the Rio Grande Valley where most of the family lived.

This first photo shows Richard Rachuig and Anna Kunkel Rachuig in April 1978.  (See page 9 of the family trees listed in the upper-right column of this blog.)

The next photo shows Pat Chandler Walker with her aunt (Rich and Anna's daughter), Clara Rachuig.

This last photo shows Rich and Anna's daugher, Esther Rachuig Chandler with her husband, E. B., and her sister Frieda.

Dieter Rachuy

Here's a photo of Dieter Rachuy when he visited a Rachuig-Rachui-Rachuy reunion in Clifton a few years ago.  This gives me a chance to correct a mistake I made in my last postings.  Dieter's brother-in-law died recently, not his brother as I said.  We hope his sister and her family are doing well.

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.  Check out the explanation here.  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.

 

Charles & Sally Rachuig Kelly with Aunt Hilda Rachuig Krueger, 1983

Here's a photo my brother Bruce scanned at the recent reunion.  Charlie Rachuig had it in his family's collection of photos.  That's my mother and father with my mother's Aunt, Hilda Rachuig Krueger.  Hilda was married to Will Krueger, Sr.  Her children were Will Krueger, Jr. and Dorothy Krueger Mansur.

I believe they are the home of Aunt Hilda's son, Will Jr., in Clifton.  The date on the reverse is July 9, 1983.

 

An Online Site With Galveston Immigration Lists

Dorothy Rachui and I discussed immigration lists at the recent reunion. I told her the Galveston Historical Association had put Galveston's immigration lists online.  Here is the link to their site.

I'm disappointed because it's not as good as I remembered it.  Actually, I confused this with the search facilities available to visitors at the center.  It has several kiosks for various searches of their data base.  

Regardless, I thought I'd post this link in case anyone wanted to use it.  You'll see that the Bark Gessner is listed among the ships in the data base.  It's the ship on which August Wilhelm Rachui/Rachuig sailed to Galveston in 1868. (I just tried searching for August, but had no luck.  I'm not sure if this site is working.  I may have to contact them.)

A Picture of Charlie Rachuig Back in 1955

I have a similar picture, which I posted in the past.  Click here to view it.  As you read in the old post, I couldn't identify the child, and I actually thought it was a little girl!

Well, my brother scanned some of Charlie's family photos at the recent reunion, and we solved the mystery.  It's Charlie!  I can tell by the annotation on the back of the photo below.  It says 'Gary,' the name his family called him when he was a youngster.

 

A Still Photo from 2012 Reunion

Family members at the Rachuy-Rachuig-Rachui-Schulz Reunion on July 21, 2012:  We are standing in front of the meeting hall at Our Savior's Church in Norse, Texas.

  

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.