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 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.

  

General Family Tree

I've made a very rough, first draft of an extended family tree from what I currently know about our extended family. PLEASE feel free to send me more information, so I can add detail & correct mistakes.

I've included some in-law familys because we have extensive relations with them. In several cases they have inter-married multiple times. We'd like in laws to attend the reunion if they're interested in our joint family history.

More (I hope) on this later.

Rough draft of extended family tree

The Extended Rachui-Rachuy-Rachuig Family

I've had a lot going this past year, so I haven't been able to post much to this blog. I want to restart posting items in the run up to this year's reunion. I'll try to post things every week.

One of the questions I've received is how the Rachui - Rachuy - Rachuig families are related. I hope I can give a comprehensible answer to that question soon. The best I can do right now is point some research my aunt, Mayme Rachuig Hause, has done.

She has discovered that Theodore's father, Johnann Rachuy, is very likely August Wilhem Rachuig, Sr.'s brother. They all settled in Washington County, Texas in the mid-1800s.

You should note that the spelling varied within branches of the family. For example, the August Rachuig family is also listed as Rachui on some US censuses. I still have no idea why or exactly when my branch of the family added a 'g.'

I hope to have more definitive info for you soon.

I also want to point out that we have several in-law families that have close ties to us, like the Kruegers, Kunkels & Bernhardts - not to mention the Schulzes who have combined their annual reunion with the Rachuigs for several years now. We hope they'll all join us at the family reunion at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Norse, Texas in July.

I'll have more details about the reunion on this blog. I hope to see you there.

Theodore and Maria Rachui

(UPDATE) Mayme Rachuig Hause has explained to me that Theodore was the son of Johann Rachuy. (We believe Johann Rachuy and August Wilhelm Rachuig were brothers.) Maria's maiden name was Andraisemier. They settled in Marlin, Texas.

Otto Oskar Rachui (see below) was their son.

Emilie Rachui Schminke was Theodore's sister. You can find her obituary in an earlier entry on this blog. It's very interesting because all three branches of the family, Rachui-Rachuy-Rachuig, are mentioned in it.


Linda Rachui gave me this photo at the 2009 reunion. I don't have details on this couple, but I will post them when I receive some.

Oscar Otto Rachui and His Wife

(UPDATE) I got a note from Mayme Rachuig Hause explaining that Oscar Rachui was the son of Theodore and Maria Rachui. (See the next entry above.) Oscar was born on November 6, 1889 and died on October 3, 1935. His wife is Menna Wilhelmine Schroeder. They were married on November 11, 1915 in Marlin Falls, Texas. Menna ('Minnie") died on December 19, 1992 at age 95. (She married Paul B. Grams after she became a widow.)

Linda Rachui provided this photo at the 2009 reunion. I don't have any details on the couple. I hope Linda provides me some, so I can post them.

Emilie Rachui Schminke (Photo and 1952 Obituary)

Lanelle Schminke Sonntag provided me this photo and obituary of her paternal grandmother, Emilie Rachui Schminke.

Her obituary is a unique record as far as I can tell. It combines elements of the Rachui, Rachuig, and Rachuy families. Of course, her maiden surname was Rachui. (Notice she was born in Poland.) Her son's wife Hattie is a member of the Rachuig family. And, the Kalscheuers (poll bearer at her funeral) are connected to the Rachuy family.