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.

 

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.

  

Past Reunion Pictures

I want to thank Robert Rachuig for sending me photos from past family reunions. These come from 2002. I'm sorry to say that Hulen, Mildred, Charles, & Willie, Jr. are no longer with us.

This first one shows Hulen & Maye Hanson.



These next two photos show Mildred Rachuig Hanson, Hulen's mother, who was the daughter of Rudolph Otto & Huldina Rachuig. The second photo shows her with her first cousin, Charles Rachuig.



These final pictures are of Will Krueger, Jr. The second shows him with his daughter, Julie Krueger.

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.

Charles Adolph Rachuig

Many of you know that Charles A. Rachuig died earlier this year. (I've provided a link to his obituary below.) He and his family have been the linchpin in maintaining our family reunions over many decades.

I think I speak for all of us who have participated in these reunions when I say thanks to Rocky & his family for all they've done for the extended Rachuig family. He'll be missed.

Link to obituary

My thanks to Robert & Joyce Rachuig for providing these pictures of Rocky from a previous reunion.


Charles Rachuig


Robert & Charles Rachuig


Joyce & Charles Rachuig

Evelyn, Jerry & Jack Belcher, Early 1940s

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