Unverified Photo of Anton Rauscher
(16) Anton “Anthony” Rauscher (my 4th Great-Grandfather) was born about 24 Dec 1816 in the commune of Scheibenhard, Alsace, France and died 30 Jan 1898 in Vernon, Oneida County, New York. His parents were Andreas Rauscher and Elisabetha Schmaltz, and had three siblings, Joseph Rauscher, Peter Joseph Rauscher (1800-1875), and Eve Rosine Rauscher Ritter (1820-1886). His father was a farm laborer.
(17) Catherine Kaiser was born about 1813 in Alsace, France. She died on 27 Jun 1878 in Vernon, Oneida County, New York.
When I started to research my Rauscher family history, I fully expected to trace my Rauscher heritage back to Germany. I did not expect to find that our Rauscher immigrant ancestor came from Alsace, France. Alsace is located in eastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine next to Germany and Switzerland. While Alsace was under French control, at this time, the Rauschers probably considered themselves ethnically German. Most of Alscase spoke a dialect of German known as Alsatian and much of the economic trade in the region would have been with Germany.
The commune/village that Anton was born into was named Scheibenhard. It is at the exact northeastern most tip of France on the German border. In fact, the French commune of Scheibenhard is a continuous town with the German village of Scheibenhardt, with only a small creek, the Lauter, separating them.
Anton and Catherine must have married prior to 1839, which is when their 1st son, (8) Frank Joseph Rauscher (1839-1916), was born. In 1848, they had a daughter, Apollonia Caroline Rauscher (1848-1900). A year later, they had a 2nd son, Sebastian Clements Rauscher. They must have been Catholic, since most of their descendants were Catholic and some of their children were buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Rome, Oneida County, NY.
In 1851, the family immigrated from France to the United States of America. There could have been many reasons for their departure from their homeland. The region was under constant threat of war which threatened the economy. They were farmers, and from 1847 to 1855, there were massive crop failures throughout Europe. But the primary reason for them leaving was probably the fact that it was easy to obtain large amounts of land in America. Immigration would have been fairly easy as there was much trade between this region and the US. Merchant US ships would arrive full of cotton and there would be plenty of room for passengers on their return voyages.
Peter Joseph Rauscher, and his family, had migrated from Alsace to Lewis County, New York in 1840. Anton would settle in Oneida County, New York, just south of where Peter was, so it is likely that they were brothers, or at least kin.
They departed from the port city of Le Havre, France on the ship, Prince De Joinville. They arrived at the Port of New York City on 26 Sep 1851. At this time, the ship simply had to submit a Passenger Customs List. This list contains the following information on the family:
Rauscher, Anton 34 France
Rauscher, Cath 38 France
Rauscher, Joseph 12 France
Rauscher, Apollonia 4 France
* Sebastian is not listed, perhaps he was too young to be listed.
During this period, deceptive employers and unscrupulous money changers would wait on the docks to prey on newly arrived immigrants. These immigrants often arrive with little resources and would be looking for work and lodging. Because of this, in 1855, New York’s Board of Emigration Commissioners established the Emigrant Landing Depot at Castle Garden and later, in 1892, Ellis Island.
The Rauschers settled in the town of Vernon in Oneida County. During the mid-19th century, many German immigrants settled in the mid-New York State region. Oneida County was formed from Herkimer County in 1798 and named after the Oneida Indians. Utica and Rome are the two largest towns in Oneida County. The town of Vernon lies on the western border of Oneida County, south of the center. There are many waterways in this area and Vernon was not far from the Erie Canal and New York Rail Road, so it would be good land for farming and trade. Vernon, and the surrounding towns, supported at least 8 churches, two academies, a bank, five hotels, two stores, a hat manufactory, a knitting factory, a grist mill, carding mill, a flouring mill, and three saw mills. The Fair Ground of the Agricultural Society contained a half-mile track. In 1858, the population of Vernon was around 3,000 people, consisting of 619 families, and 538 dwellings.
Vernon also included the 65,400 acre Oneida Indian Reservation along Duck Creek, on the southwest of the town. Vernon was located where the principal village of the Oneida nation of Indians, Kan-on-wa-lo-hule, once stood.
The first record that we have of the Rauschers, after their arrival in the US, is a land deed, dated 22 Jan 1856, where Anthony Rauscher purchased a plot of land in Oneida County from Nicholas Keiser. He would purchase another plot of land from Keiser on 2 Dec 1856, and a plot from Betsey Brockway on 23 Jun 1860. It is possible that Nicholas Keiser was Catherine’s brother or uncle.
In the 1860 census, their real estate and personal estate is worth $1,300 (approx. $43,000 in 2021). They have one addition to their family, George Rauscher, aged 5.
In the Gazetteer and Business Directory of Oneida County, N.Y. for 1869, Anthony is listed as a landowning farmer. According to the Gazeetteer, Anthony got his mail in Vernon, lived on lot 223 and had 60 acres. Joseph, his nephew, also lived on lot 223, and had 55 acres.
Anthony's land mentioned above is shown in the two images below. The first image is of the 1874 Landowners map of Vernon, NY. The second image zooms in on the upper right corner of the first image, so that you can clearly see the property labeled a. rauscher (Anthony Rauscher).
In the 1870 census, we find out that their estate value has increased to $3,100 (approx. 65,000 in 2021). Anthony is listed as a farmer and the farm produced Oats, Corn, Wheat, and Barley.
On June 27, 1878, Catherine Rauscher dies, unfortunately we do not know the cause of her death.
In the 1880 census, Anthony is listed as a widower and a retired farmer. He is 64 years old and his son George’s family lives with him. George is 25, married to a woman named Frances, and they have a son named Charles which is 1 year old.
It appears that in 1891, Anthony underwent a surgery which consisted of “removal of the lower eye lid, and other structure near the eye, which had become involved in a cancerous growth. After the cancer had been removed, a portion of skin from the cheek was dissected up and stitched in place for a new lid. The patient is doing finely, and the wound seems to be healing properly.”
On February 1, 1898, Anthony Rauscher died. At the time of his death, he had 4 children and 15 grandchildren. All of his sons were farmers, except George who appears to have run a store. His obituary mentions a wife, but there is no evidence of him remarrying.
His obituary reads:
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| Oneida County, New York |
Vernon also included the 65,400 acre Oneida Indian Reservation along Duck Creek, on the southwest of the town. Vernon was located where the principal village of the Oneida nation of Indians, Kan-on-wa-lo-hule, once stood.
The first record that we have of the Rauschers, after their arrival in the US, is a land deed, dated 22 Jan 1856, where Anthony Rauscher purchased a plot of land in Oneida County from Nicholas Keiser. He would purchase another plot of land from Keiser on 2 Dec 1856, and a plot from Betsey Brockway on 23 Jun 1860. It is possible that Nicholas Keiser was Catherine’s brother or uncle.
In the 1860 census, their real estate and personal estate is worth $1,300 (approx. $43,000 in 2021). They have one addition to their family, George Rauscher, aged 5.
In the Gazetteer and Business Directory of Oneida County, N.Y. for 1869, Anthony is listed as a landowning farmer. According to the Gazeetteer, Anthony got his mail in Vernon, lived on lot 223 and had 60 acres. Joseph, his nephew, also lived on lot 223, and had 55 acres.
Anthony's land mentioned above is shown in the two images below. The first image is of the 1874 Landowners map of Vernon, NY. The second image zooms in on the upper right corner of the first image, so that you can clearly see the property labeled a. rauscher (Anthony Rauscher).
On June 27, 1878, Catherine Rauscher dies, unfortunately we do not know the cause of her death.
In the 1880 census, Anthony is listed as a widower and a retired farmer. He is 64 years old and his son George’s family lives with him. George is 25, married to a woman named Frances, and they have a son named Charles which is 1 year old.
It appears that in 1891, Anthony underwent a surgery which consisted of “removal of the lower eye lid, and other structure near the eye, which had become involved in a cancerous growth. After the cancer had been removed, a portion of skin from the cheek was dissected up and stitched in place for a new lid. The patient is doing finely, and the wound seems to be healing properly.”
On February 1, 1898, Anthony Rauscher died. At the time of his death, he had 4 children and 15 grandchildren. All of his sons were farmers, except George who appears to have run a store. His obituary mentions a wife, but there is no evidence of him remarrying.
His obituary reads:
VERNON, Feb. 1.—Anthony Rauscher, aged 82, died at his home in this place yesterday. Four years ago Mr. Rauscher suffered a stroke of paralysis which deprived him of his speech. He was born in Alsace and came to this country fifty-four years ago and had since lived continuously upon the farm where he died. He leaves his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Jacob Siegrist of Utica, and three sons, Sebastian, George of Westmoreland, and Joseph, with whom he lived.
His last will and testament::
In 1946, Anthony is mentioned one more time in the Syracuse Herald Journal:
Sources:
“I Anthony Rauscher of the Town of Verona being of sound disposing mind and memory do hereby make ordain publish and declare the following as and for my last will and testament. That is to say. After all my just debts and funeral charges and other expenses, administering upon my estate are paid I give devise and bequeath unto my son Frank Joseph Rauscher one half of all my property and estate to be his absolute property forever.On 7 Mar 1898, Anton Rauscher’s land was granted to Frank J Rauscher and Abolonia Siegrist (New York Land Records, 1630-1975).
2nd All the rest residue and remainder of my estate and property I give devise and bequeath unto my son George Rauscher and my daughter Abolonia Sechrist wife of Jacob Sechrist of Utica, NY to be divided between them equally share and share alike. I hereby revoke any & all former wills by me at any time made and declare this and this only to be my last will and testament.
Lastly I hereby name constitute and appoint my said son Frank Joseph Rauscher to be the executor of this my last will and testament… In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal this 10th day of March 1896.”
In 1946, Anthony is mentioned one more time in the Syracuse Herald Journal:
“C. Everett Rauscher, Utica, was elected president of the Anthony Rauscher Family Association this week when 45 descendants gathered in Chittenango Park. It was the first reunion since the beginning of World War II. Joseph Happle, Oneida, was chosen vice president; Mrs. Bart Quinn Clinton, secretary, and Mr.s Edward F. Rauscher, Utica, treasurer. Relatives were present from Oneida, Detroit, Utica, Verona, Westemoreland, Oriskany, Canastote, and Clinton. Games were played and prizes were awarded. Recorded during the last year were four deaths, five marriages, and eight births.
Anthony Rauscher (1817-1898) and Catherine Kaiser Rauscher (1813-1878)
- Frank Joseph Rauscher (1839-1916)
- Abolonia Caroline Rauscher Meyer Seigrist (1848-1900)
- Sebastien Clements Rauscher (1849-1918)
- George Rauscher (1854-1911)
Related Pictures:
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| Sebastian Clements Rauscher |
- Ancestry.com, Findagrave.com, Newspapers.com, Wikipedia.com.
- United States Federal Census Records.
- New York, Death Index, 1852-1956.
- New York State Census
- "The Alsace-Lorraine Question," The Scientific Monthly v.6 n.5, C. C. Eckhardt, 1918.
- "Chronicling America, History American Newspapers," Library of Congress Website.
- New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957.
- Gazetteer and business directory of Oneida County, N.Y. for 1869.
- New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999
- Syracuse Herald Journal (Syracuse, New York), 31 Aug 1946
- U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918
- "Our County and Its People, A Descriptive Work on Oneida County, NY," Daniel E. Wager, 1896.
- "Things Worth Knowing About Oneida County," W. W. Canfield and J. E. Clark, 1909.
- "Commerce, Manufactures, and Resources of Oneida County," 1883.
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