The earliest family ancestors of James G. Rauch (1868-1960) about whom I could find definite information were the great-grandparents of James G. Rauch: Andreas Rauch (1769-?) and Catharine Margaretha Ebert (1769-1824), who were married in 1795. I have seen different lists of their children.
One of those children was Michael Rauch (1803-1875) who married Salome Krumm (1806-1888). These were the paternal grandparents of James G. Rauch. They were both born and lived in Heidelberg township (the Pleasant Corners area) of Lehigh County. Michael Rauch was a cabinet maker who made cases for grandfather clocks. Michael and Salome were buried in the Heidelberg church cemetery.
One of the sons of Michael Rauch was Joseph Rauch (1843-1919) who married Amelia Hausman (1846-1909). These were the parents of James G. Rauch. The family lived in Pleasant Corners, a small village about six miles southwest of Slatington. Joseph, after learning the trade of cabinet maker under his father’s direction, turned his attention to carriage making and wagon building in which line he made a name for himself. According to his obituary, “He was a man of mechanical and inventive ability and one who was always studying to improve things.” He was married twice, first about 1868 to Amelia Hausman (1846-1909) and then in 1911 to Sarah Peters née Semmel (1848 -1936). The surviving children of the first marriage included James G. Rauch, Maggie (married to Frank J. Hensinger), Melissa (married to Amandus C. Handwerk) Victor D. Rauch, and Daisy (married to Phaon Scheirer). Joseph and Amelia were buried in the Heidelberg church cemetery.
The maternal grandparents of James G. Rauch were Nathan Hausman (1820-1895) and Julia (Judith) Seibert (1823-1871). They had married in 1841. He was a farmer and distiller in Lowhill township, which is located just south of Pleasant Corners. Nathan and Julia were buried in the Weisenburg Church Cemetery, New Tripoli, PA.
