For someone who played such a prominent role in the life of Slatington through the twentieth century as the publisher of the town’s newspaper, there are not a lot of biographical details available about James G. Rauch.
We know that Rauch grew up in Heidelberg Township, part of Lehigh County, in the Pleasant Corners area, and that he became close friends with David A. Miller (1869-1958), who later became the publisher of the Allentown Morning Call newspaper, the preeminent daily newspaper in the Lehigh Valley.
Rauch initially learned the trade of wheelwright and carriage maker from his father, and this was a trade that later in his life proved useful when he constructed his “house car.”
From 1893-1897 Rauch worked at a job printing office in what is now present-day Weissport, PA, and at the end of 1897 be purchased The News Company in Slatington for $2000. He assumed control of the paper in January 1898.
On 10 June 1889 in Fogelsville, he married Emma Smith (1869-1950). She was also born in Heidelberg township, the daughter of Owen Smith (1838-1916), a farmer and wheelwright, and Mary Bittner. (1843-1905).
James and Emma had five sons (Two infants did not survive.):
Oliver James, 1891-1978, m. 12 June 1917 Helen Handwerk, 1894-1944, m. 20 September 1947 Gertrude Hughes, 1898-1949
Russell Joseph, 1896-1982, m. 11 Nov 1921 Helen Best, 1900-1988
Irl Owen, 1899-1996, m. 18 Jul 1943 Anna Reinhard, 1904-1996
Allen George, 1900-1978, m. 26 Sep 1923 Burnetta Bachman, 1901-1974
George Lewis, 1901-1991, m. 7 Sep 1927, Ruth Neff 1904-1986
Photo of the Rauch family in 1939; rear left to right Oliver, Russell, Irl, Allen and George
Here is an illustration of the Rauch family tree.
