Pages 476-477, transcribed by Carolyn Ward from History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas: embellished with portraits of well known people of these counties, with biographies of our representative citizens, cuts of public buildings and a map of each county / Edited and Compiled by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott. Iola Registers, Printers and Binders, Iola, Kan.: 1901; 894 p., [36] leaves of plates: ill., ports.; includes index.



 

476 cont'd HISTORY OF ALLEN AND  

JOHN RAISH.

JOHN RAISH has been a resident of Allen county for twenty-one years and may therefore be said to have attained his majority as a citizen of this locality. He is widely known as one of the prosperous and reliable

  WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS. 477

citizens of Salem township. He was born in Bedford, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1840, and is a son of Michael and Tracy (Sromanger) Raish, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father came to America in 1839, and from Pennsylvania removed to Quincy, Illinois, where for a number of years he occupied a position as salesman in a large store. He died in 1859, at the age of forty-seven, and his wife, long surviving him, passed away at the age of seventy-five. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom reside in Quincy, Illinois.

John Raish spent the greater part of his youth in Quiucy and was educated in the schools of that city. On putting aside his text books he learned the tinner's trade, which he followed until his removal to Kansas, arriving in Allen county on the 22nd of November, 1879. Here he purchased two hundred and forty acres of raw prairie land, with money saved from his earnings in the tin shop. His place is pleasantly and conveniently located in Salem township, five miles east of Humboldt and is one of the most desirable farms in that part of the county. All modern accessories and conveniences have been supplied, including a good residence, a large barn, fine shade trees and an excellent orchard.

The lady who has for a number of years been to him a faithful companion and helpmate on life's journey was, prior to their marriage Miss Johanna Wacklin. She was born in Germany and when fourteen years of age came to the new world with her parents, Daniel and Minnie (Kornut) Wacklin. The marriage of our subject and his wife was blessed with five children, but only one has been spared to them, Daniel A., who is married and resides on a farm near the old homestead.

In his political views Mr. Raish is a Democrat, who keeps informed on the issues of the day and takes an active part in politics. He is now serving as a member of the county central committee and does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. His business career has been one marked by unfaltering purpose, guided by sound judgment, and his record stands in exemplification of what may be accomplished in a country where opportunity is open to all.


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