Person Record
Images
Metadata
Imagefile |
People\Rau_Carl.jpg |
Name |
Rau, Carl |
Birth Date |
11/3/1858 |
Birthplace |
Württemberg, Germany |
Deceased |
12/29/1940 |
Place of Death |
La Crosse, WI |
Father |
Gottfried Rau |
Spouse |
Anna Amalia Salzer Rau |
Children |
Wilbert Carl Rau |
Occupation |
Artist Secretary/treasurer and later president of the John A. Salzer Seed Company Bookkeeper for the Empire Brewery Worked for R. G. Dun & Co |
Role |
Artist |
Education |
Art and mechanical training |
Places of Residence |
Württemberg, Germany Dubuque, IA La Crosse, WI |
Notes |
Carl Rau was born in Württemberg, Germany on November 3, 1858 to Gottfried Rau and his wife. As a young man, Carl received art and mechanical drawing training along with his manual work training while in Germany. Circa 1872, he and his mother immigrated to the United States, originally settling in Dubuque, IA. In Iowa, Carl received further art and mechanical drawing training after finding employment in a local shop. In the fall of 1878, Carl moved to La Crosse, WI with his mother. Upon reaching La Crosse, he found employment at R. G. Dun & Company. In May 1880, he began working for John Gund's Empire Brewery as a bookkeeper and continued to work for the R. G. Dun & Company as well until 1882. Beginning in 1886 was the secretary and treasurer of the John A. Salzer Seed Company, and by the time he retired on July 1, 1932, had become president of the company. In 1887, he married Anna Salzer, with whom he had a son named Wilbert Carl. Carl was active in the Salzer Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church and taught at their Sunday school for 30 years. Carl was also a local artist, specializing in painting biblical scenes, figures, and landscapes, but also engaging from time to time in pictorial photography. He was a patron to other local artists and encouraged young artists to continue in their craft. Carl died of illness in La Crosse on December 29, 1940. |
Image Caption |
Retrieved from the La Crosse Tribune |
Related Records
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Painting - 2004.022.03
Oil painting of Grandad Bluff by Carl Rau. Scene shows large hill or mountain behind a wooded middle ground with some autumnal color, foreground is open field with a path that disappears into the woods.
Record Type: Object