Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/24

 RAAB

RADEMACUER

RAAB, Henry, educationist, was born in Wetz- lar, Rhenish Prussia. June 20. 1837; son of Pliilip and Justine (Kaiser) Raab. He was educated in the public school and Royal gymnasium of his native city, and for a time worked in the shops of his father, who was a currier. He came to the United States in 1853, and worked as a currier in Cincinnati. Ohio. 1853-54; in St. Louis, Mo., 1854- 56, and in Belleville, 111., 1856, meanwhile giving his leisure to a thorough mastery of the English language. He taught in the Belleville public schools, 1857-73; was superintendent of city schools, 1873-82 and 1887-90, and state superin- tendent of public instruction, 1882-86 and 1890- 94. His life was devoted to the betterment of the elementary schools and the advancement of education both for teacher and pupil. He was married, Jan. 14, 1859. to Mathilde, daughter of Franz Wilhelm and Charlotte (von Pott) von Lengerke of Ankum, Germany. The degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by the University of Wisconsin in 1892. He is the author of con- tributions to school journals and of annual re- ports of the Belleville schools, and of the depart- ment of public instruction. He died in Belleville, lU., March 13. 1901.

RABUN, William, governor of Georgia, was born in Halifax county, N.C., April 8, 1771; son of Matthew Rabun, with whom he removed to Wilkes county, Ga., in 1785, and settled in Han- cock county, Ga., in 1786. He received a limited education; was a representa- tive and senator in the Geor- gia legislature, and was pres- ident of the senate in 1817, when Gov. David B. Mitchell resigned, being ex officio gov- ernor of the state until the ap- pointment of Peter Early as governor. Governor Early died in office in August, 1817, and Senator Rabun was elected governor in November, 1817, filling the office until his death. During the Seminole war in 1818 Governor Rabun called out the militia, placing the state troops under the command of General Gaines. Capt. Obed Wright of the Chatham militia was ordered to destroy the Indian villages of Hojjonee and Philemi in retaliation for outrages committed on the whites of this neighborhood, and by mistake he burned the Indian village of Chehaw and killed some of the inhabitants. General Jackson demanded that Captain Wright be prosecuted for murder and imprisoned and kept in irons awaiting the pleasure of the President. In reply Governor Rabun refused to acknowledge the authority of the United States over the state troops and added, " When the liberties of the

people of Georgia shall have been prostrated at the feet of a military despotism, then, and not till then, will your imperious doctrine be tamely submitted to. You may rest assured that if the savages continue their depredations on our un- protected frontier I shall think and act for myself in that respect." Governor Rabun was a devout Baptist and the Rev. Jesse I\Iercer by request of the legislature, preached before that body a ser- mon on the occasion of his death. Rabun county, Ga., was named in his honor. He died in Powel- ton, Ga., Oct. 24. 1819.

RACE, John H., educator, was born in Pau- pack, Pa., March 10. 1862; son of the Rev. James Lee and Jane (Humble) Race; grandson of the Rev, Daniel and Eliza (Lee) Race. His father came to America from Richmond, Yorkshire, England, in 1858 and settled in Paupack, Pa. John H. Race was a student at Wyoming .semi- nary, Kingston, Pa., class of 1886. and was grad- uated from Princeton university, A.B., 1800, A.M., 1893. He was married, June 25. 1890. ta Alice, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Edward and Eliz- abeth (Mannering) Bannister of Petaluma, Cal., a graduate of Syracuse university, 1881, and a teacher of art in Wj'oming seminary, 1881-93. He was ordained to the Methodist Episcopal min- istry in 1890, and was professor of Greek and rhetoric at Wyoming seminary, 1890-94; pastor of the Centenary M.E. church, Binghamton, N.Y., 1894-98, and became president of Grant uni- versity, Chattanooga, Tenn., 1898. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from Syracuse uni- versity in 1899, and is the author of several con- tributions to religious periodicals.

RADEMACHER, Joseph, R. C. bishop, was born in Westphalia, Mich., Dec. 3, 1840. He studied for the priesthood in St. ^lichael's semi- nary, Pittsburg. Pa., and was ordained, Aug. 2, 1863, by Bishop Luers of Fort Wayne, Ind. He was pastor of St. Francis's. Attica, Ind., 1863-69, where he also attended St. Joseph's mission at Marshfield; was pastor of St. Paul of the Cross, Columbia city, 1869-76; of St. Mary's, Fort Wayne, Ind., and chancellor of the diocese, 1877-80. He was rector of St. Mary's, Lafayette, Ind., 1880-83; was nominated to the see of Nashville, Tenn., April 21, 1883, and was consecrated in St. Mary's cathedral, Nasliville, Tenn., June 24, 1883, by Archbisliop Feehan of Chicago, 111., assisted by Bishop Chatard and Bishop Borgess. He labored successfully in that diocese until transferred to the diocese of Fort Wayne, by pontifical letter dated, July 14, 1893, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Bishop Joseph Dwenger (q.v.). Jan. 29. 1.S93. He resigned November, 1899, and died at Fort Wayne, Ind., Jan. 12, 1900.