Rahauser, Frederick A

Rahauser, Frederick A.

a German Reformed minister, was born in York Co., Pa., in 1782, of humble but excellent parentage. He was brought up as a weaver, the profession of his father. His early educational advantages were very limited. At the age of twenty-one he went to Hanover, Pa., there studied with a Lutheran minister, and then determined to prepare for the work of the ministry. His brother Jonathan greatly aided him, and Frederick Rahauser pleased as a preacher as soon as he entered upon the ministerial task. He was ordained in 1808, and preached for nearly half a century. He served during this period several large and laborious charges, which are now among the most prosperous and prominent places in the Reformed Church. In those early days all ministers did hard work, for then the fields were large — and the laborers were yet fewer than now. His first settlement was at Emmettsburg, Md., in the summer of 1808. This charge, which he served with great acceptance for about eight years, then included Gettysburg, Taneytown, Apples, and other distant points. Some of the congregations were seven, ten, twelve, and even twenty miles apart. But during all his hard service his general health was good, so that he rarely failed to meet an appointment. In 1816 he accepted a call to the church at Harrisburg, Pa., to which he ministered till 1819, when he removed to Chambersburg, Pa. To this charge lhe gave his matured and most vigorous labors, and there faithfulness also was attended with success for a period of seventeen years. In 1836 he removed to Tiffin, O., and for four years was pastor of the German Reformed Church in that city. In 1840 he took charge of some country churches in Sandusky and Seneca counties, in a region called the Black Swamp. Here he continued the work of his ministry, till declining years and failing energies disabled him from the active duties of his holy office. He lived with his children until his death, July 15, 1865.