The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-05
OBITUARY.


Mr.. Jacob Rauers died at his home,
No. II CASTOR street west, at IL
o'clock last night. He had been crit
ically ill for several days and his death
was expected. Bright's disease was
the immediate cause of his death.
Mr.. Rauers was 81 years old. He
was a native of Bremen, Germany, and
came to this country about 1857. He
lived in New York until about the
close of the Civil War spending, how
ever, some time in Cuba, where he was
connected with a German firm doing
a banking business. After the war he
became connected with the firm of
Knoop, Hanemann & Co., and visited
the South to investigate the opportu-
mites offering in the cotton business.
After travelling in the South Atlantic
States for some months he decided to
locate at Savannah, believing that this
port offered better opportunities for
his business than did any other on the
South Atlantic coast. Knoop, Hane-
mann & Co. accepted his advice and
established a branch office here, and
therein contributed to a great devel-
opment of its business. Mr.. Rauers
continued to conduct the FIRMS affairs
here until 1881 when he retired from
business with a fortune. During the
entire period of his commercial activ-
ity he distinguished himself by the en-
ergy, intelligence and integrity that at
oil ti,0,os ,,,orlxa5 k;S 6oalinps
Since his retirement from active bus
mess Mr.. Rauers had been connected
with most of the important industrial
enterprises which now serve to give
Importance to Savannah. At one time
he was a large owner in the street
railway lines of Savannah. He was
prominent in promoting the building of
the De Soto Hotel, and for some time
was president of the Savannah Hotel
Company. He largely aided in the de-
velopment of the electric light and
power interests, and it was due to
him that the Savannah Brewery was
started. He was president of the COM
pany for some years. In the manu-
facture of fertilizer at Savannah he
was one Of the pioneers, and in many
other ways he contributed to the well
fare of the city.
Thirty years ago when it was gen.
orally believed that real estate on the
coast of Georgia was of no value, and
| that there was no likelihood that it
would become of value, Mr.. Rauers ac-
| quired St. GATHERINGS Island. Much of
his time since hes had spent in devel-
oping this estate until it has become
known all over the country because
of its fine game reserves. 1t has fu-
nshed the means of entertaining many
distinguished men, among the latest
being Admiral Schley during his visit
to Savannah, some two years ago
For twenty-five years Mr.. Rauers
was German consul at Savannah.
When he resigned a short time ago he
was honored by the German govern
ment by the presentation of the Deco
ration of the Crown, a highly priced
reward of faithful and distinguished
services.
Mr. Rauers married Miss Johanna
Macdonald, whose father was a Scotch
settler in the West Indies, but who at
the time of her marriage was a resi-
together with three sons and three
daughters, Mr. John j. Rauers, Mr..
Donald Rauers and Mr.. Harry Rauers
and Mrs. Charles Gibbes, Mrs. Wayne
Cunningham and Miss FTeda Rauers.
The funeral arrangements have not yet
been made.