Charles W. RAPP, a farmer of Jefferson Township, living on section 11, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1838. His father Enos RAPP, was a native of Baden, Germany, and came to the United States in 1832, settling in the State of Pennsylvania. He removed to Madison County with his family in 1840, and in that county our subject was reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools. Charles W. RAPP entered the employ of the Pan-Handle Railroad Company*, where he began to learn telegraph construction. He held various positions during the eight years he remained with that company, being yard master when he left their employ.

He located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in 1857, remaining there till he enlisted in the late [Civil] war in Company H, Third Iowa Infantry. He participated in a number of engagements, and after serving his country about a year he was discharged, in 1862, on account of disability, and now draws a pension of $9 a month.

After his discharge he returned to Ohio, and was there married April 19, 1865, to Miss Mary J. ROBINSON, a daughter of the late A. P. ROBINSON. Of the five children born to this union four are living - Almeda, Edgar, Flora and Arthur. Mrs. RAPP died September 2, 1880.

Mr. RAPP went to Seward County, Nebraska, in 1874, and in 1876 came to Ringgold County, Iowa, when he settled on the farm where he has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising. He has met with success in his farming pursuits, and is now the owner of a fine farm containing 200 acres. He is a member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders, having been a member of Covington Lodge, No. 168, A.F.&A.M., and Piqua Lodge, No. 1, I.O.O.F., both in Ohio.

NOTE: The Pan-Handle Railroad Company is the common name for the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad, nicknamed for the main line west from Pittsburgh across the northern panhandle of West Virginia.

Enos RAPP, born 1816, Baden, Germany, married Mary (?), born 1825, Hesse-Cassel, Germany. Enos and Mary were residing in Buffalo Township, Morgan County, Missouri, where Enos owned 324 acres of land by 1860. Enos and Mary were the parents of of eight known children:

1) Charles W. born 1838 PA
2) Jacob born 1844 OH
3) Joseph born 1847 OH
4) John S. born 1849 OH; married 05 Nov 1871 Morgan Co. MO Elizabeth R. "Lizzie" WILLIAMS, born 1853
5) Magdelena born 1850 OH
6) Elizabeth born 1852 OH
7) Martha A. born 1854 OH
8) Sarah J. born 1859 OH

PANHANDLE RAILROAD CREW

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 267-68, 1887.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh,_Cincinnati,_Chicago_and_St._Louis_Railroad

1860 Federal Census, Morgan Co. MO

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z

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