Howard County IN Archives Biographies.....Rauch, William E. 1874 - 
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Author: Jackson Morrow

PROFESSOR WILLIAM E. RAUCH.

   The subject of this sketch has gained marked precedence in the work of his
noble profession, to which he has devoted his undivided attention for many
years, having gained a high position on the scroll of Howard county's able music
teachers, being highly educated and the fortunate possessor of the noble
personality traits necessary to win success in this somewhat exacting
profession. Besides his ability as a musician he is admired for his well
regulated life and public-spirited nature.

   Professor William E. Ranch was born in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, in November,
1874, the son of Benjamin and Melasena (Arnold) Rauch, who are now living at
Kokomo, Indiana, being among the influential residents of this city.

   The conditions under which our worthy subject began life were flattering, but
reverses which later came to the family threw him almost wholly upon his own
resources. He manifested those progressive traits that win early in life, and
after he had attended the schools of his native town his parents moved to
Mansfield, Ohio, where he pursued his studies, after which he entered the Ohio
Normal University at Ada, Ohio, where he took a course in civil engineering,
literature and music, becoming so proficient in the latter that his instructors
persuaded him to devote the major part of his time to music while he was
attending school, at the same time giving private instruction, and thus making
his way through school. He graduated from a school of methods, a summer school,
connected with the Northwestern University of Chicago.

   Professor Rauch has a fine, rich baritone voice, especially strong in lower
register, and he sings with spirit and expression, and many articles of praise
have been given by the press wherever he has appeared in public, having done
concert work for three years, during which time he traveled extensively. He came
to Kokomo in 1901, conducting cantatas and giving private instructions. In 1902
he gave a course of private instruction in the public schools and the circuit
was in the schools of Swayzee, Bunker Hill, Converse and Amboy, and he performed
this work with marked success to the schools and with credit to himself. Having
gained such a wide reputation by his meritorious work as to attract general
public attention, in 1904 he was elected supervisor of the schools of Kokomo,
which position he has since very creditably filled, being still in the same
capacity in 1908, entering upon his fifth year. Besides being in charge of the
music in the public schools he is choirmaster in the First Congregational
church, conductor of the Kokomo Oratorio Society, manager of the Kokomo
Chautauqua, and during the summer he is in great demand as instructor of music
in the county institutes and chautauquas. He also gives private instruction in
voice.

   Professor Ranch is commended by those high in authority as a leading
instructor and executor of music, not only in Indiana but in other states as
well. He is a man of pleasing address and perfect personal manners, agreeable
and kind to all, and he has a high standing, not only in his profession but with
the public, for his manly life, and no one in Kokomo is held in higher esteem by
his fellow7 townsmen. He is a devoted member of the Congregational church of
Kokomo and delights in his work in this organization.

   Fraternally Professor Rauch is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of
Elks and in his political affiliations he is a Republican. He has preferred
single blessedness and makes his home with his honored and highly respected
parents and sister Mary at No. 419 West Walnut street, where he has an extensive
library not only covering a wide range of musical subjects but the latest and
best books of science, religion and literature in general are to be found on his
shelves. He is decidedly a man of aesthetic tastes and his noble attributes are
soon discovered by all having the pleasure of knowing him personally.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA
BY
JACKSON MORROW, B. A.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

(circa 1909)


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