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1. Florian Rasch I
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Birth Date:	February 2, 1791
Birth Place:	Silesia, Germany
Death Date:	September 14, 1855
Death Place:	Centerline, Michigan
Burial Place:	Centerline, Michigan
Father:         Joseph Rasch

Notes:
Born in the Southern, Catholic part of Silesia, in what was then Germany, is now part of Poland.
According to records the family did not come to America together.  The Mt.Clemens Courthouse,
MI, shows Florian II purchasing land in 1851.

According to family tradition he was a member of Napoleon's Army who survived the retreat from
Moscow in 1812. Another tradition has him as being a Captain in Napoleon's Army.

Arrived in the US with family on May 19, 1852.

Buried in St. Clements Parish.

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Unless otherwise noted, all information comes from reference 1.

Spouse:		Carolina Schindler
Birth Date:	circa 1792
Birth Place:	Germany
Death Place:	Germany
Father:         Joseph Schindler

Spouse Notes:
Apparently died after the birth of their 3rd son.
There is no record of her death.

Marriage Date:	November 7, 1815

Children:	Florian
		Joseph
		Franz

Other spouses:	Barbara Gutkorn

References:     1 20 48

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1.1 Florian Rasch II (picture)
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Birth Date:	November 22, 1819
Birth Place:	Overdorf, Germany
Death Date:	February 12, 1891
Death Place:	St. Florian, Alabama
Burial Place:	St. Florian, Alabama
Occupation:	Farmer
Religion:	R. Catholic

Notes:
He lived at Kraubitz, Germany, where his occupation was listed as a gardener.

Originally arrived in the U.S. in 1850, at age 30.  In 1852 he returned to Germany to bring
his father to the U.S. The manifest for the ship named Stephane lists Florian Rasch,age 32
and occupation as baker; Carolina Rasch, age 24, and Paul Rasch, age 9 months.The port of
departure was Bremen, Germany, and the port of arrival was New York.

After coming to America with his small family, he farmed the land he purchased in Michigan in
1851.

With 10 of their 11 children moved from Michigan to northwest Alabama in April or May 1873.
He purchased land from Fr. Hueser on which the John Wilson plantation home was located.
The reason he moved his family to Alabama was that his wife was in poor health and he
believed the warm climate would help her.

He grieved bitterly over the death of his beloved Caroline, going to the cemetary daily
and weeping at her grave.  The paster arranged for him to spend some time with his son,
Fr. Luke, in Wisconsin.

All sources agree that St. Florian, AL, is named for Florian Rasch. The family legend is
that he was a very holy man who went to daily Mass, and died in the church. Another version
of the origin of the name of the town is found in the booklet about the 100th anniversary of
the parish which cites the donation of the bell for the first church as the reason the town
was called St. Florian in honor of its donor.

Spouse:		Caroline Nickel
Birth Date:	March 8, 1827
Birth Place:	Germany
Death Date:	December 8, 1880
Death Place:	St. Florian, Alabama
Burial Place:	St. Florian, Alabama

Spouse Notes:
Her children's generation believed that Caroline had tuberculosis.
Her last child was born when she was 45 years old.  She died at the age of 53.

Marriage Date:	1849

Children:
	Paul Joseph Florian (1.1.1)
	Edward John (1.1.2)
	Robert Florian (1.1.3)
	Annie (1.1.4)
	Clara (Twin) (1.1.5)
	Julius (Twin) (1.1.6)
	Catherine (1.1.7)
	Elizabeth (1.1.8)
	Emma (1.1.9)
	Anthony (1.1.10)
	Francis Allen (1.1.11)

References:    1   3   12   20   23   69   139

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1.2 Joseph Rasch
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Birth Date:	1821
Birth Place:	Germany

Notes:
Immigrated to America.
The name of wife unknown.
Moved to California.
Had one unmarried daughter.

References:    20

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1.3 Franz Rasch
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Birth Date:	1823
Birth Place:	Germany

Notes:
Arrived in the US with family on May 19, 1852.  Disappeared some time thereafter.
He may have gone to New Orleans and joined the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

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