Raue Benno

Notes:

Benno Raue Sr. was a jeweler and watchmaker for 60 years. He became a well known and affluent businessman in his community. He was a member of the National Guard, Company E, of Elgin. He was a Schoolboard member in Crystal Lake. He helped organize the Crystal Lake Park board, was the Mayor of Crystal Lake for two terms, President of Home State Bank, Mason, Modern woodsman. (Correspondant: Mrs. Ethel a. Raue, 25 W. Crystal Lake, McHenry Coounty, IL)


Crystal Lake Herald
March 23, 1961
Ben Raue Dies at Age 94
Mayor and Long Civic Leader


Any list of those who have played leading roles in making Crystal Lake "a good place to live" would without question have to include the name of Ben Raue. As first president of the original Crystal Lake Park Board and a member of it for many years, he was one of the foresighted men without whom this city would have been deprived of a public bathing beach and lake park. The first paving of Crystal Lake streets was done during the years he was mayor, 1923-1927. For 30 years Mr. Raue served on the Crystal Lake school board and was a member of Nunda Lodge 169 AF & AM. He was president of the Home State Bank from 1935 until its sale to the present owners.

Born April 16, 1866, in Landeshut, Germany, he died in his home at 25 W. Crystal Lake Avenue Monday morning, March 20. He learned the jewelry trade in his native country, and when he came to Crystal Lake in the fall of 1893, he opened a jewelry and hardware store which he operated from that long ago date until his retirement five years ago.

Surviving are the widow, the former Mabelle Osgood; three daughters, the Misses Ethel, Leone and Lucille, all of Crystal Lake; a son, Benno L., of Crystal Lake; and a brother, Paul, of West Chicago. Five sisters preceded him in death.

Mason services were conducted at the Warner Funeral Home at 8 p.m. yesterday by Nunda Lodge 169 and religious services are being conducted this afternoon, Thurday, at 2 p. m. by the Rev. M. J. A. Dalrymple. Graveside services in Crystal Lake Union cemetery will be conducted by the Masonic Lodge. Pallbearers will be members of the Nunda Lodge169 AF & AM.

A memorial has been established for the Illinois Association for the Crippled, Inc. (Easter Seal Society) and donations should be addressed to Memorial committee, Easter Seal Therapy Center, 708 Washington St. Woodstock, Ill.

Benno married Brown Dora on 16 Jan 1892 in Kane County, Il. Dora (daughter of Brown Samuel Right and Coss Sarah Ann) was born on 05 May 1863 in Cary, McHenry County, IL; died on 18 Jan 1914 in Crystal Lake, McHenry County, IL; was buried in Union Cemetery, Crystal Lake, McHenry County, IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Benno married Osgood Mabelle Blanche on 28 Oct 1915 in Denver, CO. Mabelle (daughter of Osgood Franklin and Brown Martha Eunice) was born on 31 Jul 1876 in Janesville, Rock County, WI; died on 25 Oct 1966 in Crystal Lake, McHenry County, IL; was buried in Union Cemetery, Crystal Lake, McHenry County, IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She became a school teacher in Clary but never married. She came with her parents when they moved to Crystal Lake. She lived in Michigan for a time. It is unknown if she came back to Crystal Lake before she died. Her Social Security number was 381-384152.

Notes:

He and his sister spent their adult lives working in their family hardware store. He died in 1974. Social Security informaton. SS# 343-10-7828.

Notes:

SS# 339-38-1521 Issued in Illinois, 1962.

Notes:

She and her brother, Benno, Jr. spent their adult lives working in their hardware store. She was the last of the three children to survive. She past away at the age of 90 in November of 1994, a wealthy woman.

*In Lucille's will, a clock that was in the Ruae Hardware store, was given to the City of Crystal Lake. It is now displayed in the lobby of the Municipal Complex. Lucille's house was donated to the Crystal Lake Main Street program and a significant donation was made through her will to the Crystal Lake Civic Center Authority to aid in the development of hwat is now called the Raue Center for the Arts.

*(This information was furnished by Greg Fettes, Assistant City Manager of the City of Crystal Lake, McHenry County, IL.)