Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Ludington Record Appeal 8 December 1904 MASON COUNTY PIONEER STORIES by R. H. Elsworth On September 15, 1867, HENRY RATH and wife arrived at the mouth of the Pere Marquette river, having come direct from Hamburg, Germany. In the father land MR. RATH had been foreman of a grist mill. MRS. RATH, whom he had married in 1866, had three brothers, WILLIAM, PETER and JOHN YOUNG, in America and they had written in words of praise of the opportunities for wealth. This caused MR. RATH to borrow the money to get himself and wife to the United States. The first three years in the new country were spent in a small house which stood near the site of the present Methodist Episcopal church in Ludington. Here the three oldest children were born. MR. RATH busied himself with such work as was at hand. He took and completed several road jobs. He logged and graded the three blocks of James street from Ludington avenue to Foster street; he cleared one and one-half blocks on Charles street near the present site of the city hall; he also cleared five blocks on Court street and a part of Main street. After being here some time he forwarded money to Germany that his brothers might come and enjoy the advantages of a growing country. HENRY RATH, himself, was not entirely pleased with the new land, but he determined to remain the five years necessary for becoming a citi- zen of the United States, arguing that if after becoming a citizen he was still dissatisified then would be the proper time to return to the old country. In 1870 after three years in town he purchased and moved onto his present farm in Amber township. From that time to the present he has not regretted the casting of his fortunes with the people of western Michigan. He borrowed the money to buy his farm and subsequently bor- rowed to equip the place with comfortable buildings and for additional acres. It was only four years ago that he became entirely free from debt. During the 34 years since 1870 he has cleared his farm, got the ground under cultivation, erected large and comfortable buildings, raised a large family of children and made himself a useful member of society. Much of his profits have come from the garden which he has operated in connection with his farm. During all these years MRS. RATH has helped him with muscle and with intelligence. MR. RATH is a man of considerable force; he is progressive, is aggressive, is temperate, is a hard worker. He has got ahead in the world because he has been willing to expend the energy necessary to get to the front. ===========================================================================