Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
EGMONT RAUM. To a great extent the prosperity of the agricultural sections of our country is due to the honest industry, the sturdy perseverance and the wise economy which so prominently characterizes the foreign element, both those who have come direct from European nations and their American born children. All will agree, after so much as a mere cursory glance over our forty-eight states, that they have entered very largely into our population. By comparison with their "old country" surroundings these people have readily recognized the fact that in the United States are to be found the greatest opportunities for the man of ambition and energy. And because of this many have broken the ties of home and native land and have entered earnestly upon the task of gaining in the new world a home and a competence. Egmont Raum, one of Greene county's hard-working farmers, is one of this class.
Mr. Raum was born on August 9, 1849, in Leutzen, Province of Saxony, now a part of the German Empire. He is a son of John William and Emelie (Grosse) Raum, the father having been born in Altenhof near Dueben-on-the-Mulde. He grew up and was educated in his native locality and became a minister in the Lutheran church. He was the father of two sons, Egmont, our subject, being the eldest, and Fred, who is living in Florida. The father served his required time in the German army when a young man. His death occurred in 1890 at the age of seventy years, his wife having died in 1880 at the age of fifty-three years.
Egmont Raum grew to manhood in Erfurt, in the Province, of Saxony, and there received his education and remained until 1865, when sixteen years of age, when he left the Fatherland and set sail for America, and after a tedious voyage of six teen months, in which time he rounded Cape Horn, landed on our shores on Christmas day, 1866, at New York City. He soon became a sailor and followed the sea until 1875. His work was satisfactory and he was gradually promoted and was first mate for years, when he was given a master's certificate, but never served. In 1875 he came to Greene county, Missouri, and purchased forty acres of land from the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad Company, now the Frisco. On this small tract he went to work earnestly and, managing well, prospered. From time to time he added to his original purchase until he became one of our large land owners and prosperous farmers, his place now containing two hundred and eighteen acres of valuable and well-improved land, well located in Campbell township on the Mt. Vernon street road, near Springfield. He carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale and also maintained a dairy. Formerly he made a specialty of raising mules, but is now practically retired, engaged principally in raising various grains, following a five-year system of crop rotation, and therefore he not only reaps abundant harvests, but keeps his land in first-class fertility. He has a large and neatly furnished home and substantial outbuildings, everything about his place indicating that a master hand is at the helm.
Just before he quit his seafaring life Mr. Raum made a visit to his boyhood home in Erfurt, in the Province of Saxony, and married there Eleonore Berndt, a native of Erfurt, and a daughter of Henry Berndt and wife of that place, and there she grew to womanhood and was educated. Her father was a wholesale and retail leather merchant. His wife was known in her maidenhood as Mary Otto, and she was a daughter of a carpenter and contractor. Mrs. Raum has one sister, Anna, who lives in Europe and is the wife of a minister.
To Mr. and Mrs. Raum three children have been born, who survive at this writing, namely: Egmont, Jr., born on July 6, 1888, who is engaged in farming; William, born on July 20, 1891, also a farmer, and Emelie D., born on September 18, 1882, who is at home with her parents. The sons were given sixty-five acres each of good land by their father, and they live on places adjoining that of our subject and are each good farmers. One daughter, Anna, died at the age of five years.
Politically Mr. Raum is a Democrat, and he belongs to the Lutheran church. He has long been prominent in the affairs of the Masonic order. He is one of the directors of the Masonic building in Springfield. He is past master of the Blue Royal Arch lodge, and was excellent high priest for two years of Springfield Royal Arch chapter, No. 15, and worthy patron of the Order of Eastern Star for four years, Crescent chapter, No. 20. He is well known and has made a host of warm friends during his residence here of forty years. He is held in high esteem as a result of his upright character and many good personal qualities.
[1493-1495]
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y
Table of Contents | Keyword Search | Greene County History Home | Local History Home