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Straw & Murphy

William C. Raue & Sons

Straw & Murphy 107 N Water, paint WHS_PC_235.jpg

WHS_005_698

118 West Main

William C Raue

1852 - 1929

1903

06 16 1903

At about 9 o'clock last Saturday evening as William C. Raue was returning to this city from the country where he had been looking over a painting job some of his men were doing, his horse became frightened about three miles east of here at something in the road, shied suddenly and ran into a fence, throwing Mr. Raue out, and in the fall his right foot caught in the buggy wheel and he sustained a compound fracture of the ankle, the bone being broken in a number of places. After he was thrown out the horse continued its flight and threw a young man who was in the buggy out also, but he escaped injury. The buggy was badly smashed. A farmer evidently near the scene of the accident hitched up and brought Mr. Raue and his companion in town. He was taken to his home in 4th street where he is at present getting along nicely, but his injuries will confine him to his home for several weeks.

1929

Watertown Gazette 02 07 1929

DEATH OF WILLIAM RAUE

One of Watertown’s Most Prominent and Enterprising Citizens

William C. Raue, one of Watertown’s most prominent and enterprising citizens, died at 9:30 o’clock last Sunday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ben Gritzmacher, Kenosha, Wis., where he had been visiting several weeks. January 24th he was taken ill with paralysis, and though he received the best of medical attendance and care, the hand of death could not be stayed.

Mr. Raue was born in Mittenwaldes province of Brandenberg, Germany, on October 16, 1852, and in April, 1856, he came to Watertown with his parents and made this city his home ever since.

After he left school he secured a position with the firm of Straw & Murphy, who for many years were engaged in the decorating and painting business in West Main Street. He remained in their employ for 17 years, and on Feb. 5, 1885, formed a co-partnership with an employee of the same firm, in the same line of business, Theodore Dobbratz, now of Milwaukee.

In 1887 Mr. Raue purchased his partner’s interest in the firm, and continued the business on his own account at 309 Main Street. In 1901 he purchased of the late William Volkmann the store building at 202 Main and continued the business therein till the present time, where his sons, Baldwin S. and Joseph J. Raue, have been associated with him as partners for a number of years past, the firm being incorporated in 1903 under the name of Wm. C. Raue & Sons Co., with William C. Raue as president, Baldwin S. Raue as Vice-president, and Joseph J. Raue as secretary and treasurer.

His wife, formerly Louise Sanders, Buffalo, New York, died in 1904. Two sons, Baldwin and Joseph Raue, and one daughter, Mrs. Ben. Gritzmacher of Kenosha, survive him. One daughter died in infancy. Five grandchildren also survive him: William, Edward and Philip and Joseph, Jr., and Eunice Raue. One brother, Fred, is a resident of Nebraska, and three sisters, Mrs. Emily Frey, Mrs. Emma Voigt and Louise Richards of Milwaukee also survive him. His brother, also a former Watertown resident in the same line of business as the deceased, died a short time ago in Milwaukee.

Mr. Raue was a member of the German M. E. church, of Lincoln Lodge No. 20, Knights of Pythias, a member of the K. P. Calantha club and of the Plattdeutscher Verein. His funeral was private from his late home, 302 Fourth Street, Rev. G. W. Schmidt, pastor of the German M. E. church officiating, and his remains were interred in Oak Hill cemetery.

In the death of Mr. Raue Watertown has lost one of its most well-to-do, enterprising and honorable business men, and an artist in the painting line that had few equals. The editor of The Gazette has been an intimate friend of his since boyhood, and during our long acquaintance has known him to be one of Watertown’s most honorable men. He was greatly interested in all civic affairs and has done his full share toward the upbuilding and prosperity of our city. He served two terms in the city council. With the many other friends of his bereaved family, the editor extends his sincere sympathy to them.

1935

Baldwin S Raue & Sons, paints, 110 N Third

1945

Watertown City Dir, 1945

Raue & Sons Inc (Inc 1903, Cap $10,000). Baldwin S Raue Pres, Evelyn Rau V-Pres, Edward S Raue Sec-Treas, Paints, Oils and Varnish Dealers and Painting Contractors, 110 N 3d, Tel 172

1950

Watertown Daily Times, 03 31 1950

Raue Paint Store Has New Owner

Announcement is made of the purchase of the retail paint store of Raue & Sons, Inc. 110 North Third Street by Clarence Kapheim, Milwaukee.

The new owner has been associated with the Decorators's Supply Company, Milwaukee.

The store will be operated under the name of Raue Paint & Wall Paper Store.

Edward Raue, head of Raue & Sons, Inc. disposed of the retail outlet in order to enable the firm to devote full time to it painting and decorating business. The business now is located at 106 Jefferson Street. The move was necessitated by the expansion of the painting and contracting business of Raue & Son, Inc. which specializes in hospital and institutional painting in the state of Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Michigan. It will enable the concern, Mr. Raue states, to render more efficient service to its local painting and decorating customers, and at the same time permit Mr. Kapheim and his staff to give their undivided attention to the retail store.

The paint store will continue to have the same phone number - 172. The Raue & Sons, Inc., phone number is 925.

Baldwin Raue, who heads the color styling department, continues with Raue & Sons, Inc., and will move his department to the new quarters in Jefferson Street. His services, however, will continue to be available to the retail store.

Established in 1885

The Raue paint store was established in Watertown in 1885 - 65 years ago - and through the years has been known as one of the community's well known and highly reputable business establishments. After the decision was made to dispose of the retail outlet, Mr. Raue made a painstaking effort to locate a buyer with the experience and qualifications to continue to operate the business on the same high standards, and offer the same type of service that has gained a wide reputation for the Raue family. In Mr. Kapheim, Mr. Raue is confident that the retail store will continue to be operated in a manner that will be in keeping with the type of service that has been rendered, and will continue to offer the same high quality merchandise. In announcing the sale of the business, Mr. Raue desires to express sincere thanks to the many customers who have extended patronage through the years.

Mr. Kapheim is married and is the father of three children. He will move his family to Watertown as soon as living quarters can be found.

Cross reference:

No 1: Brick sidewalk: In the 1890's an "artificial sidewalk" was laid in front of the Raue residence on Fourth St.

No 2: Charles Straw, Straw & Murphy Painting firm

Fourth, S, 302 1900c, William C Raue home, WHS_005_198