Love - The Odessa Record "By Your Relative"

Odessa Record subscriber Larry Fisher of Spokane continues his series of articles on the history of the Batum/Lauer area where his wife, the former Joyce Kiesz, grew up.

Hi, here I am again.

In August, 1903 Jacob and Christina with their oldest son John and his new wife, along with four other sons and five daughters started a new life at Batum, Adams Co., Washington. Christina was pregnant at the time with her eleventh child, Christian.

The Jacob Raugust family lived at Batum for 17 years before retiring to Odessa. After talking with a few of the Raugust grandchildren living today, they all agree nobody knows what went on during that 17 year period of time except for the removal of sagebrush, for digging a new well and the construction of a new house, barn, other buildings, etc. Also, they remember being told about moving some of the original Sam Reimann buildings to where the new structures were constructed. As for lifestyle, etc. I’m sorry to say it’s “zip – nothing, no memories at all.”

Except for a few personal items and money the family had saved up for use in America, I’m sure they did not bring any farm items/animals or household goods from Russia to Batum. Because of having relatives living in the district, I would guess the relatives helped Jacob and Christina get started at Batum.

During the “start-up” years, I’m sure Christina and her daughters, who were still living at Batum, had their hands full setting up house, doing laundry, ironing, mending clothes, cooking, working in the garden, etc., along with canning food items for later use. During that same time, there were four sons that could help out when Jacob would allow it.

Besides all that has been mentioned, I know the Raugust women also participated in the removal of the sagebrush because Emma Raugust Goede told her children that’s how she got hurt one time when she was young. (Note: In the early years, sagebrush was utilized in the stove to heat the house, for cooking, and for heating water.)

In October, 1924, having moved to Odessa, Jacob and Christina held a sale at Batum.Until next time.

Your Relative,

Spokane