John Rau, son of Jacob Rau, Sr., was born in South Russia in 1884.  when he was five years old, he came to America with his parents and settled its Eureka, S. Dak.

On October 7, 1907, he married Katherina Raile, Eureka, S. Dak.  In 1912, Mr. Rau and his hired man, Gottlieb Klaudt, came to North Dakota and farmed ten miles northeast of Napoleon. there were no buildings, so the header box was turned upside down and used for shelter.  After harvesting, Mr. Rau returned for his wife and son, Erwin.  Upon returning to North Dakota, a sod house was built.

When Erwin was eight and one-half years old, he was killed by a team of horses which ran over him with a load of lumber on the wagon.

In the winter of 1941, the house burned down.  A temporary building was put up with the help of neighbors, and friends, until the following spring when a new house was built.

In the fall of 1944, the Raus retired and moved to Napoleon.

There main interest on the farm was farming, raising angus cattle and sheep.

They had nine children:  Irene (Mrs. Roland Grenz); Bismarck; Alvina (Mars. Milbert Kemmet); Dawson; Laura (Mrs. Walter Becker); Agnes (Mrs. Tony Retzlaff); Helen (Mrs. Reuben Wentz); Milton, Eugene, and Walter, Napoleon.

From: Napoleon 75th Anniversary Edition 1884 - 1959