EICHENAUER, RUDOLPH C., whose life has been largely devoted to general farming and stock raising has become one of the leading agriculturalists of Cass County. He was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, April 30, 1852, a son of John and Mary (Benhard) Eichenauer who came after a voyage of eight weeks and two days. They had the misfortune to arrive in the South during the Civil war, and were blockaded. The father, at first, sawed wood to get enough money to support his family, but later became a wagon maker, that being his trade, for the United States government. At the close of the war, he came up the river to Beardstown, Ill., and going out on the Sangamon River bottom, rented land near Chandlerville and at other places, until his purchase of a farm in the northeastern corner of Cass County. Ten years later, about eight years of this time having lived in Mason County, he moved to Chandlerville, and lived retired until his death June 2, 1912, aged eighty-six years. The mother died January 27, 1905. Their children were as follows: John, who is deceased: Rudolph C.; Henry, who lives in Menard County, Ill.; George, who is of California; Bernard, who is of Kansas; Theodore, who is deceased; William who is of Mason County, Ill.; and Mary, who resides in Iowa.

Rudolph C. Eichenauer attended school at New Orleans for a short period, and continued with his parents until his marriage in 1876, when he rented the McCally farm on the Sangamon River bottom. Seven years later he rented the Taylor farm, one-half mile away, and nine years later, he moved on the Henry Dick farm near Chandlerville, and there resided until 1905, when he bought 210 acres of land in township 18, range 9, known as the old John Holmes farm. This property was partly improved, but he has replaced the buildings then standing with modern ones. On this farm he continues to carry on general farming and stock raising. On March 3, 1876, he married Magdelena Schneider, who was born in Cass County, Ill., April 30, 1854, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Nies) Schneider, born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. Their children have been as follows: Augusta, who married Henry Lovekamp of Cass County; John, who died in infancy; Reuben, who is at home; Albert, who is of Cass County; and Freda and Alma, who live at home, the latter teaching school. Mr. Eichenauer belongs to the Lutheran church and is a Republican in politics.