JOHN RATHGEBER was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Feb. 26, 1834, his parents being John and Margaret (Kramer) Rathgeber. John was reared to farm life in his native country. In the year 1855 he went into the army of the Elector of Hesse-Darmstadt, and staid in the service nine years and six months. During the Crimean war, he started with the division of flying artillery to which he belonged, but they were not sent to the seat of war, as peace was declared soon afterward. he was also in the army during the trouble with France, in 1859. In 1864 he took leave of the army, and on arriving home, he bade farewell to home and friends, and went to Mayence, where he took passage on the Saxonia, a vessel bound for New York. After an ocean voyage of 16 days, he arrived at that port, meeting there his parents, brothers and sisters, who had come to America ten years before. he remained with them about one year and a half, and was then married, in Sept., 1865, to Rachel Grasser, a native of Baden, and a daughter of Fred. Grasser. By that marriage there were four children - John, Jacob, Rosa and Christina. Mrs. Rathgeber departed this life on the 1st day of Jan., 1877. Mr. Rathgeber was again married, Nov. 25, 1880, to Frederika Mueller, daughter of John and Mary Mueller, and a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany. By that union they have one child - Amanda. Mr. Rathgeber is the possessor of 200 acres of land, all on section 10, in Bluffdale township. Both his parents are dead, his father having died in New York, in 1878.