Church history at St. Johns Lutheran Church tells us that the first family in the German Settlement was the Arras family. But, there are no Arras burials to be found in Union County. And, there are no members of this family still in the area. There is at least one recorded birth in that family while they were in Union County, Ohio in the 1830s. Johann "Phillip" Arras was born to Johann "Peter" and Anna Margarethe "Margaret Arras in 1832 in Darby Township, Union County, Ohio.
It is known that Mrs. Arras was an aunt of Mrs. Rausch, matriarch of the Rausch family that would later become very prominent in Union County, Ohio. And, it was because of letters from Mrs. Arras, that the Rausch family made the decision to come to America. So, what pulled the Arras family away from the area? I have found record that an daughter was born to the family in 1837 in Marion County, so the Union County stay for the Arras family was not very long-lived.
Another fact that is known about the Arras family is that they came to America aboard the James Beecham, also known as the Famous Dove ship. This ship wrecked off the shore of Virginia. This incident is documented in many places, including the St. Paul Evangelical Church's website (of Jenera, Ohio), and the St. Johns Marysville website. As a result of this shipwreck, four Lutheran congregations in Hancock County, Ohio still celebrate Shipwreck Sunday each year.
Had the Arras family intended all along to head to Hancock family? Had the Rausch family intended to follow? These are questions that I hope to answer over the next few months.
But, what a fascinating story!
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