Rauh, Aaron S.

The following data is extracted from Centennial History of Missouri.

Aaron S. Rauh has since 1912 filled the position of vice president of the RiceStix Dry Goods Company of St. Louis, controlling one of the mammoth mercantile enterprises of the city, the business being capitalized for six million, eight hundred thousand dollars. Close study of the trend of the times, individual enterprise and long experience have enabled Aaron S. Rauh to contribute in large measure to the continued success of this undertaking.

Mr. Rauh is a native son of Tennessee. He was born in Memphis on the 26th of November, 1872, his parents being Samuel and Jeannette (Rice) Rauh, both of whom are now deceased. With the removal of the family to St. Louis he became a high school pupil here. The family home was established in this city in 1879 and he left school in 1890, at which time he entered commercial circles and throughout the intervening period, covering thirty years, has been continuously associated with the Rice-Stix Dry Goods Company. This company has been in business in St. Louis for about half a century and throughout the entire period has maintained an unassailable reputation for the integrity as well as the enterprise of its business methods, while the progressive spirit infused into the organization has been a dominant element in the continuous development of the trade. Mr. Rauh entered the establishment in a humble capacity, but the diligence and loyalty of his course won him various promotions and in 1912 brought him to the vice presidency. In 1919 property was acquired for the erection of a new twelve-story building adjoining the Rice-Stix wholesale house in order to permit of the further expansion of the business by giving to the company larger quarters. The building will be erected at a cost of two million, five hundred thousand dollars on land acquired for five hundred thousand dollars. The new building in course of construction will add approximately three hundred thousand square feet and will give to the company a total of about eight hundred and fifty thousand square feet in its headquarters establishment, in addition to the several large warehouses and factories which they have in different parts of the city. When the company first leased their quarters in the building they now occupy they were doing a business of approximately six million dollars, while the business for the year 1920 totaled sixty million dollars.

On the 4th of November, 1908, Mr. Rauh was united in marriage to Miss Elsie Kohn, daughter of William Kohn, a prominent banking broker of St. Louis who has now passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Rauh have been born two children, Elsie and Jean.

In his political views Mr. Rauh maintains an independent course, but is by no means remiss in the duties of citizenship, giving active aid and cooperation to many plans looking to the upbuilding and welfare of St. Louis. He belongs to the Columbian, City and Westwood Clubs, has membership in Temple Israel and finds his recreation largely in golf. His commercial interests, however, have claimed the greater part of his time and attention. At the outset of his career he recognized the truth stated by an eminent New York financier, who said: "If you would win success you must be willing to pay the price-the price of earnest, self-denying effort," and it has been through close application, indefatigable energy and persistency of purpose that Aaron S. Rauh has advanced step by step until he is today an outstanding figure in the wholesale circles of St. Louis.

Source: Centennial History of Missouri

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