Talk:Rath Packing Company

Personal Remembrances

My father Jeff Davis Tahchee Cypert aka Chief Tahachee (Cherokee Actor) promoted Rath Meat products when I was a kid, I was born October 18, 1946. I remember visiting Dad at a Safeway Market somewhere in Los Angeles, California in the early 1950's where Rath canned goods were stacked up behind him and he was autographing photographs of himself and everybody referred to him as the Rath Indian, sort of like a mascot for the company. Everytime I see old prints of Rath Meat products I always think of my Dad. Anyone out there remember seeing my Dad anywhere? Anway I thought I would share this.

4/1/07 It was great to read some of the history of this company. My great unlce Howard Rath and Great Aunt Mary were the final in my family to run this business. I was born Oct 19,1963 in Erie, PA and was lucky enough to have know both of them for several years. I never realized how much history there was to the company. Michael Shannon, Lancaster, KY

11/18/2008 I was raised in a family of Rath workers. My father was a sales man and later VP of sales East coast. He hired a man named Chief William Red Fox, who was raied in the Dakotas. I have in my possession a letter from the Chief telling the story of his life as a child and witnessing the Battle of the Little big Horn. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.55.253.132 (talk) 19:42, 18 November 2008 (UTC)

Unreferenced copy

Moving this from the article to here until references can be found:

George John Rath (variously referred to as George Rath and John George Rath) was born in 1821 in Breitenau, Württemberg province, Germany. He came to the United States in the late 1840s and eventually settled in Dubuque, Iowa. In Dubuque, Rath began a merchant business, making and selling soap and tallow candles. He also began a pork packing operation. By 1873 he had a new partner in both endeavors: His son, E. F. (Edward Frederick) Rath, doing business under the name George Rath and Son.

In February 1891, the Rath's small pork packing plant and retail market in Dubuque was destroyed by fire. The fire came at a time when many growing towns in Iowa were trying to attract meat packers to relocate or open operations in their communities. A packing plant was a major acquisition for a small but ambitious town. Such a business meant locally available fresh meat, employment, and typically created a livestock market, all adding to local commerce and prosperity.

The Raths were approached by the Waterloo, Iowa, Board of Trade (a Chamber of Commerce forerunner) and were eventually won over. Incentives included $10,000 in capital, land for a plant, and tax concessions. At some point during this process, George J. Rath decided not to leave Dubuque and not to continue in the meat packing business, rather to stay with his mercantile business. His son E. F. Rath, and John W. Rath, a cousin from Ackley, Iowa, began the Waterloo venture.

Hope that's ok. LateFatherKarma (talk) 14:52, 30 May 2026 (UTC)