John Jacob was born in New York to Johan Joseph and Susannah "Susie" (Antz) Rath, both German immigrants. He had two older brothers; Charles and Frank, and three younger brothers; Peter, August, and George.
In his early teen years, Rath, ("J.J." as friends and family called him throughout his life) left New York and headed west. He initially worked in Colorado and California before making his way to Arizona. Rath found employment with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Fort Bowie and was soon promoted to chief clerk. He was investing in land and finalizing plans for a hotel in Cochise, the Hotel Rath.
The Hotel Rath was constructed of plastered adobe as an L-shaped, single-story structure with a wooden facade at the attic level. A large porch was built along the front and north sides of the hotel. The south wing had a porch added which was glassed in. The building faced the railroad tracks which were directly across the street. The front door of the hotel opened up on a narrow hall the length of the building. Guest rooms and a parlor lined the both sides of the hall with a large dining room and kitchen off to the right. Besides the Hotel Rath, Cochise now boasted a telegraph station, general store, post office, meat market, tavern and a restaurant.
On April 28, 1896, J.J. married Lula Belle Olney in the town of Solomonville (now Solomon), Arizona. By this time, Rath was a successful businessman, miner, and railroad agent. On July 6, 1898, Rath was also appointed Postmaster.
J.J. and Lula became the parents of three daughters; Edith, Lillian, and Agnes. (A census indicates that a fourth child was born to Lula and John during their marriage, which died at birth.)
In 1900, the Rath's employed Katherine (Horony) Cummings, aka the infamous "Big Nose Kate" to work at the hotel as a waitress for room & board. Katherine had been the common-law wife of Doc Holliday until his death in 1887.
In addition to his business endeavors, Rath continued to invest in mining ventures in the Dragoon and Dos Cabezas areas. By the end of the 1890's and into the early 1900's the Rath Hotel was bustling and the town of Cochise was buzzing with activity. The Rath Hotel expanded with the partnership of Henderson's Saloon. Soon afterwards, Albert Eaton opened a Gambling Bar and Dining Hall in Cochise.
A bonanza at the Pearce Mine took place following the discovery of copper, and as result a 16 mile road was built from Pearce to Cochise. A railroad office was also built, and by 1897, the Southern Pacific route included the town of Cochise.
Rath's office was in the front, corner section of the hotel. There he performed his duties as Postmaster, Railroad Agent , and Justice of the Peace. These were happy times for Rath and his young family as they watched the community that they loved and helped to conceive, flourish and thrive.
Parcels of land were rapidly being sold in Cochise, homes were being built, and families continued to move in. In 1901, Rath commissioned the County Board of Supervisors for a school. The petition was accepted and in March, a school board was elected and plans for construction of a school were soon underway.
On June 7th, 1905, Rath and several of his friends rented a buckboard from Newton's Livery and they took off on a hunting excursion. Rath, a passenger, was in the wagon with his loaded shotgun leaning up against him. The wagon hit a rough section of road and knocked the shotgun causing it to discharge directly into the right side of Rath's neck, killing him instantly.
The buckboard immediately returned to Cochise. The Constable of Willcox, Bud Snow, along with Judge Page of Cochise, and other town leaders held an Inquest and Rath's death was deemed accidental.
On the following Monday morning, a procession left Cochise and traveled through Willcox before arriving in Fort Bowie where a ceremony in honor of John Jacob Rath was held officiated by Reverend A.A. Hyde of Tombstone.
Lula Rath made an effort to continue to stay on at the hotel with her three little girls after Rath's death, but by November she left Cochise with her daughters and moved to Globe to live with her brother William.
Rath was buried in the Desert Rest Cemetery in Bowie.
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In 1976, the Rath Hotel (now the Cochise Hotel), was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
In his early teen years, Rath, ("J.J." as friends and family called him throughout his life) left New York and headed west. He initially worked in Colorado and California before making his way to Arizona. Rath found employment with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Fort Bowie and was soon promoted to chief clerk. He was investing in land and finalizing plans for a hotel in Cochise, the Hotel Rath.
The Hotel Rath was constructed of plastered adobe as an L-shaped, single-story structure with a wooden facade at the attic level. A large porch was built along the front and north sides of the hotel. The south wing had a porch added which was glassed in. The building faced the railroad tracks which were directly across the street. The front door of the hotel opened up on a narrow hall the length of the building. Guest rooms and a parlor lined the both sides of the hall with a large dining room and kitchen off to the right. Besides the Hotel Rath, Cochise now boasted a telegraph station, general store, post office, meat market, tavern and a restaurant.
On April 28, 1896, J.J. married Lula Belle Olney in the town of Solomonville (now Solomon), Arizona. By this time, Rath was a successful businessman, miner, and railroad agent. On July 6, 1898, Rath was also appointed Postmaster.
J.J. and Lula became the parents of three daughters; Edith, Lillian, and Agnes. (A census indicates that a fourth child was born to Lula and John during their marriage, which died at birth.)
In 1900, the Rath's employed Katherine (Horony) Cummings, aka the infamous "Big Nose Kate" to work at the hotel as a waitress for room & board. Katherine had been the common-law wife of Doc Holliday until his death in 1887.
In addition to his business endeavors, Rath continued to invest in mining ventures in the Dragoon and Dos Cabezas areas. By the end of the 1890's and into the early 1900's the Rath Hotel was bustling and the town of Cochise was buzzing with activity. The Rath Hotel expanded with the partnership of Henderson's Saloon. Soon afterwards, Albert Eaton opened a Gambling Bar and Dining Hall in Cochise.
A bonanza at the Pearce Mine took place following the discovery of copper, and as result a 16 mile road was built from Pearce to Cochise. A railroad office was also built, and by 1897, the Southern Pacific route included the town of Cochise.
Rath's office was in the front, corner section of the hotel. There he performed his duties as Postmaster, Railroad Agent , and Justice of the Peace. These were happy times for Rath and his young family as they watched the community that they loved and helped to conceive, flourish and thrive.
Parcels of land were rapidly being sold in Cochise, homes were being built, and families continued to move in. In 1901, Rath commissioned the County Board of Supervisors for a school. The petition was accepted and in March, a school board was elected and plans for construction of a school were soon underway.
On June 7th, 1905, Rath and several of his friends rented a buckboard from Newton's Livery and they took off on a hunting excursion. Rath, a passenger, was in the wagon with his loaded shotgun leaning up against him. The wagon hit a rough section of road and knocked the shotgun causing it to discharge directly into the right side of Rath's neck, killing him instantly.
The buckboard immediately returned to Cochise. The Constable of Willcox, Bud Snow, along with Judge Page of Cochise, and other town leaders held an Inquest and Rath's death was deemed accidental.
On the following Monday morning, a procession left Cochise and traveled through Willcox before arriving in Fort Bowie where a ceremony in honor of John Jacob Rath was held officiated by Reverend A.A. Hyde of Tombstone.
Lula Rath made an effort to continue to stay on at the hotel with her three little girls after Rath's death, but by November she left Cochise with her daughters and moved to Globe to live with her brother William.
Rath was buried in the Desert Rest Cemetery in Bowie.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In 1976, the Rath Hotel (now the Cochise Hotel), was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
John Jacob was born in New York to Johan Joseph and Susannah "Susie" (Antz) Rath, both German immigrants. He had two older brothers; Charles and Frank, and three younger brothers; Peter, August, and George.
In his early teen years, Rath, ("J.J." as friends and family called him throughout his life) left New York and headed west. He initially worked in Colorado and California before making his way to Arizona. Rath found employment with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Fort Bowie and was soon promoted to chief clerk. He was investing in land and finalizing plans for a hotel in Cochise, the Hotel Rath.
The Hotel Rath was constructed of plastered adobe as an L-shaped, single-story structure with a wooden facade at the attic level. A large porch was built along the front and north sides of the hotel. The south wing had a porch added which was glassed in. The building faced the railroad tracks which were directly across the street. The front door of the hotel opened up on a narrow hall the length of the building. Guest rooms and a parlor lined the both sides of the hall with a large dining room and kitchen off to the right. Besides the Hotel Rath, Cochise now boasted a telegraph station, general store, post office, meat market, tavern and a restaurant.
On April 28, 1896, J.J. married Lula Belle Olney in the town of Solomonville (now Solomon), Arizona. By this time, Rath was a successful businessman, miner, and railroad agent. On July 6, 1898, Rath was also appointed Postmaster.
J.J. and Lula became the parents of three daughters; Edith, Lillian, and Agnes. (A census indicates that a fourth child was born to Lula and John during their marriage, which died at birth.)
In 1900, the Rath's employed Katherine (Horony) Cummings, aka the infamous "Big Nose Kate" to work at the hotel as a waitress for room & board. Katherine had been the common-law wife of Doc Holliday until his death in 1887.
In addition to his business endeavors, Rath continued to invest in mining ventures in the Dragoon and Dos Cabezas areas. By the end of the 1890's and into the early 1900's the Rath Hotel was bustling and the town of Cochise was buzzing with activity. The Rath Hotel expanded with the partnership of Henderson's Saloon. Soon afterwards, Albert Eaton opened a Gambling Bar and Dining Hall in Cochise.
A bonanza at the Pearce Mine took place following the discovery of copper, and as result a 16 mile road was built from Pearce to Cochise. A railroad office was also built, and by 1897, the Southern Pacific route included the town of Cochise.
Rath's office was in the front, corner section of the hotel. There he performed his duties as Postmaster, Railroad Agent , and Justice of the Peace. These were happy times for Rath and his young family as they watched the community that they loved and helped to conceive, flourish and thrive.
Parcels of land were rapidly being sold in Cochise, homes were being built, and families continued to move in. In 1901, Rath commissioned the County Board of Supervisors for a school. The petition was accepted and in March, a school board was elected and plans for construction of a school were soon underway.
On June 7th, 1905, Rath and several of his friends rented a buckboard from Newton's Livery and they took off on a hunting excursion. Rath, a passenger, was in the wagon with his loaded shotgun leaning up against him. The wagon hit a rough section of road and knocked the shotgun causing it to discharge directly into the right side of Rath's neck, killing him instantly.
The buckboard immediately returned to Cochise. The Constable of Willcox, Bud Snow, along with Judge Page of Cochise, and other town leaders held an Inquest and Rath's death was deemed accidental.
On the following Monday morning, a procession left Cochise and traveled through Willcox before arriving in Fort Bowie where a ceremony in honor of John Jacob Rath was held officiated by Reverend A.A. Hyde of Tombstone.
Lula Rath made an effort to continue to stay on at the hotel with her three little girls after Rath's death, but by November she left Cochise with her daughters and moved to Globe to live with her brother William.
Rath was buried in the Desert Rest Cemetery in Bowie.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In 1976, the Rath Hotel (now the Cochise Hotel), was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
In his early teen years, Rath, ("J.J." as friends and family called him throughout his life) left New York and headed west. He initially worked in Colorado and California before making his way to Arizona. Rath found employment with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Fort Bowie and was soon promoted to chief clerk. He was investing in land and finalizing plans for a hotel in Cochise, the Hotel Rath.
The Hotel Rath was constructed of plastered adobe as an L-shaped, single-story structure with a wooden facade at the attic level. A large porch was built along the front and north sides of the hotel. The south wing had a porch added which was glassed in. The building faced the railroad tracks which were directly across the street. The front door of the hotel opened up on a narrow hall the length of the building. Guest rooms and a parlor lined the both sides of the hall with a large dining room and kitchen off to the right. Besides the Hotel Rath, Cochise now boasted a telegraph station, general store, post office, meat market, tavern and a restaurant.
On April 28, 1896, J.J. married Lula Belle Olney in the town of Solomonville (now Solomon), Arizona. By this time, Rath was a successful businessman, miner, and railroad agent. On July 6, 1898, Rath was also appointed Postmaster.
J.J. and Lula became the parents of three daughters; Edith, Lillian, and Agnes. (A census indicates that a fourth child was born to Lula and John during their marriage, which died at birth.)
In 1900, the Rath's employed Katherine (Horony) Cummings, aka the infamous "Big Nose Kate" to work at the hotel as a waitress for room & board. Katherine had been the common-law wife of Doc Holliday until his death in 1887.
In addition to his business endeavors, Rath continued to invest in mining ventures in the Dragoon and Dos Cabezas areas. By the end of the 1890's and into the early 1900's the Rath Hotel was bustling and the town of Cochise was buzzing with activity. The Rath Hotel expanded with the partnership of Henderson's Saloon. Soon afterwards, Albert Eaton opened a Gambling Bar and Dining Hall in Cochise.
A bonanza at the Pearce Mine took place following the discovery of copper, and as result a 16 mile road was built from Pearce to Cochise. A railroad office was also built, and by 1897, the Southern Pacific route included the town of Cochise.
Rath's office was in the front, corner section of the hotel. There he performed his duties as Postmaster, Railroad Agent , and Justice of the Peace. These were happy times for Rath and his young family as they watched the community that they loved and helped to conceive, flourish and thrive.
Parcels of land were rapidly being sold in Cochise, homes were being built, and families continued to move in. In 1901, Rath commissioned the County Board of Supervisors for a school. The petition was accepted and in March, a school board was elected and plans for construction of a school were soon underway.
On June 7th, 1905, Rath and several of his friends rented a buckboard from Newton's Livery and they took off on a hunting excursion. Rath, a passenger, was in the wagon with his loaded shotgun leaning up against him. The wagon hit a rough section of road and knocked the shotgun causing it to discharge directly into the right side of Rath's neck, killing him instantly.
The buckboard immediately returned to Cochise. The Constable of Willcox, Bud Snow, along with Judge Page of Cochise, and other town leaders held an Inquest and Rath's death was deemed accidental.
On the following Monday morning, a procession left Cochise and traveled through Willcox before arriving in Fort Bowie where a ceremony in honor of John Jacob Rath was held officiated by Reverend A.A. Hyde of Tombstone.
Lula Rath made an effort to continue to stay on at the hotel with her three little girls after Rath's death, but by November she left Cochise with her daughters and moved to Globe to live with her brother William.
Rath was buried in the Desert Rest Cemetery in Bowie.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In 1976, the Rath Hotel (now the Cochise Hotel), was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
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