Charles Rath, Buffalo Entrepreneur
Charles Rath, a name synonymous with frontier enterprise, carved his legacy into the annals of the American West as a multifaceted figure. He was a trader, a merchant, and a significant buyer of buffalo hides, his impact resonating strongly across the Texas Panhandle and the expansive Kansas Plains. Beyond his commercial endeavors, Rath’s story weaves a surprising thread into the fabric of professional baseball, linking the rugged frontier to the diamond of America’s pastime.
Born near Stuttgart, in the Kingdom of Wurttemberg, Germany, in 1836, Rath’s early life was marked by migration. At the tender age of eleven, he embarked on a journey to the United States with his family, landing first in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The family soon transitioned to rural life, settling on a farm near Sweetwine, Ohio, setting the stage for young Charles’s eventual westward trajectory.
Around 1853, driven by the spirit of adventure and the promise of opportunity, Rath ventured west. He found employment within William Bent’s influential trading network in Colorado. His initial role involved independent freighting, a crucial occupation that entailed hauling supplies and trading goods across the vast expanse of Kansas. This experience provided Rath with invaluable insights into the demands and opportunities of the frontier economy.
The year 1854 marked the arrival of Charles’s older brother, Chris, further solidifying the Rath family’s presence in the West. In 1858, the brothers demonstrated their entrepreneurial spirit by constructing a gristmill on Mill Creek, near present-day Alma, Kansas. However, their venture was short-lived, as a devastating flood swept away the newly built mill.
Undeterred, the Rath brothers persevered, channeling their energy into trading and freighting. They established a ranch and stage station strategically located on the military road connecting Fort Hays and Fort Riley, near what is now Ellinwood, Kansas. This location provided a steady stream of business, catering to the needs of both military personnel and travelers traversing the region.
In 1860, Charles Rath took a significant step forward in his career, acquiring George Peacock’s trading post on Walnut Creek, near present-day Great Bend. This acquisition was born out of tragedy, as Peacock and five others had been massacred by Kiowa warriors led by Satank. Rath also assumed the role of sutler at the nearby Fort Zarah, supplying goods to the soldiers stationed there. Further demonstrating his commitment to the community, he was elected constable of Peketon County (later part of Marion County) in November 1860.
Charles Rath understood the importance of establishing relationships with the Indigenous tribes of the region. Upon his arrival in the West, he began cultivating trading partnerships with several tribes, including the Southern Cheyenne, Kiowa, and northern Comanche bands. These alliances were further strengthened when he married a Cheyenne woman in 1860. Their union resulted in the birth of a daughter in 1861.
The year 1863 saw Rath partnering with others to construct a toll bridge across Walnut Creek, facilitating transportation and commerce in the area. However, this period also witnessed escalating tensions between the Indigenous population and the encroaching white settlers. Despite Rath’s efforts to maintain peaceful relations with the tribes, his Walnut Creek Trading Post was subjected to multiple raids. Recognizing the inherent danger, his Cheyenne wife urged him to divorce her for her safety.
During the late 1860s, Charles Rath and his hired teamsters dedicated themselves to hauling freight for the military posts along the Santa Fe Trail, as well as for troops and government agencies operating in western Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). In addition to freighting, he and others engaged in hunting game and buffalo to provide sustenance for the railroad workers in Kansas. Recognizing the potential for long-term growth, Rath also began investing in Kansas real estate.
In 1869, Rath returned to his native Ohio, where he met Caroline Markley. Their courtship culminated in marriage on April 26, 1870. The couple eventually had three children together. After their marriage, Rath brought Caroline back to Kansas, where they resided briefly in Topeka before settling in Osage City. There, Rath established a mercantile business while continuing his freighting operations.
The early 1870s marked a pivotal point in Rath’s career. He was among the first to recognize and capitalize on the burgeoning buffalo hide trade. In September 1872, he relocated to Dodge City, a burgeoning hub of commerce and activity. He rapidly expanded his operations, engaging in hunting, freighting, and the marketing of hides. He established the Rath Mercantile Company, whose yard often housed an astounding 80,000 hides at a time. When Ford County was officially organized in 1873, Rath’s prominence led to his appointment as one of its first three commissioners.
As the buffalo population dwindled in Kansas, Rath extended his hunting operations into the Texas Panhandle. In collaboration with Robert M. Wright and James Langton, he formulated plans to establish a store and restaurant at Adobe Walls, near the site of William Bent’s former outpost. A three-room sod building was nearing completion, and the store was stocked with goods. However, in May, Rath and his men returned to Dodge City, leaving a small contingent of three men and a woman to oversee the store. Shortly after, on June 27, 1874, a formidable force of approximately 700 Comanche, Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Arapaho warriors launched an attack on the post, resulting in the Second Battle of Adobe Walls.
Continuing his involvement in the buffalo hide business in Texas, Charles Rath partnered with Frank E. Conrad to open a branch store and hide-yard at Fort Griffin in 1875. Simultaneously, he collaborated with Robert M. Wright to establish a trading post at Mobeetie, initially known as Hidetown.
The following year, Rath partnered with William McDole Lee and E. E. Reynolds to found a trading post in Stonewall County, Texas, which was soon named Rath City in his honor. However, by 1879, the buffalo hide trade had effectively collapsed due to the near-extinction of the buffalo. Demonstrating his resourcefulness, Rath collected the abundant buffalo bones scattered across the prairie and sold them for use as fertilizer. In the midst of these ventures, Rath and Caroline Markley celebrated the birth of their son, Robert Markley Rath, in October 1877.
With the demise of the buffalo business, Rath moved from Rath City to Fort Supply in the Indian Territory. Unfortunately, the early 1880s marked a period of decline in his fortunes.
In 1885, his marriage to Caroline ended in divorce in Mobeetie. He soon remarried to Emma Nesper, who gave birth to another son, Morris Charles Rath, in December 1887. Emma left him in 1896. Later, he sold his remaining assets and relocated to Los Angeles, California, where his sister Louisa and her husband operated a dairy farm. In his later years, Rath suffered from asthma and passed away on July 30, 1902.
Rath’s legacy extended beyond his entrepreneurial achievements. His daughter from his first marriage, Cheyenne Belle, dedicated her life to serving her tribe as a teacher and interpreter. His son Robert, from his second marriage, achieved success in the mercantile business in Kansas. Robert’s wife, Ida Ellen Rath, founded the Dodge City Writers’ Guild in 1929 and published a biography of her father-in-law, titled The Rath Trail, in 1961.
Adding another layer of intrigue to the Rath family saga, his son Morris "Morrie" Rath, enjoyed a distinguished career as a professional baseball player, spending 13 seasons in the sport, including five in the major leagues. He was widely regarded as one of the premier defensive second basemen of his era and played a key role for the 1919 National League Champion Cincinnati Reds.
The interconnectedness of the Rath family extended further. Charles Rath’s first child, Cheyenne Belle Rath, married a Hungarian immigrant named Mike Balenti, and they had a son, Mike Jr., who was also a talented athlete. Mike Jr. played quarterback on the same football team as Jim Thorpe at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. He was also a skilled baseball player, known for his exceptional fielding abilities as an infielder.
Remarkably, in 1913, Morrie Rath and Mike Balenti, unaware of their familial connection, played against each other in a handful of American League games. Morrie was actually a year younger than his nephew! Both men, known for their fielding prowess rather than their hitting, shared another athletic trait: Morrie Rath also played quarterback at Swarthmore College, mirroring his nephew’s position at Carlisle. Charles Rath had both a son and a grandson who played major league baseball.