Eugene Abraham Rau was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1848, and has ever made that city his home. He is a son of Simon and Lucy Ann (Luckenbach) Rau, both deceased, his father, in addition to having been the first and leading druggist in Bethlehem, was also a citizen of high repute, serving as councilman and as treasurer of a number of societies of the Moravian church. Eugene A. Rau was educated in the Moravian Parochial School, early became associated with his honored father, and after graduation from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy became his partner, and after a connection of forty-eight years, retired, April 1, 1913. While the drug business has been the principal work of his life and all else was subordinated to it for so many years, Mr. Rau has acquired other interests, and he is a learned botanist, well known for his work in connection with the flora of Northampton county. He is a member of a number of scientific societies, including the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, New York Academy of Sciences, Torrey Botanical Club, Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, and Sullivant Moss Society. He is secretary of the board of trustees of the Moravian Seminary and the College for Women, also treasurer of the Alumni Association Endowment Fund of that institution; a vice-president of the Free Library of Bethlehem; member of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce; member of the Moravian Historical Society; and of the Northampton County Historical Society; treasurer of one of the Moravian church societies, and also treasurer of the Bethlehem branch of the Dickens Fellowship. He is also a leading member of the Moravian church. In connection with his scientific and botanical research, Mr. Rau has prepared a number of papers and notices, the following being a partial list of subjects treated, and places of their publications: "Catalogue of North American Musci," Eugene A. Rau, A. B. Hervey, Taunton, Massachusetts, 1880, p. 52, octavo; "Additions to the Habitats of North American Sphagna," Botanical Gazette, IX-X, 26; "Helonias Bullata in Northern New Jersey," Botanical Gazette, IX-X, 113; "List of Musci and Hepaticae, Collected in Southern Colorado," by T. S. Brandegee, determined by E. A. Rau, Department of Interior, Washington, District of Columbia, June 6, 1876; "Revised and Augmented List of Sphagna, Musci and Plepaticae of New Jersey," final report of State Geologist, New Jersey, Vol. II, 1889; "Notes on the Flora of Northampton County, Pennsylvania," Torreys, Vol. XII, December, 1912.

Eugene A. Rau married, April 3, 1888, Matilda Sophia Klose, daughter of John Gottlieb and Maria Spencer Klose, both now deceased. Since retiring from business in 1913, Mr. Rau has devoted himself to his botanical studies; his library and floriculture form the greatest enjoyment of his retired life. He is a man of strong character and learning, very companionable and friendly, and he is highly esteemed by a very large circle of friends.