Legacy Roots - Rechten Branch

Rechten

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Legacy Roots - Rechten Branch

RECHTEN History

RECHTEN BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

FROM LILIENTHAL, BREMEN, GERMANY TO NEW JERSEY:
RECHTEN, KUNOTH, GRASSAW, EICKE, AND ALLIED FAMILIES

BY Lorraine Arnold Rechten

PHILIPP RECHTEN AND THE RECHTEN FAMILY

        In 1868, the first Rechten immigrant, Philipp Rechten, a merchant, at the age of 56, arrived in New York on the ship "Agnes" on June 2nd. It appeared that he arrived alone from Lilienthal, Bremen, Germany.
        In the year 1869, his son, Philipp Rechten immigrated, at the age of 11 years old, to the United States from Germany most likely with his mother, Dorthea Auguste (Kunnoth) Rechten, and the rest of the Rechten family. In 1876, while living at 3 Rivington Street in New York, the now 18 year-old Philipp, decided to become a naturalized citizen. His occupation at this time was that of a machinist. On October 15th 1881, while living at 54 Sixth Street, in Hoboken, New Jersey, and working as a "jewelry casemaker," he married Caroline Georgine Grassaw. Caroline, or Lena as she was sometimes referred to, was born in New York, 14 September 1854, to Wilhem Grassaw of Brunswick, Germany and Augusta Eicke of Eimberek, Hanover, Germany.
         By 1900, Philipp and Caroline were living in an apartment house on Adams Street in Hoboken with their growing family, William (18), August (9), and Adelia (6). On 24 November 1901, Philipp and Caroline's son, William, now 23 years old, married Lillie Amelia Werner. She was 18 years old at the time and living with her mother and father at 127 Garden Street, Hoboken, New Jersey. Her father was American born while her mother, Martha Grover was originally from Germany.
        William and his wife Lillie had their first child, Arthur William about 1903. By 1910 their family had grown to include two other children, Mildred G., born in 1905; and Alvin G., born in 1908. They rented a home at 1202 Willow Street in Hoboken City, Hudson County, New Jersey. William worked as a foreman painter with the steam railroad. Two more children would be born before 1920, Evelyn, about 1911, and Irene, about 1919.
        According to the 1920 U.S. census, William had become a widower, but by 1923 he married a woman by the name of Katharine from Connecticut whose parents were from Germany. In 1924, Katherine gave birth to their daughter, Marie K. By 1930, William and Katherine had moved to 119 Hauxhurst Avenue in Weehawken Township, Hudson County, New Jersey.
         On the 22nd day of November, 1924, William's first son, Arthur William, now known as William Rechten married Mary Agnes Kelly in Jersey City, New Jersey. Not much time passed and they had a son whom they named Arthur William, Jr. and another son, Irwin Joseph born on 18 August 1927. In 1948, Arthur William began working as a bank clerk at the Union Dime Savings Bank in Manhattan. The union between William and Mary,unfortunately, would not last and before 1961 it would end in divorce.
         On 4 February 1951, Irwin Joseph married Louise Lombardi, the daughter of Louis Lombardi and Josephine Cocco, both of Jersey City, New Jersey. Their first child came later that year with three others between then and 1958.
         By 1961 Arthur and Lillian, his second wife, had a residence at 90 St. Mark's Place, New Brighton, New Jersey. At the age of 59 on 14 January 1961 Arthur William Rechten, Sr. died after a year's illness.

There is a lot of historical information that has yet to be added. As we research and uncover more information the history for the Rechten family will change as well. Watch for updates on the home page of Legacy Roots. If you have any documents that would assist in this, please contact me either by e-mail or phone.