The only written information we have of the early Richenburgs is contained in a note by Carrie (Richenburg) Eldridge written on the back of a picture saying that her grandparents, Christopher and Dorothea Reichenbacher, lived in Alsace-Lorraine (a region in northeast France consisting of the former provinces of Alsace and Lorraine which was seized by Germany in 1871). The note also said that the region was Catholic and Protestant and the family emigrated because of war. Family tradition says that the Reichenbachers lived at Baden-Baden in the Black Forest area and at least one ancestor was a Prussian General, but documentation is lacking to prove these claims.

These names are not certain. There is some evidence that the surname was actually Reichenbach, without the -er. We have also seen it spelt Reichenbachey.

We have not been able to find proof of any kind that Christopher and Dorothea Reichenbacher came to America (family tradition says they did). The note by Carrie Eldridge written on the back of the picture mentioned above also says that she believed that at least three of their children came to America: Frederick Henrick, Augustus, and Carrie with Augustus and Carrie settling in Brooklyn, NY.

Christopher and Dorothea Reichenbacher had at least three children, all born in Germany, order of birth unknown:

• Frederick Heinrick, b. 26 July 1860.
• Augustus. His name may have been Ernest Augustus, or Ernst August in German. At this point, these names are just guesses. Aunt Carrie's note on the back of a photograph mentioned above only says Augustus.
• Carrie. Carrie is not a German name, and this may have been a nickname she acquired in America. My Great-Aunt Carrie, who would have been this woman's niece, was named Carrie Clara Richenburg on her birth certificate. My cousin, Ronald Richenburg, has located a series called Germans to America that attempts to list passengers of ships bringing immigrants to the US from Germany. The volumes do not claim to be all-inclusive, however. In these volumes, we have found a record of a Clara Reichenbach having arrived in New York on 20 Aug. 1881 abroad the ship General Werder, departing Bremen 7 Aug., 1881. (Germans to America, Vol 40, p.52.) This Clara was 17 at the time. Another entry, found in Vol. 37, p. 244 lists a Karoline Reichenbach (Karoline could easily have been shortened to Carrie), arriving on the ship Lessing, departed Hamburg 9 March 1881 and LeHavre 12 March 1881, arriving in New York 23 March 1881. Karoline was 24 and single, according to the listing, and came from Baden, which would agree with family tradition.

Henrietta Riese was Catholic and Frederick Reichenbacher was Protestant according to a copy of their marriage certificate sent to us by the church.

Frederick Heinrick Reichenbacher was only 17 years old when he arrived at the Port of New York City on Nov. 1, 1877, according to the information on his naturalization card, Certificate #169-138. We have not found any documentation (other than this certificate) of his arrival in America. In the Germans to America series, Vol. 37, p. 10, we have found a listing for the arrival of Frederic Reichembach abroad the ship Ville de Marseille, departing Le Havre 13 Nov 1880, and arriving New York 3 Dec. 1880. His age is listed as 21, and his occupation is listed as Blacksmith. Frederick Reichenbach is listed as a blacksmith on his marriage certificate in 1882. His age would have been 20 in December 1880, but the age may have been a mistake in the listing, or a deliberate attempt to make himself one year older. The spelling Reichembach is likely a mistake in transcription, and the spelling Frederic may be because this was a French ship. This listing may have been Frederick's second arrival in the United States, possibly after a short return trip to Germany.

We do not know when or why Frederick came to South Boston from New York City. He is listed as a blacksmith on his marriage certificate in 1882; a laborer on Oct. 18, 1886, when he was naturalized and they were living at 155 Gold St., Boston; a laborer in 1888 when their residence was at 297 W. Third St.; a laborer in 1889 through 1892 when their residence was 205 W. Third St. and they were living with Henrietta's father in his house after his wife (her mother) died; a laborer still when they bought and moved to their house on James St. (now Glendower Rd.), Roslindale. By the time of the US Census of 1900, he was listed as a "filler" for a Sugar Refinery. At some point in time, Frederick's company (Corn Products Co., now known as CPC International) either moved or sent him to New Jersey and he worked there the rest of his life, living at 168 Oakwood Ave., Cliffside Park. Henrietta and their children did not accompany him, instead staying at the home in Roslindale with Frederick coming home periodically.

Between the baptism of his first child on May 10, 1883 and the granting of his naturalization papers in 1886, Frederick Heinrick Reichenbacher Anglicized his name to Frederick Henry Richenburg.

My mother, Mildred (Richenburg) True, granddaughter of Frederick, wrote, "I do not have any memory of my Grandfather Frederick and have only one memory of my Grandmother Henrietta. She is sitting with her back to the windows in the living room of the house at 62 Glendower Rd. and she is playing 'Button, button, who has the button' with me."

Frederick Henry and his wife Henrietta (Riese) Richenburg had ten children:

• Louisa Wilhelmina, b. at Boston, 24 Dec. 1882, bpt. at Holy Trinity Church, Archdiocese of Boston, 10 May 1883; d. at Boston, 1884 in a fall through a second story window from a rocking chair. She is buried with her parents at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Boston. Louisa seems to be the only child of Frederick and Henrietta to be baptized a Catholic as the other nine children were brought up in the Protestant faith.
• Selma Wilhelmina (a note on the back of a picture states that Selma was a twin, but we lack documentation to prove it), b. at Providence, RI 17 Feb. 1884, d. at Boston, 13 May 1955; m. at Roslindale, 21 March 1917 Edwin Frank McCabe. "Selma and Frank (as Edwin was called) were my aunt and uncle and they lived in West Roxbury and did not have any children. I remember her as a meticulous housekeeper and a fabulous cook. We children enjoyed our visits with them as it was a treat to have her run their player piano for us, and, of course, to eat her scrumptious, really elegant meals. She and Uncle Frank used to take us out for rides in their Ford automobile before it became common for us to own cars." True, Bartlett-Richenburg Families, 1991.
• Frederick Henry, b. at Boston 20 May 1886; m. Spray Edna Bartlett.
• Henry, b. Boston 15 Nov. 1887; d. 9 May 1961, buried in the Veteran's section of the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Boston; unmarried. He had an ice business and/or worked for The Boston Ice Company. He served his country in World War I. He had a lovely home by the ocean in Gloucester, MA which was designed by his brother, Frederick.
• Paul John, b. Boston 24 March 1889; d. Roslindale 31 July 1962; m. Boston 5 May 1910 Caroline Priscilla Chatto. "Paul was my uncle and this family lived at Roslindale on Poplar St. 'PJ' (as Paul was called) founded in 1906 the Roslindale Coal and Ice Company, a very successful business. This business merged in 1937 with the Boston Ice Company. In his later years, PJ had interests in farming and land development in the state of Kansas. One of my favorite memories was seeing my Uncle Paul, in full regalia of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, astride his horse galloping down the street before the start of a parade! So colorful! I didn't know Aunt Carrie (as Caroline was called) very well. In talking to some of her children, my impression of her as a lovely, gentle woman is confirmed with the added emphasis placed on the fact that she had a wonderful sense of humor." True, Bartlett-Richenburg Families, 1991. Paul and Caroline had five children: Earle Frederick, Paul John, Jr., George Elden, Virginia Gertrude, and Roberta Muriel.
• Charles Roy, b. Boston 8 March 1890 or 1891; d. Everett, MA 1 June 1954. m. Lily -----, and had one daughter, Doris. They lived in Everett where he was an alderman.
• Herman, b. Roslindale 24 Sept. 1892; d. Bedford Veteran Hospital 31 Nov. 1955, unmarried. He served his country in World War I and was injured while on duty by a propeller of an airplane and never was able to lead a productive life again, ending his years at the hospital.
• Philip Arthur, b. Roslindale 11 Feb. 1894; d. Milton, MA 14 Nov 1979; m. Gertrude Eilertson. "Philip and Gertrude were my uncle and aunt. They lived on Metropolitan Ave., Roslindale for many years and later moved to a new home at Milton. Phil was a lawyer and founded an insurance agency in Boston which was very successful and which he headed until he retired. Philip played the piano and had a grand voice of operatic strength and we loved to have him sing for us. Both Philip and Gertrude enjoyed the opera and were guarantors of the Metropolitan Opera Company and attended most of their Boston performances. Gertrude was a gracious and charming woman, the first woman I knew who was on a Board of Directors or a Trustee of an organization. Commonplace now, but inspirational to a young girl in those days of women just emerging from 'their place in the home' society. She had a large family of brothers and sisters and was very close to them and spent as much time with them as possible. Uncle Philip and I loved to golf together, after I grew up, which we were able to do now and then." True, Bartlett-Richenburg Families, 1991. Philip and Gertrude had one son, Philip Arthur, Jr.
• Carrie Clara, b. Roslindale 3 April 1896; d. Harwichport, MA 1985; m. Roderick Howard Eldridge. "Carrie and Rod (as Roderick was called) were my aunt and uncle and brought up their family while living at 39 Bexley Rd., Roslindale. Later they retired to Harwichport. Rod made his living as an electrician and was a quiet man as I recall. Carrie was a greathearted woman with a hearty laugh, sparkling blue eyes, and lovely black curly hair. She made the best sour cream chocolate cake with fudge frosting of anyone I have known and had a fine reputation among the family for that accomplishment." True, Bartlett-Richenburg Families, 1991. Roderick and Carrie had three children: Eleanor Irene, Evelyn Ruth, and Roderick Howard, Jr.
• Ernest, b. Roslindale, 10 March 1898; d. 7 Aug. 1956; m. Alice -----, b. 6 May 1906, d. 1 July 1964. Both are buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Boston. They had several children.

Fred and Spray and their four children lived at Roslindale at 75 Augustus Ave., a house designed and built by Fred. Fred had a business of designing and manufacturing the beautiful stained glass and lead lamp shades so popular in that day, but World War I wiped out the business and he was not able to restart it again after the war. He became a practicing architect after fourteen years of night school while working days to support his family. He worked on the design and structure of some large buildings in Boston for other architects during those years and designed many residences himself. He was registered as an architect in Massachusetts, number 687.

Fred was a story teller and his children and grandchildren loved to listen to him. His daughter, Mildred (Richenburg) True wrote the following about her parents:

"I remember as a young child trying to stay awake until he came home from night school just to hear a story. He also loved to walk and I got up early mornings in the springtime to go for walks with him before school and before he went to work. Our wildflower collection was extensive and I, the last of four children, loved the time alone with him. When my own children were young, my father would take them and several other children in the neighborhood for walks. These walks were so popular that I had to keep a list of the children who went on the walk each week so that others could go the next week. The combination of walking and storytelling had a fascination for children but most of the charm was because of his love and acceptance of children. To him, all children were wonderful and fun to be with and, of course, children flocked to him.

"My parents saw to it that there were musical instruments around for us to play. It goes without saying that we also had a piano. For years each, in his or her turn, would gather around the piano with his or her friends to sing of an evening. My brother and system, Fred and Betty, have natural ability and even now can play tunes on the piano.

"My mother was the solid center of our family maintaining our home and always there. My father and we four children were in and out, off to work and to school, to athletic events and playing on various sport teams, to coasting, to ice skating, to the library, to homes of friends, and to all the activities that occupied us and in the background, making it all possible, was my mother. My mother loved to cook and was a good cook. She had to work hard as women did in that day before those splendid machines (the clothes washer, clothes dryer, dishwasher, and vacuum cleaner) became common in households. Most especially, I remember her always there to listen, laugh, and sympathize with us, all the while her hands busy with crochet hook and thread making doilies and edgings for linen bureau scarves and handkerchiefs. I remember the day she received $25.00 from Needlepoint Magazine as payment for the use of her original design of a new doily. Such excitement, for designs and creative accomplishments were held in high esteem in our home.

"My mother had a lifelong friend, Gertie Milligan, who taught us piano. Gertie had a good voice and we loved hearing her sing and play the tunes of the day. My mother's two sisters, Lois and Florence, and their families seemed almost like our own, my mother was so close to them. After I was grown, whenever Gertie and/or Aunt Lois and Aunt Florence came to visit, we women would gather together at my mother's home and make corn chowder to be eaten with 'Pilot' crackers and reminisce and laugh the day away.

"My mother became legally blind towards the end of her life. We learned from her example that, with courage and fortitude, life with diminished capacities can be lived with grace."

Frederick Henry and his wife Spray Edna (Bartlett) Richenburg had four children:

• Frederick Henry, Jr., b. Roslindale 15 April 1913; d. Salisbury, MA 10 Jan. 1999. He married Eleanor Marian Auderer, b. Boston 11 May 1912; d. 1998. They have two children, Carol Eleanor and Frederick Henry III.
• Elizabeth Henrietta, b. Roslindale 11 March 1916; d. May 2004; She married at Boston 16 Oct. 1938 to Lewis Franklin Smith, who died 1 July 2004. They have one son, Russell Lewis.
• Robert Bartlett, b. Roslindale 14 July 1917, m. (1) at Roslindale 11 Nov. 1942 Chic Libby Peltyn. They have one son, Ronald Peltyn. Robert m. (2) at Ithaca, NY 9 Feb. 1980 Margaret Alice (Doorty) Kerr.
• Mildred Louise, b. at Roslindale 25 Jan. 1920; m. at Roslindale 31 Aug. 1940 Edward Keene True. They have four children, Edward Bartlett, Robert Payson, Peter Keene, and James Duncan.