The Meckels in New York City
In September 2006, Mary Canzler graciously shared two fabulous
pictures of old New York: 246 and 248 Rivington Street
Mary writes:
"My great great grandfather, Philipp Meckel immigrated from Germany sometime around 1865-1870, worked hard and made enough money to send for his best gal, Katharina Knapp to come over and become his wife. He also put a down payment on two brand new buildings, 246 and 248 Rivington Street. Each building was 4 stories with two stores fronts in each.
My grandfather, Michael Koch opened a barber shop in one of the store fronts at 248 sometime around 1890-1892. He then won the heart and hand of Philipp's daughter Elizabeth and they married. At that time, Philipp was proprietor of Meckel's Orange County Dairy and was also one of the founding fathers of the New York dairymen's league. He picked up the milk from the train station at 11th Avenue. A cousin (or a nephew, family lore is not clear) of Philipp's came over after his mother died. John Meckel had been an officer's chef in the German army, and he worked in the dairy making creamed pickled herring and pot cheese (now known as cottage cheese). Philipp died in 1904 and Michael took over the running of the dairy store and changed the name from Meckel Dairy to Koch Dairy, and added groceries. After Michael died, a man named Joe Rempe bought the business. I believe there is a connection to Joe via a marriage of Philipp Meckels son Philip P. to Mary M. Rempe. It is possible Joe was Mary's brother as I remember "Uncle" Joe as a young girl and he was pretty old then.
As for the people in the photos, none of them look "familiar" to me, they were probably just passersby hamming it up for a moment in eternity.
At least one of the buildings on Rivington Street stayed in the Koch family until around 1956 or so as my Great Aunt Marie and Great Uncle Philip (brother and sister) inherited them. One of the buildings may have already been sold, but one was still in family hands, though not for long. I have a letter from my aunt reporting on the progress of the workers who were taking measurements and discussing the problems of collecting the rents from the apartments. The postmark on the letter was 1956. I have a sad suspicion that when I make my road trip in the spring, I will find that those buildings have been razed and something new and ugly will be in their place. Progress."
September 2006
To see the photos go to Lower Manhattan
now or at the bottom of the page.
In November 2010 Laura Smith wrote to clarify just who Joe Rempe was.
And, indeed he was Mary Rempe Meckel's brother.
Laura shared the following information:
Hieronymus Albert Rempe b: 21 Oct 1840 in Natzungen, Höxter,
Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, d: 09 Nov 1917 in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USA
married
Anna Krewet b: 1848 in Warburg, Höxter, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, m:
24 Jan 1869 in Manhattan, Kings, New York, USA, d: 04 Mar 1931 in Queens, New York, USA
In August 2012 Hubert emailed from Germany with the following information on the Krewet family:
The father of Anna Krewet was Johan Anton Krewet born 12.11.1821 in Warburg to
Johann Krewet and Agnes Gardener. He was baptized on 14.11.1821 -
godparents (Johan Krewet strikethrough) Anton Grone
Church Book 1821/22 Page 50 No. 35 (Register 35/50). His siblings:
Gertrud Krewet born 1824 (Reg 18/59) and
Anna Maria Elisabeth, born 1827 (Reg 41/73). Anna Krewet was born 02.11.1848 -
baptized 11.05.1848 to Anton Krewet profession "tagloner" [day labourer]
and Anna Margarethe Ehle - godparent, Agnes Krewet nee Gaertner war die Mutter vom Vater Agnes Krewet geb. Gärtner (Gaertner )(Church Book 1848 Page 191 No. 41 St. Mary's Church Warburg Old Town). Her siblings: Therese Krewet born 1850 (Reg 37/204) and
Johann Franz Krewet born 1851 (Reg 44/210)
Children:
- John A. Rempe b: abt 1869 in New York, USA, d: 23 Mar 1948 in Queens, New York, USA
married Agatha Seidenable b: 10 Mar 1869 in New York, USA, m: 1897 in Kings, New York, USA, d: 10 Mar 1917 in New York, New York, USA
- Anna Rempe b: 1874 in New York, USA
- Frank Anthony Rempe b: 17 Jan 1874 in New York, USA, d: 14 Dec
1953 in New York, USA
married
Mary Werber b: Nov 1874 in New York, USA, m: 1897 in Kings, New York, USA, d: 20 Jun 1937 in New York, USA
- Teresa Rempe b: 12 Oct 1875 in New York, USA, d: 09 Jan 1959
married Joseph L. Rasmussen b: 01 Jun 1870 in New York, USA, m: 04 Jun 1902 in Manhattan, Kings, New York, USA, d: 07 Jan 1920
- Mary Margareth Rempe b: 12 Mar 1880 in Manhattan, Kings, New York, USA, d: 28 Nov 1969 in Jamaica, Queens, New York, USA
married Philip Peter Meckel b: 01 Apr 1876 in Manhattan, New York, New York, USA, m: 04 Oct 1904 in Manhattan, Kings, New York, USA, d: 03 Apr 1912
- Louise H J Rempe b: 16 Dec 1883, d: 05 Aug 1980 in New York, USA
married John F. Breitenbach b: 29 May 1882, m: 08 Sep 1909, d: 12 Jun 1968 in Jamaica, Queens, New York, USA
- Albert Rempe b: abt 1887 in USA, d: 20 Sep 1958
married Helen Knoch
- Joseph Anthony Rempe b: 01 Nov 1888 in New York, USA, d: 27 Dec 1968
married Mary Agnes Walker b: 29 Dec 1888 in New York, USA, m: 14 Apr 1912, d: 17 Jul 1962
- Edward Lawrence Rempe b: 11 Dec 1890 in Nyc, d: 24 Dec 1965
married
Catherine T. Reilly b: 16 Nov 1889, m: 01 Oct 1916 in St. John the Baptist R.C. Brooklyn, NY, d: 02 Oct 1957
- Agnes Rempe b: 12 Jun 1893 in New York, USA, d: 12 Aug 1968
The Meckels
George Meckel and Katherine Weiman
Birth: Germany
Marriage: Germany Children: -
Phillip Meckel (circa 1845-1904) and Katherine Knapp
Birth: Circa 1845, Germany, parents George born Germany and Kate Weiman (?) born Germany
(from death records of Phillip and John Meckel)
Immigration: 1865-70
Marriage: Katherine Knapp, not listed NYC Grooms index
Children:
- Adam circa 1870
Further Records: Not listed WWI DR.
Listed 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 censuses. Did not marry. Death: Adan Meckel
248 Rivington Street, tenement, single age 58, proprietor butter and
egg business, born US, father Phillip Meckel born
Germany, mother Katherine Knapp born Germany
died December 27, 1927, cardiac aste--- pulmonary edema, chronic
myocarditis chronic nephritis, buried Calvary Cemetery December 30, 1927 (Manhattan
#28948 1927)
-
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Meckel and Michael Koch
Birth: Circa 1872
Marriage: Not listed grooms index NYC
Children:
- Catherine Koch circa 1895
-
Anthony Koch and Veronica
Birth: May 9 1898 (WWI DR)
Military: WWI Draft Registration:
Anthony Phillip Koch 248 Rivington Street born May 9, 1898, pharmisist 1293 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, mother Elizabeth Koch 248 Rivington Street tall grey eyes brown hair.
1930 Census: Maple Street Brooklyn Anthony P Koch pharmacist drugs, age 31,
married at age 25, Veronica wife age 31, Rita M 8 mo. Cooke, Vincent brother in law age 22
stenographer stream railway,
Anthony P Koch Jr son 4 years and 5 mo. own $8,450
Marriage: Anthony Koch 248
Rivington Street age 26, single, druggist, born NY, father Michael mother Elizabeth Meckel,
married Veronica Cooke, 47 Gros--- Street, age 24, single, born NYC, father Henry mother
Margaret Fitzpatrick, at our Lady of Sorrows 213
Stanton Street Manhattan on June 30, 1924 Witnesses Edward Cooke and
Elizabeth Koch (Manhattan 1924 #19862)
Children:
- Phillip Koch circa 1902
Military: Not listed WWI DR. WWII: Phillip P Koch born 1901 NY enlisted
2 December 1942, private, 4 yrs high school machinist, single with
dependents, hight 71 weight 174,
- Marie Koch circa 1904
- Elizabeth Koch circa 1906
Death of Michael Koch, 1933: 248 Rivington Street, tenement, married
Elizabeth Koch wife, age 63, grocer born US, father Killian or Rillian Koch, born Germany,
mother Theresa Schmidt, born Germany, died
Nov 17, 1933 chronic asth--- pulmonary edema, carcinoma of the larynx pharyner (?)
buried Calvary Nov 20, 1933
(#24505 1933 Manhattan)
Death of Elizabeth Meckel Koch:
-
Phillip Meckel and
Birth: Circa 1876
WWI DR: Not listed
Marriage:
Death: Phillip Meckel 111 S 4th Street, private residence, married born April 1, 1876, age 36 years 2 days, truck dealer, store, born NYC father Phillip born
Germany mother Kate "Knaff" born Germany, brain tumor April 3, 1912, 2PM, buried
St John's Cemetery April 6, 1912. (#7045 1912 Brooklyn)
- Kate circa 1878
Death of Phillip Meckel: Phillip Meckel age 59, years and 6 mos. married born Germany in US 35
years,
place of death 63 Ave A Private residence,
father,
George born Germany mother Kate born
Germany, chronic cardio--- (aortic stenosis) pulmonary edema 9 mons. died
9 November 1904, about 2:36 PM,
buried Calvary Cemetery
Death of Katherine Knapp Meckel: Not listed under Meckel in the NYC death index to 1948.
1880 Census: 248 Rivington Street, Manhattan,
Phillip Meckel age 35, milk dealer, Kate age 36, keep house,
Lizzie age 8, Adam age 10,
Phillip age 4,
Kate age 2, William Rothman age 19, boarder, servant,
Connie Hass, age 18, border servant,
Maggie Carnia age 17, boarder servant.
- John Meckel
Birth: Circa 1862
Immigration: circa 1888 per 1920 census.
Death: John Meckel 248 Rivington Street, single born 1862, age 77, clerk dairy business, born Germany,
father George Meckel born Germany, mother Catherine Weiman (?) born
Germany, informant, Elizabeth Koch, 248 Rivington Street niece, died March 10, 1939, age 77, buried marh 13, 1939
Calvary Cemetery. No cause of death listed. (#6020, 1939 Manhattan)
1900 Census: 248 Rivington Street Manhattan,
- Adam Meckel, head, own, born Aug 1870, age 29, single, NY, dairyman,
Philip Meckel April 1876, age 24, single, NY dairyman,
John Meckel, uncle, Nov 1862, age 37 single, born Germany, dairyman,
Ebinger, Lena, servant and Spring, Sophia servant.
- Koch, Michael head, May 1870 age 30 married 7 years, barber,
Elizabeth wife January 1872, age 28, 3 children 3 still living,
Catherine Nov 1894 age 6,
Margrette September 1896, age 4,
Anthony May 1898, age 2 all born NY.
1910 Census: 248 Rivington Street,
Michael Koch, age 39, proprietor dary products, Elizabeth Koch age 38,
Catherine Koch age 15,
Anthony Koch age 11, Phillip Koch age 8, Marie Koch age 6
Elizabeth Koch age 4, Adam Meckel age 40 brother in law, proprietor grocery store empl.
John Meckel age 48, uncle born Germany
salesman dairy products
1920 Census 248 Rivington Street
Michael Koch, age 49, clerk dairy products, Elizabeth Koch age 48,
Catherine Koch age 25,
Anthony Koch age 21, Pharmicy Drug co., Phillip Koch age 19, machine printing co.
Marie Koch age 16
Elizabeth Koch age 13
Same address Adam Meckel head age 50, milk egg store retail and John Meckel age 58 uncle immigrated 1888, NA 1900, clerk milk store.
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