Spouse: Bernhard Rebeschke
= Bernhard Rebescher
(1872 - 1946)

On March 30, 1887, Rosalia departed the port of Hamburg, Germany, on the passenger ship Polynesia for New York City. The passenger manifest (obtained from the National Archives in Washington, DC) shows that "Rosallie" was accompanied by her parents. Also on board were three of Rosalia's siblings: Friedrich Schwertfeger, Joseph Schwertfeger, and Maria Schwertfeger. The six joined three of Rosalia's older siblings already residing in Buffalo, New York.

Rosalia married Bernhard (also known as "Bernard," "Bernhardt," or "Barney") Rebeschke on July 12, 1893 at Saint Boniface R.C. Church, 124 Locust Street, Buffalo. Bernhard was a son of Friedrich (= Gottfried) and Mathilde (= Mathilda or Matilda) (née Filipska or Philipps or Philippska) Rebeschke.

Friedrich Rebeschke was twice-married, with his first wife being Anna (née Smyczek) Rebeschke. With Anna, at least two children were born: Johann (= "John") and Rosalia. Anna died on January 19, 1869 in Kladau. On May 21, 1869 in Kladau, Friedrich married Mathilde Filipska of Kladau, daughter of Michael and Cartharina (Szuminska) Filipski. With Mathilde, at least nine children were born, of whom only three (Bernhard, Conrad, and Otto) apparently survived to adulthood.

Bernhard was born on May 13, 1872, in Kladau. Local records show that Bernhard was baptised on May 20, 1872 at Kladau, with Julius and Juelina (?) Rebeschke being witnesses. Bernhard, Conrad, and Otto accompanied Friedrich and Mathilde to the United States aboard the for the passenger ship S.S. Slavonia, which embarked from Stettin (today Szeczin, Poland) and arrived in New York City on March 16, 1888. The passenger manifest gives evidence of their travel.

According to information on the Immigrant Ship web site of Louis S. Alfano, the Slavonia of was a 2215 ton vessel belonging to the Hamburg America Line. She was built by Raylton Dixon & Co. at Middlesborough in 1883 as the "Macassar" and later acquired the same year by HAL and renamed "Slavonia." She was eventually sold to Deutsche Levante in 1897 and renamed "Leros." The ship was no longer in service by 1911.

Variants on Bernhard's (and his siblings') original surname include: Rebeschke, Rebischke, Rebeski, Rebeshki, Rebeeshke, Rebeshky, Rebeschskey, Rebsher, Rebesher, and Rebescher. Family records indicate that Bernhard's surname was officially changed to "Rebescher" on May 14, 1910. Court approval of the surname change was published in the May 17, 1910, issue of the Buffalo Morning Express. The family believes that Bernhard probably changed the surname because of his interest in starting his own contracting business without ties to a Polish/Slavic type of surname.

Bernhard was a brother to Father Conrad (Konrad) F. Rebesher (note spelling variant of surname), S.S.J. (Society of Saint Joseph), and co-founder of the Knights of Saint Peter Claver. Family records provided by Geri Ellerbrock indicate that Conrad was born on February 20, 1878, in Kladau, West Prussia. Conrad was confirmed in 1892 by Rt. Reverend Ryan at Saint Louis R.C. Church in Buffalo, New York. In 1893, Conrad was a witness to the marriage of Bernhard and Rosalia. In 1900, he entered St. Joseph (Josephite) Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland (the same seminary that was later attended by Father John Bernard Schwert, received tonsure on December 20, 1902, and was ordained in Baltimore on June 21, 1905 by James Cardinal Gibbons. On June 25, 1905, Fr. Conrad celebrated his first solemn mass at Saint Boniface R.C. Church in Buffalo. He served in the dioceses of Mobile, Alabama, and Wilmington, Delaware. Fr. Conrad died of cancer on June 24, 1938, at Saint Francis Hospital in Wilmington. At his request, he was interred at Epiphany Apostolic College Cemetery (New College) (the Josephite Cemetery) in Newburgh, New York.

Bernhard Rebeschke/Rebescher. circa 1930. (Click to enlarge, 23K)

Bernhard was a short, stocky, bull-like man who always smoked a cigar. All of their sons were of the same stature but taller and were mechanic bricklayers. Bernhard was a general contractor who built schools and churches, including the high school at Angola, NY. The family resided at 110 Timon Street (formerly named 110 Durrenburger Place) in Buffalo, where he and his sons ran the construction business from a garage that had three large sections in it.

Rosalia died of nephritis on June 1, 1927, at the age of 54. Bernhard died on January 12, 1946, of coronary thrombosis. Both are interred at the United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill) in Cheektowaga, NY.

Upon Bernhard's death, his sons decided to run the construction business the correct way. They therefore moved the business out of the garage at 110 Timon Street and opened offices on Delaware Avenue in downtown Buffalo.

(Click on photo for enlargement, 56K)

• Ship Passenger Manifest #1: Passenger ship Polynesia, departed Hamburg, Germany, for New York City on March 30, 1887. This is the first page of the manifest, showing the departure/arrival information. On this ship arrived Carl Schwertfeger, Veronica (née Modrzejewska) Schwertfeger, Maria Schwertfeger, Joseph Schwertfeger, and "Rosallie" Schwertfeger. Document was obtained from the collection of the National Archives in Washington, DC.

• Ship Passenger Manifest #2: Passenger ship Polynesia, departed Hamburg, Germany, for New York City on March 30, 1887. This is the page listing Carl Schwerdtfeger, Carl Schwertfeger, Veronica (née Modrzejewska) Schwertfeger, Maria Schwertfeger, Joseph Schwertfeger, and "Rosallie" Schwertfeger. Document was obtained from the collection of the National Archives in Washington, DC.

• Ship Passenger List: Passenger ship Polynesia, departed Hamburg, Germany, for New York City on March 30, 1887. Passenger list ("218") includes: Carl Schwertfeger, Veronica (née Modrzejewska) Schwertfeger, Maria Schwertfeger, Joseph Schwertfeger, and Rosalia Schwertfeger. A larger, denser version of this passenger list is available here. Document is from from LDS Microfilm #473087.

• Ship Passenger Manifest #1: Microfilm opening page for the manifest of the passenger ship S.S. Slavonia, departing Stettin, West Prussia (today Szeczin, Poland) and arriving in New York City on March 16, 1888. Manifest lists Gottfried (age 49) and Mathilde (age 46) Rebeschke and three sons: Bernhard (age 15), Conrad (age 10), and Otto (age 5). Village of residence is Kladau, West Prussia. Document was obtained from the collection of the National Archives in Washington, DC.

• Ship Passenger Manifest #2: First page for the manifest of the passenger ship S.S. Slavonia, departing Stettin, West Prussia (today Szeczin, Poland) and arriving in New York City on March 16, 1888. On an accompanying page of the manifest is listed Gottfried and Mathilde Rebeschke and three sons: Bernhard, Conrad, and Otto. Document was obtained from the collection of the National Archives in Washington, DC.

• Ship Passenger Manifest #3: Passenger ship S.S. Slavonia, departing Stettin, West Prussia (today Szeczin, Poland) and arriving in New York City on March 16, 1888. Manifest lists Gottfried (age 49) and Mathilde (age 46) Rebeschke and three sons: Bernhard (age 15), Conrad (age 10), and Otto (age 5). Village of residence is Kladau, West Prussia. Document was obtained from the collection of the National Archives in Washington, DC.

• Marriage Record: Rosalia Schwert and Bernhard Rebeski, Saint Boniface R.C. Church, 124 Locust Street, Buffalo, NY, July 12, 1893. Bernhard's parents' names are given as Freidrich and Matilda (née Phillips) Rebeski. Rose's parents' names are given as Karl and Veronica (née Motraeski) Schwert.

• Baptismal Certificate: Martha Schwert, April 10, 1892. Sponsors were Bernard Rebeski and Rose Schwert. (Note spelling of surname as "Rebeski").

• Baptismal Record: Aloysius Boniface Rebeski, baptized by Fr. Ferdinand Kolb of Saint Boniface R.C. Church, Buffalo, NY, on the day of his birth: June 3, 1894. Sponsors were Johann and Matilda Rebeski.

• Baptismal Record: Michael Bernard Schlee, son of Frances (née Schwert) and August Schlee. Baptized on November 28, 1897, by Fr. Ferdinand Kolb of Saint Boniface R.C. Church, 124 Locust Street, Buffalo, NY. Born November 25, 1897. Sponsors were Bernhard and Rosalia Rebescher (note spelling of surname as "Rebeski."

• Baptismal Record: Bernhard Otto Rebescher, born February 15, 1897. Baptized on February 21, 1897, by Fr. Ferdinand Kolb of Saint Boniface R.C. Church, 124 Locust Street, Buffalo, NY. Sponsors were Karl and Veronica Schwert.

• Baptismal Record: Maria Magdaline Rebescher, born on July 22, 1898. Baptized by Fr. Ferdinand Kolb of Saint Boniface R.C. Church, 124 Locust Street, Buffalo, on July 23, 1898. Sponsor was Mary (née Schwert) Patz.

• Death Record: Saint Boniface R.C. Church death ledger record for Johann (= "John") Friedrich Rebeschke/Rebesher, son of Friedrich and Anna (née Smyczek) Rebeschke. Johann was born in Kladau, West Prussia on November 18, 1864. He died of cancer in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania on April 8, 1899. His body was transported to Buffalo, where on April 13, 1899 it was interred in a grave now adjacent to those of Friedrich and Mathilde (née Filipska = Philipps) Rebeschke, Lot 50, Section OO, United German & French Cemetery, Cheektowaga, NY. Mathilde was Friedrich's second wife, and therefore Johann's stepmother. Johann's death left five children orphaned, who are shown in the 1900 Census to be residing with their grandparents Friedrich and Mathilde in Buffalo.

• Baptismal Record: Helen Rose Rebescher, born on August 9, 1899. Baptized by Fr. Ferdinand Kolb of Saint Boniface R.C. Church, 124 Locust Street, Buffalo, on August 13, 1899. Sponsors were Franz (= "Frank") Carl and Julianna (née Schlia/Schlee) Schwertfeger/Schwert.

• 1900 U.S. Census Record: Bernhart & Rose Rebiski and family. The family is shown residing at 264 Grape Street in Buffalo, NY. Misspellings are a major problem in this census enumeration.

• 1900 U.S. Census Record: Friedrich & Mathilde Rebeschke and their son Otto. Mathilde was Friedrich's second wife. Also listed on this Buffalo, NY census as grandchildren are the five children left orphaned in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania upon the death of Johann (= "John") Friedrich Rebeschke/Rebesher, son of Friedrich and Anna (née Smyczek) Rebeschke. Johann's wife "Jetty" had died in Nanticoke in 1898, likewise of cancer.

• Baptismal Record: Kathryn (née "Catherine") Rebescher, born on December 29, 1900. Baptized by Fr. Augustinius Fricker of Saint Boniface R.C. Church, 124 Locust Street, Buffalo, on December 30, 1900. Her sponsors were George and Catherine Stilber.

• Obituary: Obituary for Friedrich Rebeschke, husband of Matilda (née Philipps) Rebeschke and father of Otto, Bernhard, and Conrad Rebeschke/Rebescher. Translation: Saturday, the 10th of September, 1904, Friedrich Rebeschke, husband of Matilda (née Philipps), father of Bernhard, Otto, and Conrad Rebeschke, age of 65 years . . . . The full page of this German-language Buffalo, NY, newspaper is available here.

• Funeral Mass Card: Funeral mass card for Friedrich Rebeschke, husband of Matilda (née Philipps) Rebeschke and father of Otto, Bernhard, and Conrad Rebeschke/Rebescher. Translation: For a religious keepsake of Friedrich Rebeschke, husband of Matilda Rebeschke, born Philipps. Died in Buffalo, NY, on Saturday, the 10th of September, 1904, at the age of 65 years. Interred with a graveside worship ceremony, Pine Hill Cemetery, Wednesday, the 14th of September, 1904.

• Interment Record: Interment record for Friedrich and Matilda (née Philipps or Filipska) Rebesche/Rebescher, Lot 50, Section OO, United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, New York. Also interred in this lot is their granddaughter Maria Magdaline Rebescher and Johann (= "John") Rebeschke/Rebescher/Rebesher, son of Friedrich and Anna (née Smyczek) Rebeschke (Friedrich's first wife). Johann had died of cancer on April 8, 1899 in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. His body was transported to Buffalo, where his death is recorded in the death ledger for Saint Boniface R.C. Church. His death left five children orphaned.

• Ordination and First Mass: Invitation to the ordination and first mass of Father Conrad F. Rebeschky, brother of Bernhard and Otto Rebeschke/Rebescher. June 21, 1905.

• 1905 Census Record: 1905 New York State Census for Bernhard ("Barney") and Rosalia ("Rosa") Rebeschke, and family. The family is shown as residing at 264 Grape Street in Buffalo, NY. On the next page of this census, it is shown that Rose's mother Veronica is also residing with them.

• 1910 U.S. Census Record: Bernhard ("Barney") and Rosalia ("Rose") Rebesher, and family. The record shows them residing at 110 Durrenburger Place. The street was later renamed Timon Steet.

• 1910 U.S. Census Record: Matilida (née Filipska = Philipps) Rebescher and her son Otto. The two resided at 182 Rose Street.

• Surname Change: Newspaper notice from the May 17, 1910, Buffalo NY Morning Express announcing approval by Erie County Court of the petition by Bernard Rebeschke to change his surname.

• Baptismal Record: Eugene Victor Rebescher, born on May 4, 1911. Baptized at Saint Boniface R.C. Church, 124 Locust Street, Buffalo, NY, on May 14, 1911. (Note spelling correction on Rosalia's name).

• Letterhead: B. Rebescher & Sons, General Contractors and Builders, 110 Timon Street.

• Marriage Record: Bernhard Otto Rebescher to Melanie M. Dengler, June 11, 1921.

• Marriage Record: Aloysius Boniface Rebescher to Emily Bilger, August 20, 1921, St. Mary of Sorrows R.C. Church, Buffalo, NY. (Note reference to his parents as "Bernardo Rebeski et Louisa Schwert").

• Death Certificate: Rosalia (née Schwertfeger/Schwert) Rebeschke/Rebescher, died June 1, 1927.

• Obituary: Rosalia (née Schwertfeger/Schwert) Rebeschke/Rebescher, June 1, 1927.

• Interment Record: Rosalia (née Schwertfeger/Schwert) Rebeschke/Rebescher, United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY.

• Death Certificate: Bernhard Rebeschke/Rebescher, died January 12, 1946.

• Obituary: Bernhard Rebeschke/Rebescher, January 12, 1946.

• Funeral Mass Card: Bernhard Rebeschke/Rebescher, January 16, 1946.

• Interment Record: Bernhard Rebeschke/Rebescher, United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY.

• Cemetery Plot Record: Rosalia (née Schwertfeger) and Bernard Rebeschke/Rebescher, plus other members of their family. Lot 22, Sec. 5 United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY.

• Cemetery Plot Map: Map to locate Rebescher family gravesite, Lot 22, Sec. 5 United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY.