If a picture is worth a thousand words, then how many words is a memory worth? The memories of my ancestors have been passed down from generation to generation via stories, photo albums, typed records, and heirlooms. There is this one picture in particular that both my paternal grandmother and her sister believe tells the most about my German ancestors. Four people, two men and two women, and a dog are standing in front of a store, under a curved sign with the name "Jacob Leicht's." It says in its little photo album that the picture was taken circa 1895 and Dorothea Magdalena Bock is standing second from the left. My grandmother believes that Dorothea's husband, Jacob Leicht, is the tall, thin man standing at the far right, holding onto the collar of the dog. I can finally put a face to the famous Jacob Leicht, a man whom I have heard so much about from my family's stories! The stories about how he came over to America from Germany, how he went from being a poor immigrant to a successful restaurant owner, and how he and his wife raised their family. Do I look like Jacob? The picture is somewhat fuzzy, so it is hard to see. I do believe, however, that through finding out more information about this great-great-great grandfather of mine and of his family, I am building an identity that gives my family a position in German and American histories.
The furthest that my living relatives can trace back the paternal side of my family is five generations from me, back to Jacob Leicht. He emigrated to the United States in 1851 from Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. During the two decades prior to that year, Germany, as a whole, was in turmoil. An increasing number of people desired representative systems of government, equality among all people, and a unification among the German states (Schouweiler 30). Seeing how the French successfully revolted against their own government a few years earlier, Germans sought to overthrow the German royalty in 1830 and 1848 (30). What was not expected, however, was that the German monarchies would suppress the revolutions (30). Many Germans realized that they could not live under such a tyrannical rule, which prompted a massive German immigration of "forty-eighters" in the United States (30).
According to my great-grandmother, Jacob emigrated from Germany to avoid the compulsory draft into the military (Abel 1). I infer from this that if there were a draft, then those drafted would be defending the government. Perhaps Jacob did not want to fight on the side of the tyrannical power, for doing so meant that he would have to oppose his friends and fellow German acquaintances. In addition to the military draft, it is likely that Jacob also wanted to avoid the financial hardships. The peasants living in Hesse-Darmstadt faced land fragmentation, a decline in the handicraft industry, and a movement towards a money economy (Walker 157). When they emigrated during the mid- to late-1840s, the power went to those who had larger estates (158). To Jacob, who was most likely in the lower class, America seemed like a land of opportunity, and emigration was his key to escape from the troubles in Germany.
Jacob was accompanied by his two older sisters when he immigrated to the United States. All that Jacob brought with him was contained in a small wooden box, now in the possession of my Great-Aunt Marge. My great-grandmother believes that the Leichts came through Ellis Island upon landing in New York (Abel 1). This is impossible, however, considering that Ellis Island wasn't set up as an immigrant receiving center until the 1890s (Lee and Siemborski 1). Although the German immigrants of that era were arriving at the major ports in the country, it can be assumed that Jacob and his two sisters came in through the one in New York City. Upon their arrival, Jacob's two sisters continued their journey to Callicoon in Sullivan County, New York. Due to a lack of good health, however, Jacob was forced to stay at his place of arrival. According to my great-grandmother during his approximately six-week stay "it was discovered by the authorities that he was deft with a needle, and he was soon working on uniforms of the guards and civil servants, making minor repairs" (Abel 1). When his health improved, Jacob was offered a permanent position continuing to do the repair work on uniforms. He decided against this offer for he knew that doing that kind of work would not be getting the most out of the opportunities that America held for him. Such a decision contributes to the status of my family today, as my grandmother reflected: "I think the most important contribution from our German ancestors is their intelligence and initiative . . . Jacob had to be smart enough to see the opportunities which were out there, and grab them when he could" (Cohen, "interview" 1). If Jacob had decided to stay with the tailoring job, then, although he would already have had a job to start him off, he would not have been able to see what else New York offered to him. It was a courageous step on his behalf to start a new life for himself in one of the largest cities in the world.
Jacob moved into the German section of lower New York, where he worked at various jobs. Although it is not certain, Jacob was most likely discriminated against over the course of his initial years in New York, for the massive numbers of German immigrants were not looked upon favorably by many Americans. They began to wonder how many immigrants the United States could assimilate without changing the nature of its institutions and decreasing the opportunities available to them and their children (O'Connor 111). This negative attitude can be justified for the suspicion that Europe was "ridding itself of undesirables" (111). For example, a town in Hesse-Darmstadt emptied its prisons and poorhouses by paying the passage of every occupant to New York (111-112). Americans knew that such an increase in these criminals could not benefit the domestic society. The unfriendly reactions from these non-German Americans contributed to the creation of the American Party (Schouweiler 32). Its members, who were referred to as "Know-Nothings," were mainly of born in the United States and had ancestors were mostly British (32). They worked through secret societies to assure that those elected to public offices agreed with their views (32). When the party was accused of "using illegal methods to exert their influence," the members claimed that they "knew nothing" about the secret societies, which is how the nickname originated (32). The Know-Nothings became suspicious of the immigrants because they thought that the massive immigration was an effort to bring the United States under the control of foreign powers (32). Due to the German criticism of the U.S. political system, the Know-Nothings mistrusted the immigrants, thus making the immigrants susceptible to verbal and physical abuse and job discrimination (33). This is the biased environment that Jacob entered into upon his starting a new life and he realized that America was not "paved in gold" as he had imagined.
Dorothea Magdalena Bock, who also came to the United States in 1851, but with her mother and step-father, was originally from Schleswig-Hollstein, Germany. It is known that she and Jacob met in New York City, however, none of my living relatives know when and how they became acquainted. They married in 1853 and together, Jacob and Dorothea were able to make the best out of their new lives in America.
Since I was unaware that immigrants fought in the Civil War, I was surprised to find out that Jacob was involved in that war. Although he was not in combat, it is estimated that there was almost 180,000 Union soldiers who were born in Germany (37). Whole regiments were formed of German volunteers and commands were often given in German, since many of the men could not speak English (37). Jacob only served briefly, but it is unknown when Jacob was active in the war. It is believed that Jacob and Dorothea had children during the war era, however, some of which died in infancy (Cohen, "Re: Happy" 1).
Altogether, the couple had eleven children, eight girls and three boys. I find it amusing how highly thought of the name "Jacob" was. Not only was the first son named Jacob, but after he died, the next boy was named Jacob, at least three grandsons bore the same name, and even the dog was named Jacob (maybe that was the dog in the picture that Jacob the father was holding the collar of)! (Abel 1) Of the eleven children, it is estimated that only five lived into adulthood (Cohen, "Historical" 2). The last child was born in 1879, almost ten years after her nearest sibling. This daughter, my great-great grandmother, was named Philippine Dorothea, but was called "Gang-Gang" by her granddaughters and great-grandchildren. She was the link that those two generations before me had to the life of her family. It is through the following story told by Gang-Gang to her daughter that the generations of today can understand her family's financial situation and gender roles: "During the early years of marriage, and following the birth of the first child Jacob's income was derived from such diverse sources as chair-caning, bar-tending, etc., with an income of about $4.00 per week. His wife, a thrifty soul, was given about 25¢ daily with which to feed the family. This was doled to her daily, and, as the story goes, she objected to this strongly. To dramatize her position she devised the idea of buying stale rolls which she prodeeded [sic] to serve at every meal. This practise [sic] was followed for two days after which she won the point and was given a sum with which she was to provide food for the week." (Abel 1) Thiis shows that, although women were passive in that era, Dorothea was not afraid to stand up for what she wanted and knew how to prove a point. Seeing how women can get what they want if they are determined and persistent is one influence that my ancestors have in my life.
Through another story, I can see that determination in another light. Aunt Marge recalls the following story about the beginning of life in America: "My Mother's Grandmother's son Jacob had a grocery store uptown about the turn of the century. He brought his mother a grapefruit -- they were unknown in grocery stores before that time - she did not know what it was and I guess he didn't realize that, so he did not explain. After he left she put it on a shelf and, thinking it was a hat-pin holder put her fancy hat-pins in it. She was quite upset, I understand, when they came out rusty!" (Erikson, "Re: Historical" 1-2) I can relate to Dorothea, for we both are not for letting objects go to waste and we are determined to make the best use out of something unfamiliar.
As the size of the family expanded, the Leicht's income gradually increased as well. With their savings, the Leichts were able to start their own business, a bar. A bar of that day was a "very respectable restaurant-type establishment" (Cohen, "Re: family" 1) and would be known today as a tavern. The Leicht's bar, where liquors and beer was served along with meals, was located in the heart of the printing district in the lower section of New York City. The bar was successful in the mornings and noon brought an excellent dinner business. This is the establishment that my relatives are standing in front of in the picture I described earlier. Although business was thriving, the Leichts decided to sell the small business and purchased a larger one in the German section of lower New York City (Abel 1).
Jacob and Dorit (as he called her) worked together at the new business. She did the meal preparation with the help of whichever daughter was available. After the dinner rush, Dorit went to their apartment above the restaurant for a rest. When she returned, Jacob would go for a rest before the evening business began. An interesting fact that I found out was that Dorit developed a good habit of saving a few dollars from each afternoon's business and putting it into a personal savings account at the Bowery Savings Bank, which remained her personal account for her entire life (Abel 2). Maybe that's where I get my genes for saving money! Such independence and determination on Dorit's behalf are notable qualities. I believe that the saving of their money was key to leading a successful life, for it showed how they knew to plan ahead.
In the late 1890's, the Leichts decided to retire. They sold the business and bought a three-story, six-apartment building on East 55th Street in Manhattan. Jacob, Dorit, and Philippine, who was known as Phoebe and was the only unmarried child at the time, lived in the building. On April 19, 1902, Phoebe married John William Herrmann, who was also the son of German immigrants. Phoebe became pregnant, but in July 1903, one month before she gave birth, her father died of stomach cancer. Despite the doctor's advice, she insisted on attending the funeral. It was bittersweet that Phoebe gave birth to a girl, for that is what her father hoped that she would have. Dorit lived for three more years, dying of pneumonia at the age of 71.
Phoebe's daughter, my great-grandmother Dorothea, was her only child. Phoebe divorced John when Dorothea was 15 (Cohen, "Re: Ritzenthaler?" 1). Phoebe married again to John D. Ritzenthaler, but there is a unique story behind that relationship: "He was a boarder – as in room and board. He was an immigrant from Germany, and was looking for living quarters and somehow my grandmother found out about him and took him in for the extra money. He became enormously wealthy . . . and died very rich. He supported my grandmother until she died." (Cohen, Instant message 1) To my surprise, she divorced him in 1927, less than 10 years later and in the year my grandmother was born (Cohen, "Re: Ritzenthaler?" 1). Divorces were rare in the early part of the 20th-century, which makes two divorces even rarer. Although I am not a promoter of divorce, hearing that Phoebe was divorced twice confirms my thoughts that she was an independent woman. Like the women before her, she did not take on a passive role in her family. She felt that she needed a divorce and went through with it not once, but twice, whereas other women of that time may have refrained from doing so for fear of standing out from society.
I have seen this boldness in other generations of my family. My great-grandmother, Dorothea, ran for the councilman position in Mount Vernon twice in the 1950s (Cohen, "Historical" 2). Although she lost both times, my family commends her efforts, since she was one of the first women in Mount Vernon to run for a public office. Great-Grandma’s runnings give my family a place in political history. I can look up the records of the candidates’ names for past Mount Vernon councilmen races and find the name of one of my relatives! I find it fascinating that I am related to someone who had the courage to go against the times to make a difference.
In discovering information unknown to me, I feel as though I am part of history. I can relate my family to world events that I read about in books. My family not only was affected by those world events, but they also had an impact on them. If Jacob and Dorit did not come over when they did, the development of my family would have been drastically different. As said by my Aunt Marge, "I would have been just at the age to be a Hitler youth if I were born in Germany—horrible thought knowing what we all know now" (Erikson, Re: Family 1). As a result of coming to America, family members have started their own businesses, run in political races, and most importantly, raised families that have flourished in society. I have a sense of pride in the accomplishments of my ancestors and feel that how they began their lives in America is influential to the lives that my relatives and I live today. What makes me the most grateful is that I have the ability to obtain information about these ancestors, learn from and reflect on it, and share it with future generations. So, how many words is a memory worth? The number increases each time it is passed down to another relative.
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Cohen, Jean. "Re: family." E-mail to Liz McEntee. 15 October 1998.
---. "Re: Happy Birthday - from Liz." E-mail to Liz McEntee. 17 November 1998.
---. "Re: Historical questions." E-mail to Liz McEntee. 26 October 1998.
---. "interview." E-mail to Liz McEntee. 24 October 1998.
---. "Re: Ritzenthaler?" E-mail to Liz McEntee. 18 November 1998.
---. Instant message to Liz McEntee. 7 December 1998.
Erikson, Marge. "Re: Family Research Project." E-mail to Liz McEntee. 24 October 1998.
---. "Re: Historical questions." E-mail to Liz McEntee. 30 October 1998.
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Christopher, Maura. Home page. 1 November 1998 <http://www.salsem.ac.at/csacl/progs/AS_Modules/immigration.htm>.
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