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Author: eldonlreich
Surnames: Reich/Sargeant/Borg/Leeper
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties...
Message Board Post:
Here is some of my family history as best I can remember from what has been told to me:
I am Eldon Lester Reich (born in Portage, Ind.) my father was Eldon Leslie Reich (born in
Crissman, Ind) and married to Delores Leeper... my grandfather was Lester Reich married to
Evelyn Borg... my great grandfather was William Reich married to Laurena Sargent. my great
great grandfather was Peter Reich born in Germany/France and married to Mary (Baker or
Beck?) from Loraine France. my great, great, great grandfather was Michael Reich from
Germany married to Mary Tillman. his father was also Michael Reich married to Mary Doll.
(My sister says there was another Peter and Mary between Peter and Michael, but I'm
not so sure.)
My father-Eldon Leslie Reich (1928-2006), son of Lester Reich-had eight children, I am the
oldest son. I have four children and 6 grandchildren. Eldon Sr. started as a block/brick
mason in Portage, Indiana and also had a farm in Liberty Township off HW 6. We sold the
farm in '69 and dad started a building business with his half-brother, David Luke, in
New Port Richey, FL. In '76 dad sold the business and he along with several other
Reich's moved to Anchorage, Alaska. There we did several things including: building
business, working on Alaska Pipe Line, bush work, and commercial fishing. There were
several other moves after this.
My father had a brother, Melvin Reich also from Portage, who died in '84 along a river
in Alaska. He also had two sisters: Janet (still alive in FL) and Betty (d. '94).
I believe these are the brothers of my great grandfather WILLIAM REICH: Michael, Albert,
and Henry (there might also have been a Frank-but I'm not sure about his connection.
My family has an old oil painting done by Frank Reich). I'm curious, which brother is
your great grandfather?
WILLIAM REICH had four children by Laurena: my grandfather Lester (who was killed at age
29 in Lake Station while helping a motorist); Pearl (Long) Reich-who lived to be over 100
years old; Zenith (Harms) Reich (Lake Station, then Michigan, then Florida); Lloyd ??
(whom I know nothing about); and another boy who died at age one.
I am interested in knowing more about my great grandfather William "Bill" Reich.
Any information about him would be greatly appreciated. My father didn't talk too much
about him. One story is that he was killed while boot-legging whiskey either up the
Calumet River or somewhere along Lake MI. There were also some stories about a loose
connection with Al Capone. The source of this story came from Pearl Reich (William's
daughter) but I'm uncertain about the exact details. There was also a story that he
was jumped by a group of gangsters who decapitated him and stole a load of whiskey. There
was also a story that William left Laurena-I'm not sure though. I do remember my
father saying that the Reich's liked to drink and Laurena was against it and it caused
some problems. There was also a story by my great aunt on my mother's side who dated
Lester before he married Evelyn. She said many of the Reich's used to hang out in Lake
Station. She seemed to think they were a bit on the w!
ild side-but she came from a holiness background which might explain some of her
impressions.
Well, that's enough for now. Let me know how we're related and we'll talk
more later.
Eldon L Reich
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