Family/Spouse: OLSON, Clarice Valgene. Clarice (daughter of OLSON, Clarence) was born on 10 Dec 1933; died on 22 May 1995. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

North Tonawanda NY Evening News - 6/3/1954

THE ENGAGEMENT of Miss Clarice Valgene Olson to Jack W.
Rech, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Grover Rech of 453 South Niagara
St., is announced by the future bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Clarence Olson of Eagle River. Wis. The bride-elect was a member
of the 1954 graduating class of the Augustana School of
Nursing in Chicago. Ill. in May. Her fiance is employed in
Chicago and also attends classes at Northwestern University.
He it a graduate of DeVry Technical Institute. A Fall wedding
is planned.

Notes:

North Tonawanda NY Evening News - 9/17/1958

C. Grover Rech, Tonawanda fire chief for 37 years
and a n a t i v e of Tonawanda, died Tuesday afternoon at
Northtown Nursing Homeafter an illness of
several weeks. He was 73 y e a r s old.
Mr. Rech, who lived at 453 S.
Niagara St., joined the Niagara
Hose Volunteer Fire Company in
1902. He was appointed assistant
fire chief in 1906. In 1916, he became
a paid fireman and at the
same time department chief.
Chief Rech retired from the department
July 1, 1953. At that
time his length of service was noted
as one of the longest on record
in New York State.
As a businessman, he operated
the Rech's Coffee Shop in Young
St. from 1923 to 1941. Mr. Rech
also was the owner of the Charles
W. Rech and Son Liquor Store in
Young St. for 25 years to the time
of his death.
He managed the Niagara semipro
baseball team before World
War I. Fishing, swimming a nd
baseball were among his sports in
terests.
He was a member of the Dela-
ware Hose Company's 50 Year
Club, Niagara Hose Company, El-
dredge Bicycle Club and a life
member of the Uniformed Fire-
men's Association.
Mr. Rech is survived by h i s '
wife, the former Grace Johnston;
two daughters. Mrs. Ludomir La-
zarz of Tonawanda and Mrs. Cur-
tis Owens of Norfolk, Va.; two
sons, C. Grover Rech Jr., of Ton-
awanda and Jack W. Rech of Chicago,
Ill.; two granddaughters;
three sisters, Mrs. C. A. Warner
and Mrs. A. P. Hardleben, both of
Tonawanda, and Mrs. Harry M.
Karcher of Oswego.
Services, being arranged by
John O. Roth Funeral Home.

Charles married JOHNSON, Grace L about 1918. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 8/18/1934

TONAWANDA. Aug. 18.-Charles
W. Rech. 74, father of Fire Chief
Grover Rech. died shortly before noon
today at his home, 447 Niagara street.
He was born In the town of Amherst
and came to Tonawanda, with his
parents, when a small boy and had
resided here ever since. His father,
Christian Rech, opened a general
store on the site now occupied by the
Tonawanda city hall when the city
was only a small hamlet.
Mr. Rech was one of the oldest
volunteer firemen in the Tonawandas.
He first became a member of
the Fire Department when the De-
Oraff Hose company, one of the first
fire companies organized here came
Into existence nearly 60 years ago
Later he became a charter' member
of tho Niagara Hose company and In
1879 was awarded a gold medal for
responding to the greatest number of
fire Alarms during that year.
Ho also served a.s a tax commissioner
for A number of years. Ho was
enticed In the grocery business And
later in the wholesale and retail
liquor business, retiring when prohibition
came into effect in 1918.
He is survived by two sons. Fred
and Grover: three daughters, Mrs.
O. A Warner and Mrs. Genevieve
Hedegen. All of Tonawanda. and Mrs.
H. M. Karcher. of Oswego; 18 grandchildren
and one sister, Mrs. Mary
Rose, of Tonawanda. The funeral arrangements
have not been completed

ALSO

North Tonawanda NY Evening News - 8/18/1934

Charles W. Rech, one of the best
known residents of the Tonawandas,
died shortly after 10 o'clock
this morning at his home, 447 Niagara
street. He had been in failing
health for some time but it
was only a few days ago that his
condition became alarming.
Mr. Rech was born on the Fries
road, town of Amherst, - 74 years
ago. He came to Tonawanda with
his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs.
Christian Rech, when a small boy
and had resided here since. Tonawanda
was only a small village
when he and his family located
here. His father opened a general
store on the site of what is nowthe
Tonawanda city hall.
One of Oldest Volunteer Firemen.
Mr. Rech was one of the oldest
volunteer firemen in the Tonawandas.
He was a member of the De-
Graff Hose company, one of the
first fire organizations promoted
here. When the company was disbanded
he became a charter member
of the Niagara Hose company,
one of the four fire units now in
Tonawanda. As a volunteer fireman
he won a solid gold medal in
1879 for answering the greatest
number of calls for fires. As a
token of esteem for his efforts as
a fire fighter he was presented a
solid silver trumpet, valued at
$1,549. The gift was made by the
late E. H. Rogers.
The deep interest manifested by
Mr. Rech in the fire departmenhas
been perpetuated by his son
C. Grover Rech, who is now chief.
an office which he has held for
many years.
Charter Member of Elks
Mr- Rech was also a charter
member of North Tonawanda lodge
No. 860, B.P.O.E. He also served
for a number of years as tax col
lector when Tonawanda was a vii
lage.
He was engaged in the grocery
business and later as a wholesale
and retail liquor dealer. When
prohibition went into effect he es
tablished the bakery which is nowoperated
by his son, Fred, and Paul
Scheetz under the name of Rech
& Scheetz, and retired from bust
ness.
Besides two sons, Fred and Gro
ver, three daughter, Mrs. C. A,
Warner. Mrs- Genevieve Hedegen,
all of Tonawanda, and Mrs. H. M.
Karcher, Oswego: 16 grandchildreli
and one sister. Mrs. Mary Rose,
Tonawanda, survive.

Charles married KOHLER, Emma about 1880. Emma (daughter of KOHLER, David) was born in Mar 1861 in Tonawanda, Erie County, NY; died on 27 Nov 1930 in Tonawanda, Erie County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

North Tonawanda NY Evening News - 11/28/1930

Mrs. Emma Rech, 69 years old,
died yesterday at her home, 449
South Niagara street. She has
been in failing health for some
time. Mrs. Rech was a life-long
resident of Tonawanda. She is
survived by her husband, Charles
W. Rech; two sons, Fred A. and
C. Grover Rech; three daughters,
Mrs. C. A. Warner, Mrs. E. A.
Herdegren, all of the Tonawandas,
and Mrs. H. M. Karcher, Buffalo,
and 16 grandchildren.
The funeral will be held Sunday
afternoon at 2.30 o'clock at the
residence. Rev. Andrew Hils of
the. Salem church will conduct the
services and interment will be at
Elmlawn.

Christian + Catherine. Catherine was born in Jan 1824 in Germany; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

North Tonawanda NY Evening News - 11/12/1902

David Kohler, S r , one of the oldest
residents of Tonawanda, passed
away In his 83d year, after a lingering
illness, at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. Charles W. Keen, Sunday
afternoon at 4:20 o'clock.
Mr. Kohler was one of the pioneer
settlers of Tonawanda, coming to
this section In the year 1830. He was
born in Alsace-Loralne, coming to
this country when he was 17 years
old, Journeying by packet from New
York via Erie Canal t o Tonawanda.
During bis life he held a number of
prominent offices, among them being
canal collector for this port, supervisor
of Erie County, collector of
taxes, also assessor for several terms,
which position he held at the time of
his death.
The funeral was held Irom the
home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles
W. Rech, No. 446 South Niagara
street, this afternoon a t 2 o'clock. W.
C. McGarvey officiated. Interment
was In tbe village cemetery.