John A. Rehage

John Anthony Rehage (1849-1926) was a native of Prussia who settled at New Orleans in 1852.  He was the son of Martin Rehage (1822-1895) and Catherine Schluter Rehage (1822-1905) also Prussian born.  Martin Rehage made his livelihood at New Orleans as a tailor, the trade, which John A. Rehage and his brother, Adolf Rehage (1852-1929), would also pursue.  Their siblings all born at New Orleans were: Maria Rehage (1853-1870+), Martin Rehage (b. 1855); Anna Rehage (1860-1884+) married John N. Frowen; and Rudolph Rehage (1862-1870+).(1870 Louisiana Federal Census-M593R521, p. 80)

In May 1877, John A. Rehage married a Marie Hardes (1859-1883), a German immigrant lady, and had two sons born in New Orleans:  George Theodore Rehage (1878-1937) and Adolph J. Rehage (1881-1940).  In December 1884, John A. Rehage, a widower, remarried Madeleine Sturmer (1863-1939), a native of New Orleans, Louisiana.  John A. and Madeleine S. Rehage were the parents of two sons, Edgar Milton Rehage (1888-1965) and Charles Frederick Rehage (1890-1977).

Ocean Springs

In December 1900, Madeleine S. Rehage acquired about 13-acres along the west side of the present day Inner Harbor from Herman Nill (1863-1904).  Here, in February 1904, John A. Rehage built a home at present day 1220 Harbor Drive, which is now owned by his great granddaughter, Faye Rehage James (b. 1950), of Beaumont, Texas.  The John A. Rehage family relocated from New Orleans to Ocean Springs in May 1904.(The Progress, February 14, 1904, p. 4 and May 21, 1904, p. 4)

George T. Rehage and the Ocean Springs Sanitary Dairy

George Theodore Rehage (1878-1937) was born at New Orleans.  In December 1900, he married Adeline Eugenia Boudreaux (1887-1924) and sired one child, Carle Valerie Rehage (1915-1945).  In February 1914, George T. Rehage acquired the Success Dairy from local nurseryman, Theo Bechtel (1863-1931).  He changed the name to the Ocean Springs Sanitary Dairy and by 1915, Mr. Rehage had transformed this dairy farm into the most modern in Ocean Springs.  The Rehage dairy was situated east of town on the east side of Holcombe Boulevard.  Its livestock were primarily Jersey and Guernsey milk cows.(The Ocean Springs News, February 7, 1914, and Ocean Springs-1915, p. 37)

In 1915, George T. Rehage advertised as follows:

In 1924, the George T. Rehage family was residing at 409 Belleville Street in Algiers, Louisiana.  Here in late February 1924, Mrs. Rehage, despondent over a lingering illness, hung herself in the kitchen.(The Jackson County Times, March 1, 1924, p. 4)

Rehage Cleaners

In the 1930s, George T. Rehage opened a tailoring and dry cleaning business on the south side of Government Street across from the US Post Office.  He was a charter member of the American Legion Ladnier Post 42, which was named for Emile Ladnier Jr. (1894-1918).  Ladnier gave his life on a battlefield in France on November 7, 1918 while a member of the US Army.(The Daily Herald, August 14, 1937, p. 5 and  September 17, 1921, p. 1, c. 7)

George T. Rehage expired at New Orleans on August 10, 1937.  Carl V. Rehage followed his father in death in July 1945.  The corporal remains of George T. Rehage were interred in the Greenwood Cemetery at New Orleans.(The Jackson County Times, August 14, 1937 and July 1945)

John A. Rehage

John Anthony Rehage (1849-1926) was a native of Prussia who settled at New Orleans in 1852.  He was the son of Martin Rehage (1822-1895) and Catherine Schluter Rehage (1822-1905) also Prussian born.  Martin Rehage made his livelihood at New Orleans as a tailor, the trade, which John A. Rehage and his brother, Adolf Rehage (1852-1929), would also pursue.  Their siblings all born at New Orleans were: Maria Rehage (1853-1970+), Martin Rehage (b. 1855); Anna Rehage (1860-1970+) married John N. Frowen; and Rudolph Rehage (1862-1870+).(1870 Louisiana Federal Census-M593R521, p. 80)

In May 1877, John A. Rehage married a Marie Hardes (1859-1883), German immigrant lady, and had two sons born in New Orleans:  George Theodore Rehage (1878-1937) and Adolph Rehage (1881-1900+).  In December 1884, John A. Rehage, a widower, remarried Madeleine Sturmer (1863-1939), a native of Louisiana.  John A. and Madeleine S. Rehage were the parents of: Edgar Martin Rehage (1888-1965) and Charles Frederick Rehage (1890-1977).

Ocean Springs

In December 1900, Madeleine Rehage acquired about 13-acres along the west side of the present day Inner Harbor from Herman Nill (1863-1904).  Here, in February 1904,  John A. Rehage built a home at present day 1220 Harbor Drive, which is now owned by his great granddaughter, Faye Rehage James (b. 1950).  The John A. Rehage family relocated from New Orleans to Ocean Springs in May 1904.(The Progress, February 14, 1904, p. 4 and May 21, 1904, p. 4)

The Rehage family operated a dairy here until the late 1930s, when they moved their dairy operation to a site between Bechtel Boulevard and Alice Drive.  This tract in the SE/4 of Section 29, T7S-R8W was platted as the 10-acre Rehage Subdivision in September 1951.(JXCO Plat Bk. 2, p. 29)

Inner Harbor

In April 1924, Annie Gaspard Rehage (1888-1971) and Charles F. Rehage (1890-1977) sold Mr. Charles E. Clark (1879-1945) another tract south of the Henry Hellmer's property.  These former Rehage lands are believed to have been pasture for their dairy cattle and were dredged out in January 1944, to extend the Inner Harbor to the northwest.  The channel thus formed served as the moorage site for the crash boats of the Army Air Corps.(JXCO Land Deed Bk. 53, p. 586)

George T. Rehage and the Ocean Springs Sanitary Dairy

George Theodore Rehage (1878-1937) was born at New Orleans.  In December 1900, he married Adeline Eugenia Boudreaux (1887-1924) and sired one child, Carle Valerie Rehage (1915-1945). 

In February 1914, George T. Rehage acquired the Success Dairy of nurseryman, Theo Bechtel (1863-1931).  He changed the name to the Ocean Springs Sanitary Dairy and by 1915, Mr. Rehage had transformed this dairy farm into the most modern in Ocean Springs.  The Rehage dairy was situated east of town on the east side of Holcombe Boulevard.  Its livestock were primarily Jersey and Guernsey milk cows.(The Ocean Springs News, February 7, 1914, and Ocean Springs-1915, p. 37)

In 1915, George T. Rehage advertised as follows:

Rehage Cleaners

In the 1930s, George T. Rehage opened a tailoring and dry cleaning business on the south side of Government Street across from the US Post Office.  He was a charter member of the American Legion Ladnier Post No. 42, which was named for Emile Ladnier Jr. (1894-1918).  Ladnier gave his life on a battlefield in France while serving with the US Army.(The Daily Herald, August 14, 1937, p. 5 and September 17, 1921, p. 1)           

Demise

In 1924, the George T. Rehage family was residing at 409 Belleville Street in Algiers, Louisiana.  Here in late February 1924, Mrs. Rehage, despondent over a lingering illness, hung herself in the kitchen.(The Jackson County Times, March 1, 1924, p. 4)

George T. Rehage expired at New Orleans on August 10, 1937.  Carl V. Rehage followed his father in death in July 1945.  George T. Rehage was interred in the Greenwood Cemetery at New Orleans.(The Jackson County Times, August 14, 1937 and July 1945)

Edgar M. Rehage

Edgar Martin Rehage (1888-1965) was born April 12, 1888 at New Orleans.  In December 1910, he married Mary Manell Dibble (1891-1982) at New Orleans.  She was the daughter of E.L. Dibble (1865-1916).   Mr. Dibble was a native of Tennessee, but resided in New Orleans before relocating to Ocean Springs in 1915, to develop fruit orchards on the Vandergrift Place.  In 1910, Edgar M. Rehage made his livelihood as a mechanic.(The Ocean Springs News, January 13, 1916, p. 1)

Edgar M. Rehage and Mary M. Dibble were the parents of Madalin Stella Rehage (1911-2000) who was born in Mississippi, probably Ocean Springs.  Edgar M. Rehage passed at New Orleans on May 24, 1965.  Madalin Stella Rehage expired on August 24, 2000, also in the Crescent City.(The Times-Picayune, May 26, 1965, Section I, p. 2)

Madalin S. Rehage (1911-2000)

[from Janice Tanche, Courtenay, British Columbia-February 2014]

Charles F. Rehage

Charles Frederick Rehage (1890-1977) was born at New Orleans on February 10, 1890.  In April 1912, he married Miss Annie Augusta Gaspard (1888-1971), the daughter of Eugene Gaspard and Barbara Martin Gaspard (1852-1931).  They were the parents of a son, Harry John Rehage (1914-1999).  Charles F. Rehage was a bookkeeper and architect before entering the dairy business at Ocean Springs in 1918.  He was an accomplished artist as well.  In business, Mr. Rehage was known for his high ethics and efficiency.  He expired at Ocean Springs on June 9, 1977.  Mrs. Annie G. Rehage preceded her spouse as she passed on July 29, 1971.  Their corporal remains are at rest in the Evergreen Cemetery at Ocean Springs.(The Daily Herald, July 30, 1971, p. 2)

The Vandergrift Place

In May 1915, Edgar M. Rehage and E.L. Dibble, his father-in-law, acquired the Vandergrift Place, which was situated east of Ocean Springs, between Heron and Davis Bayous.  The Heirs of Charles E. Burrell were the grantors of this 160-acre parcel in the E/2 of Section 34, T7S-R8W.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 41, pp. 483-484)

In June 1916, Edgar M. Rehage and May N. Rehage, who inherited Mr. Dibble’s interest in the Vandergrift Place, conveyed a 1/3 interest to Charles F. Rehage.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 43, p. 345)

In July 1918, Charles F. Rehage acquired full interest in the Vandergrift Place when he bought the 2/3rds interest of Madeline Rehage, J.A. Rehage, E.M. Rehage, and M.N. Rehage.  In 1922, Charles F. Rehage sold the farm to Professor W.H. Lewis of the Ocean Springs Public School.  According to the local journal, C.F. Rehage acquired the Lewis home in Ocean Springs in this trade.  This fact cannot be corroborated by the land deed records in the Jackson County Chancery Court.  Mayor Thomas of Jefferson City, Missouri acquired this property in October 1925,(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 45, p. 610 and The Jackson County Times, September 2, 1922, p. 5 and October 10, 1925, p. 5)

Inner Harbor

In April 1924, Annie Gaspard Rehage (1888-1971) and Charles F. Rehage (1890-1977) sold Charles E. Clark (1879-1945) another tract south of the Henry Hellmer's property.  These former Rehage lands are believed to have been pasture for their dairy cattle and were dredged out in January 1944, to extend the Mill Dam Bayou-Inner Harbor to the northwest.  The channel thus formed served as the moorage site for the crash boats of the Army Air Corps.(JXCO Land Deed Bk. 53, p. 586)

Rehage Dairy

The Rehage dairy farm, which Charles F. Rehage founded in April 1918, was situated on the west side of the Mill Dam Bayou, which was the incipient stream from which the Ocean Springs Inner Harbor was created in the 1930s, was a simple operation.  There was no pasteurization process and the cows were hand milked.  A simple barn and the John A. Rehage home were the only structures on the property.  Entry to the Rehage land was from LaFontaine Avenue.  In later years, Harry J. Rehage brought Bahia grass into the area to grow silage for their dairy cattle.(The Jackson County Times, April 20, 1918, p. 5 and Charles Fayard, March 20, 2004)

Mr. C.F. Rehage sold his sweet milk for $.12 per quart and $.06 per pint.  It was delivered in the mornings and evening.  In July 1918, local dairymen announced an escalation in the price of milk to $.15 per quart.  This change was caused by inflation in feed prices to the dairy farmer.  Local dairymen at this time were: F.L. Alexander, A.P. Faurie (1865-1930), Alfred B. Stuart (1860-1928), and Charles F. Rehage.  In August 1919, Stuart, Rehage, and Faurie raised their milk prices to $.20 per quart and $.10 per pint.  Again rate increases in feed prices inflated the price of milk.(The Jackson County Times, July 13, 1918, p. 5 and August 9, 1919, p. 5)

In June 1937, Charles F. and Annie G. Rehage acquired ten acres situated in the NW/4 of the NE/4 of the SE/4 of Section 29, T7S-R8W from Eugenia Eglin Armstrong (1877-1962).  Here the Rehages relocated their dairy farm from the Mill Dam Bayou-Inner Harbor area to a location bounded by present day Davidson Road, Bechtel Boulevard, Rehage Road, and Alice Drive.  Harry J. Rehage (1914-1999) operated the dairy with Buford Myrick (b. 1917), a native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 70, p. 90)

According to Buford Myrick, who post WWII, had worked for the Scott’s Brothers Dairy on the Harvey property and later bought it from them before joining Harry J. Rehage, the Rehage Dairy in east Ocean Springs was modern.  The raw milk was produced by a herd of Jerseys and Guernsey with some Holsteins cows.  Surge milking machines provided the raw product from which sweet pasteurized milk, butter, cream cheese, half and half, and whipping cream were made and packaged for sale.  Mr. Myrick delivered the Rehage dairy products to home and commercial clients.  When he left the organization, Roderick Boardman Mitchell (1890-1974) replaced him.(Buford Myrick, March 23, 2004)  

In October 1947, the Rehage Dairy advertised its milking operation as follows:

Rehage Subdivision

Circa 1950, the Rehage Dairy ceased operations in east Ocean Springs.  In September 1951, Mrs. Annie G. Rehage platted the “Rehage Subdivision” from the 10-acre former dairy farm tract.  Twenty-four lots were created and the proposed street nomenclature, “Fay”, “Ann”, “Rehage”, and “Alice”, were family names.  In July 1959, Charles F. and Annie G. Rehage sold their tract to Bailey Homes and Insurance of Gulfport, Mississippi.  The “Rehage Subdivision” was vacated in November 1959.  Only the eastern segment of the originally planned Rehage Road remains today and Woody Circle was named for Sherwood “Woody” Bailey (1921-1989) of Gulfport.  Mr. Bailey, a native of Harpersville, Mississippi, came to Gulfport in 1951 from Jackson and his organization developed many subdivisions in east Ocean Springs during the 1960s and 1970s.(JXCO, Ms. Chancery Court Plat Bk. 2, p. 29, JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 190, pp. 422-423, JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 193, p. 299)

Harry J. Rehage

Harry John Rehage (1914-1999) was born at New Orleans on October 17, 1914.  He graduated from Ocean Springs High School in 1934 and married his high school sweetheart, Mary Alice “Billie” Hrabe (1915-1952+).  She was the daughter of Dr. Anton Hrabe (1881-1943) and Alice Ashby Hrabe (1882-1952).   Their nuptials occurred at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi on April 1, 1935.  Prior to the dissolution of their marriage in June 1944, Harry and Billie H. Rehage were the parents of three children: Jon Richard Rehage (b. 1936), Frederick Anton Rehage (b. 1939), and Alice Ann R. Gilley (b. 1941).(JXCO, Ms. Chancery Court Cause No. 7097-April 1944  and  The Daily Herald, May 11, 1935, p. 5)           

Irma Sundamaker

Circa 1948, Harry J. Rehage married Irma Sundmaker (1916-1999), the daughter of William Sundmaker and Matilda Roane Sundmaker (1884-1967), residents of Covington, Louisiana.  Harry and Irma S. Rehage were the parents of two children: Fay Beth R. James (b. 1950) and Harry J. “H.J.” Rehage Jr. (b. 1953).

After the Rehage Dairy closed in east Ocean Springs, Harry J. Rehage worked for Home Pride in Biloxi and later opened an ice cream parlor also in Biloxi on Porter Avenue, south of Howard.  He expired at Ocean Springs on June 15, 1999.  Mrs. Irma S.  Rehage passed on September 6, 1999. Their corporal remains were interred in the Evergreen Cemetery on Old Fort Bayou.(The Sun Herald, June 17, 1999, p. A-7 and September 9, 1999, p. A-7)

REFERENCES:

Ocean Springs 1915.

Chancery Court

Jackson County, Mississippi Chancery Court Cause No. 4497, “C.F. Rehage v. W.H. Lewis”, January 1925.

Jackson County, Mississippi Chancery Court Cause No. 4793, “The Estate of John A. Rehage”, September 1927.

Jackson County, Mississippi Chancery Court Cause No. 7097, “Mrs. Mary A. Rehage v. Harry J. Rehage”, April 1944.

Jackson County, Mississippi Chancery Court Cause No. 10,628,

Jackson County, Mississippi Chancery Court Cause No. 14,989, “vacating Rehage subdivision”-.

Jackson County, Mississippi Chancery Court Cause No. 23,424, “The Estate of Annie G.  Rehage”, August 1971.

Jackson County, Mississippi Chancery Court Cause No. 32,947, “The Estate of Charles F.  Rehage”, July 1977.

Journals

The Daily Herald, “Rehage-Hrabe”, May 11, 1935.

The Daily Herald, “Mrs. Annie Rehage”, July 30, 1971.

The Jackson County Times, "Local News Interest", April 20, 1918.

The Jackson County Times, "Local News Interest", July 13, 1918.

The Jackson County Times, "Local News Interest", August 19, 1919.

The Jackson County Times, “Local and Personal”, September 2, 1922.

The Jackson County Times, “Mrs. George Rehage hangs self”, March 1, 1924.

The Jackson County Times, “Local and Personal”, October 10, 1925.

The Jackson County Times, “George T. Rehage”, August 14, 1937.

The Jackson County Times, “C.V. Rehage dies”, July   1945.

The Jackson County Times, “Rehage’s Milk”, October 17, 1947.

The Ocean Springs News, “Local News”, February 7, 1914.

The Ocean Springs News, "Boscobel Dairy Changes Hands", December 10, 1914, p.1.

The Ocean Springs News, "Milkman breaks arm", December 17, 1914, p. 1.

The Ocean Springs News, “E.L. Dibble Passes Away”, January 13, 1916.

The Ocean Springs Record, "Faye Rehage bride of Richard James Jr.", July 29, 1971, p. 14.

The Ocean Springs Record, "Rehages recall early dairy days", April 18, 1985, p. 10.

The Progress, “Local News Items”, May 21, 1904.

The Sun Herald, “Harry J. Rehage Sr.”, June 17, 1999.

The Sun Herald, “Irma Rehage”, September 9, 1999.

The Times-Picayune, 'Edgar M. Rehage', May 26, 1965.

Notes from Janice Tanche and Fay Beth Rehage James in February-March 2014: