Henry John Ricklefsen

Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales

1.  Biography

These two infants appear to be the children of August Ricklefsen and Anna Hansi who married in Nueces County on January 17, 1870 (Marriage Records, vol. C p. 478).  August was a butcher for the local community, and both he and his wife claim to be natives of Schleswig Holstein in the 1880 census (Nueces County, ED 116, p. 7A).  In that census they spell their name "Ricklefson".  In Old Bayview Cemetery, the name appears to be spelled "Ricklefsen".  For Catherine and Eleanor (sisters of Dora Ann and Henry John) who are buried in Rose Hill, the name is spelled "Ricklefsen" in their obituaries.  The matriarch, Anna Hansi-Ricklefsen, married again after the death of August; and she is buried in Rose Hill as Anna Bechert (Mrs. Ernest Bechert).  Anna's stone lists her as born July 17, 1848 and died December 9, 1927, surviving her second husband by seven years (even though he was younger than her).  The Ricklefsen sibling who was the last to die was Alice Ricklefsen (Mrs. B. Rayburn Savage) who was born in the family home at 1402 North Chaparral on April 21, 1879.  She died in that same house on September 11, 1949 and is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell

2.  Descendents

August Ricklefsen, a native of Slesswig-Holstein having finished his term of military training in his native country and fearing to be called for further military duty, set out to find a home in the new world.  Behind him he left his fiancé, Miss Anna Hansi, whose father said that his daughter must remain at home until young Ricklefsen could provide her with as good a home as the one she was leaving.  Mr. Ricklefsen arrived in America just in time to enlist in the civil war where he served in the Confederate army, first as Commissary Sergeant and later as First Lieutenant in Hoods Brigade.  Shortly after his arrival in Corpus Christi in 1870 he started a meat packery, but he was ahead of his time as the only parts of an animal which were saved were the hide and tallow and the venture proved a failure.  Later he sent for his bride having built a home at 1402 Chaparral.  They were married at the Ziegler hotel the day the boat arrived in port.  Five children were born of this union only two of whom are living.  They are Miss Kate Ricklefsen and Mrs. Rayburn Savage both of Corpus Christi.  After the death of August Ricklefsen, his widow married Ernest Beckert who was engaged in the jewelry business in C. C. of this union one child was born, Fred Beckert, a patent attorney of New York.  Mr. Ricklefsen was very fond of growing fruits, flowers, and vegetables and a cedar tree planted by him in the early years was all that was left of the home after the storm of 1919.  Under this grand old tree he placed a little table and chairs as well as benches and here under its kindly shade his children played the long days through.

From “The Founders and Builders of Corpus Christi†published by C. C. Centenary, 14 July 1939, vol. 2 #10 & 11.

Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell