Camden People - Robert Rosengarten

ROBERT ROSENGARTEN was born in New York on October 21, 1891, of immigrant parents. He married Fannie Schneidman in July of 1911. He registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. At that time he lived at 427 Shunk Street in Philadelphia. He was then working as a salesman for J.N. Hough at 1818 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia PA.

The Rosengartens lived at 2629 South 2nd street in Philadelphia in the late 1910s and early 1920s. The Rosengarten family remained in Philadelphia into the late 1920s. Four children were born there, Lillian, Laura, Nathan, and Rosalie.

Robert Rosengarten was involved with H.S. Dewees and together they operated the Dewees and Rosengarten Typewriter and Adding Machine Company at 410 Market Street beginning around 1919. This business is now known as Dewees Business Systems and has been located for many years in Cherry Hill NJ.

The Rosengarten family moved to Camden NJ around 1929 from Philadelphia, settling on Langham Avenue in the Camden neighborhood known as Parkside. An ardent Zionist, Robert Rosengarten was been a member of Congregation Beth El, which was then located on Park Boulevard between Baird Boulevard and Belleview Avenue, not far from his home.

After suffering a series of strokes, Robert Rosengarten retired in the late 1940s. He moved to 2812 Benson Street in East Camden.

Robert Rosengarten passed away on January 15, 1950 at the age of 59. He was survived by his wife Fannie, son Lt. Col Nathan Rosengarten, and three daughters, Laura Rosengarten, Mrs. Rosalie Rosen, and Mrs. Lillian Goodman, the wife of well-known realtor Ellis Goodman. Fannie Rosengarten joined her husband on December 2, 1977.

Robert Rosengarten did a lot of over-the-road selling according to my dad. Mostly New Jersey, Pennsylvania, PA and probably some in Delaware and Maryland. I don't know the exact years, but for a time he was sole distributor of Victor adding machines along the east coast, as far down as the Tidewater area of Virginia .

He moved over to Camden around 1929 from South Philadelphia .... they were in Pennsylvania till at least 1929. I am sure he worked in Camden prior to '29. They rented 1129 Langham Avenue until 1135 Langham Avenue came on the market and they bought it. It must have been after 1930 as they were at 1129 in the 1930 census.

My granddad had a series of strokes that weakened him and he had to retire around 1948. They moved to 2812 Benson in late 1949 and he died Jan 15, 1950. My aunt Laura Rosengarten and grandmother Fannie Schneidman Rosengarten stayed there till about January 1968 before relocating at Towers of Windsor Park in Cherry Hill .

My granddad was described as a fervent patriot and my dad said his service to the US was inspired by that.

Robert M. Rosengarten
November 29, 2005

Fannie Rosengarten

In memory of my grandmother Fannie Schneidman Rosengarten who passed away 37 years ago today in Camden NJ. She left Russia at age 16 with one of her brothers arriving in Philadelphia in the spring of 1906. She worked as a shirt waist maker saving her salary to help bring the rest of her family here in 1910. She married my grandfather in 1911. She came from humble roots but was a lady of impeccable class.

Robert M. Rosengarten

December 2, 2016

My granddad's real birthday is October 21, 1891- I have the birth certificate from New York. My family in that era seems to have had a history of never giving the same date twice! On his marriage license in July, 1911, he stated October 21,1888. My theory there is it made him 21 and he didn't have to seek parental consent.

The January, 1950 obituary says 59 years old but in actuality he wouldn't be 59 until October, 1950. My dad has always stated his dad died at 59. There is an old Jewish superstition I have heard about concerning giving ages and counting people. Something like if you are age 80 you'd say "I am 40 until 120" or something like that.

Robert M. Rosengarten
December 2005

Robert Rosengarten's Draft Registration Card

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Camden Courier-Post - January 16, 1950