I have been researching this family for seven years and have an extensive database. Glad to help anyone researching Rutan, Retan, Reton, Ruttan, Ruton and Rheutan.

I am traveling to Germany in October, 2003, and would like to find "lost" relatives. Can you help? Here is all I have so far:

My grandfather, William J. BADTEN, born Sept. 1895, was a World War One veteran and postal carrier, and was married to Mabel RETON, born Aug. 7, 1896. Children include John W. Badten, born in the 1920s in Stevens Point, WI and died in the late 1990s in Wausau, WI, married to Florence, with two children, Mary and Barb, and adopted daughter Pamela, from Florence's previous marriage; Vergene, born Apr. 4, 1926 and died in Pennsylvania in Sept. 1977, married to William DURMICK, with six boys: William K., John, Tom, Dan, Greg and Chris; Rosemary, (my mother) born June 18, 1931 in Stevens Point, WI, married to Kenneth VAN LIESHOUT, (born 1930 from Appleton, WI) in 1954, with four children, Steve, myself, Sandy and Stacy; and Anne, born in 1933 or 1934, married to John (Jack) BITTMAN, with four children, Tom, Carole, Sally and Katherine (Katie).

Mabel was the only daughter of John W. and Elizabeth RETON. [John was born Sept. 1867, immigrated with younger brother Nillse (or Niels) from Norway in 1868, married Elizabeth in 1896, and died in 1896. He was a jeweler who also worked at one time on the Panama Canal. Nillse (or Niels) married Marion, born March 1866, and had a daughter, Leona, born July 1890].

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Sharon: Your msg to RW routed to me by Dan Gamber. I have responded directly. Niels probably not related to the Rutan, Retan (and sometimes Reton) family that I am researching who were French Huguenots.
I have Niels E. Reton m Alice Marion Chaflin (1866-1947) at Stevens Point WI in 1887; they living there in 1900. (Chaflin Family Genealogy) She m (2) Robert Charles Ord in San Diego in 1915 and she died in Los Angeles. Hope this helps. Jim Keegan

I'm researching Rheutan in Winona Minnesota in the 1870's. There was an Anna age 45, Leonard 23 or 28, Henry 16 and Mary 20. They were all born in New York.
Trying to identify the father. Also, there was a William E Rheutan born in 1871.

Note: my address is diggerjjk@aol.com

I have Leonard L. Rheutan in the federal census 1850 (NYC) b abt 1846 the son of John W. Rheutan b 1822 and Anna Welch b 1821 (they wed in 1842)

John was the son of Abraham Rutan (1797-1872) and Mary Storms. They lived in NJ

Abraham was the son of Daniel Rutan (1756-1820) and Jenny Brower.. They lived in NJ

I have more on this branch. John W. had a brother Abraham A. (who published a genealogy from which some info on the family was extracted) and who changed the surname to Rheutan because the number of Abraham Rutans in the neighborhood was causing confusion)

Abraham moved to Hartford CT and later Worcester, MA where he had an envelope business. Some of his children later moved to Richmond VA.

One or two Rheutans lived in PA, MN (as you know) and IL.

Hope this helps. Jim Keegan

Hi Jim! I've just started my Rutan connection with very little info, but hopefully you can point me in the right direction - possibly one of your books. My grandmother is Jane Lee Rutan b. 4-5-1885 d. 12-5-1945 m. George Whitney Flewwellin b. 6-18-1880 d. 12-15-1954 , & lived in Tarrytown, NY. I believe that Jane had 6 sisters. Jane's father was Charles Rutan m. to Jennie Lee. Charles father was Abram Rutan. Charles, Jennie, & Abram Rutan all buried in the FairLawn Cemetery in Paterson, NJ. George & Jane (Rutan) Flewwellin buried in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY. Am now living in Houma/Grand Isle, Louisiana surrounded by Cajuns - & I don't even speak French. We're even though - they can't speak N.Y. Yankee either! From the land of Cajuns, Crabs, & Crawdads...Dean Flewwellin

could u please send me the info you have on the retan family. i am a retan by birth.

Renee: If you don't have names or dates how about some locations such as State or County where your relatives lived.I have been able to track Rutans and some Retans back to 15th century France. JJK

from what i know they some came from ireland which is where i believe we may have originated from and also lived in new york, california, michigan, washington etc. i am also related to hatt, swick families. i have a picture of a hatt, swick, retan reunion from 1944. i have a friend who is also related to the hatt, swick families. this is what has sparked our interest. from what i have looked at on this web site i believe that all of the retan's that are listed are my ancestors. anything you could help with would be greatly appreciated. thanks

I am related t5o the Retans and Swicks from Lenawee Co., Mi. and N.Y. Also related to the Hatt family. I would love a copy of the reunion photo that you have and will pay costs if necessary. Please contact me.

Thank you,
Scott Mills