The Henry Riefers Family

In October, 1886, Henry Riefers and his wife, the former Catherina Cordes, left Germany. They brought with them four children: Herman, born 1879; Emma, born 1880; Henry, born 1881; and Fred, born 1884.

Henry, originally from Muhldorf, Bavaria, and Catherina from Sohlingen, Hanover, came to Henry County, Freedom Twp., Ohio.

They lived a short time in a home in Section 27 across from the Rabe Farm in Freedom Twp. There in 1888 a son William was born.

The family then moved to the Ed Oberhaus farm in Section 34 along Rd. T. The house they lived in there for 7 years has since been moved to the Gebers' farm in Section 26 about 1 mile away. During this time a daughter, Frieda, was born in 1891.

In 1896, Henry and Catherina Riefers purchased 100 acres in Section 22 along the Gerald Road, still in Freedom Twp. Also in 1896, their last child was born, a son, Carl.

Within a few years they built a home on the S.W. corner of the farm and this is where they lived until their deaths; Henry in 1922 and Catherina in 1933.

The children married as follows:

Hermann Riefers married the former Ella Maehlmann in 1907, having one son Ferdinand, born 1908 and one daughter, stillborn 1919. Ferdinand married Hilda Biederstedt.

Emma married Harmann Zumfelde and they had one son, Adolph. Adolph married Lorena Rickenberg.

Henry Riefers married Margarete Polster, who came directly from Germany, in 1942. This union had no children.

Fred Riefers married the former Ella Scheele and they had five children: Mrs. John (Hulda) Vajen, Mrs. George (Alta) Weimken, and Rudolph. Two daughters Velma and Edna both died in early childhood.

William Riefers married Effie Dyks tra from S. Dakota and children, Lavern and Julia Ann were born to them.

Frieda married Carl Plassman and they have eight children: Mrs. Albert (Lorena) Arps, Norman, Eldor, Mrs. Gene (Herminia) Smith, Mrs. Harlan (Delora) Duerk, Carlton, Donald, and Mrs. Luther (Henrietta) Baden.

Carl married the former Caroline Gebers. Three daughters were born to them: Mrs. Wayne (Alfrieda) Spencer, Mrs. Ernest (Wilma) Miller, and Mrs. Robert (Arlene) Freytag.

Submitted by the Family