This page is an overview. For more detailed information, see the documents linked in “For more information,” below.

About the Riedel family

The Riedels are Anna’s mother’s paternal ancestors. Anna’s mother, Nettie (Nan) Riedel van Raaphorst, was one of six children born to Louis and Anna Schreiter Riedel, both immigrants from Germany.

Both the Riedel and Schreiter families migrated in 1873 from Saxony, Germany, to Forestville, Michigan, as part of a group known as Colonia Saxonia (Saxon Colony). Anna van Raaphorst’s grandfather, Louis Hermann (Louie) Riedel, was four years old when he immigrated.

The oldest daughter in the Heinrich Adolph (Adolph) Riedel family died in Germany. The family arrived with four children, and a fifth was born in Michigan (see the topmost image on this page for a family portrait with the parents and all five children).

All of the Riedels not born in the United States eventually became naturalized U.S. citizens.

The Riedels were farmers and small business people. Anna’s grandfather Louis Hermann owned a lumber and grain business, first in a partnership with his father, and later on his own.

Louis and Anna Riedel had six children, of which Anna’s mother Nettie (Nan) was the fifth.

Ancestor surnames

• Haueis
• Joram
• Morgner
• Poller
• Renz (Renzin)
• Riedel
• Rudert (Rudertin)
• Strobel
• Thümme (Thümmin)
• Weller (Wellerin)

Unanswered questions about the Riedels

• Did the Riedel and Schreiter families know each other before they left Germany?

For more information

Links to posts about Riedel family members

Nettie Augusta (“Nan”) Riedel van Raaphorst

Happy birthday, Nan

Louis Hermann (“Louie”) Riedel

Heinrich Adolph (“Adolph”) Riedel

Anna’s comments on Adolph Riedel’s immigration record

Happy birthday, Marie Augusta Joram Riedel

Selma Louise (“Sal,” “Sally”) Riedel Bostwick

Links to other documents

• Riedel-Schreiter family history (2014) (history of the Riedel and Schreiter families)
• Outline Ancestor Report for Louis Herman Louie Riedel