Johann Friedrich Heinrich Riedesel was born in Paris on June 15, 1883. While his parents–Peter and Anna Gertrud (Jacob) Riedesel–were German nationals, employment opportunities took them to France. This was actually Peter Riedesel’s second marriage.
About 1905, he married Emma Jacobsen who was a native of the Schleswig area in northern Germany. How they met or where they married I do not know. On April 16,1909 he arrived at the port of New York aboard the “President Grant” under the name “Johann”; he was bound for Woodward, Oklahoma.
The Ellis Island records show some of the family returning on March 30, 1913 aboard the ship “Patricia” out of Cuxhaven, Hamburg. What is very curious is that adult male of the party is listed as Peter; the age is not clear; the adult female was Emma, and there were sons Heinrich and Albert. John’s brother Peter had also come to America. Did he also return to Europe, and then come with his brother’s family in 1913?
In any case, the family of John and Emma settled in Oklahoma where five more children were born. Between 1923 and 1930 they moved to the Westfield, New York area where the family has remained. He had a dairy farm.
John died December 17, 1945 while Emma lived until October 10, 1965.
Photos
John and Emma about 1905 when they were married
A young John (Henry), photo supposedly taken in Frankfurt
John and Emma about 1945 just before he died
The seven sons and one daughter about 1965