Theodore Rietesel was born in February, 1863 in Stralsund, a city in Western Pomerania. He used this spelling at least some of the time but other immediate family members are referred to in documents as ‘Riedesel.’ He was one of at least four children of a Charles Riedesel/Rietesel who also came to America; I have no information about the mother.
Census records indicate that Theodore emigrated in 1873. He lived in Chicago where on July 18, 1885 he married Amalia (Molly) Gimble. She was born April 7, 1866 in Chicago but her family appears to have come from Stralsund as well. They lived in Chicago much of their lives though moved out to Lake Crystal in McHenry County at some point. Amalia died November 6, 1941 in Lake Crystal. Theodore was still alive at the time and I don’t know what became of him thereafter.