In the Beginning
Travel to Germany 1850
Rudolf Heinrich Imwalle (Henry) was born in Rieste, a small town in the province of Niedersachsen, Germany on November 28th, 1833. He was the fourth child of Johannes Heinrich Matthais Imwalle (Matthais) and Magaretha Maria Elizabeth Danneman. Rudolf had an older brother named Bernard and a younger brother named Joseph. Sadly, two of Rudolf's other brother's died at a young age of childhood illness. Rudolf also had two sisters.
The Imwalle family were farmers and Matthais owned the farmhouse where they lived with their children and farm animals. The farm animals occupied half of the house! Due to the severe winters in this part of Germany, this farmhouse was typically half human and half animals.
Every person who lived on farms in those days had a special skill to learn. Rudolf and his brothers did not have much of an education or schooling, but they each had a skill. Rudolf had learned to make all types of boots and shoes. Joseph, his younger brother learned to sew, and Bernard, his older brother assisted with the farming.
The Imwalle family were farmers and Matthais owned the farmhouse where they lived with their children and farm animals. The farm animals occupied half of the house! Due to the severe winters in this part of Germany, this farmhouse was typically half human and half animals.
Every person who lived on farms in those days had a special skill to learn. Rudolf and his brothers did not have much of an education or schooling, but they each had a skill. Rudolf had learned to make all types of boots and shoes. Joseph, his younger brother learned to sew, and Bernard, his older brother assisted with the farming.
This is a scanned photo of the Imwalle farmhouse in Rieste, Germany.
This is a scanned post card of the church in Rieste, where the Imwalle's were all baptized.
