This page created and maintained by:
G. Randy Rothenberger
G. Randy Rothenberger
Gottfried Sr. and Martha Hoffman were married in Rosthern, Saskatchewan, Canada on Sept. 22, 1912. After they married, they continued to live in the
area for about a year and a half. During that time a baby boy (Alfred) was born on July 23, 1913. On Jan. 14, 1914, Gottfried with his wife and child
along with his wife's father, mother and brother, immigrated to the United States. It was at this time that Gottfried changed the spelling of the
Rothenburger surname to Rothenberger. They took the Duluth, Winnipeg, & Pacific Railway through Winnepeg, Manitoba and crossed the border into
Minnesota. They continued their journey into Wisconsin and finally settled in a small central part of the state called Rib Lake. They lived in Rib Lake for
about four years and had three more children, Irving, Freida and Elsie. Next, I have been told, they had some friends in the Chassell area in northern
Michigan so they moved to Chassell in about 1918 onto the Messner farm. Gottfried Sr. worked as a farm boss and Martha cooked for Messner's farm
hands. Between the years 1918 and 1926, Gottfried and Martha had five more children. Tragically, early Sunday morning, February 14, 1926 on
Valentines Day, a horrible fire claimed the lives of seven of their children. The names and ages of these children were: Freida 10, Elsie 9, Martha 8, Willie
6, Ruth 4, and Paul 3. A baby aged 4 months, Lydia, died five days later from burns suffered in the blaze. Gottfried Sr. and Martha were both severely
burned. The two oldest boys, Alfred and Irving, escaped by jumping from an upstairs window to safety. There was a Coroner's investigation but the
cause of the fire was never determined. On December 22nd of the same year, Gottfried Jr. was born. In the years to follow there were more children,
Esther, Elizabeth, Otto and Gertrude. Jennie and a set of twins were born but died at some point but I don't have that information yet.
area for about a year and a half. During that time a baby boy (Alfred) was born on July 23, 1913. On Jan. 14, 1914, Gottfried with his wife and child
along with his wife's father, mother and brother, immigrated to the United States. It was at this time that Gottfried changed the spelling of the
Rothenburger surname to Rothenberger. They took the Duluth, Winnipeg, & Pacific Railway through Winnepeg, Manitoba and crossed the border into
Minnesota. They continued their journey into Wisconsin and finally settled in a small central part of the state called Rib Lake. They lived in Rib Lake for
about four years and had three more children, Irving, Freida and Elsie. Next, I have been told, they had some friends in the Chassell area in northern
Michigan so they moved to Chassell in about 1918 onto the Messner farm. Gottfried Sr. worked as a farm boss and Martha cooked for Messner's farm
hands. Between the years 1918 and 1926, Gottfried and Martha had five more children. Tragically, early Sunday morning, February 14, 1926 on
Valentines Day, a horrible fire claimed the lives of seven of their children. The names and ages of these children were: Freida 10, Elsie 9, Martha 8, Willie
6, Ruth 4, and Paul 3. A baby aged 4 months, Lydia, died five days later from burns suffered in the blaze. Gottfried Sr. and Martha were both severely
burned. The two oldest boys, Alfred and Irving, escaped by jumping from an upstairs window to safety. There was a Coroner's investigation but the
cause of the fire was never determined. On December 22nd of the same year, Gottfried Jr. was born. In the years to follow there were more children,
Esther, Elizabeth, Otto and Gertrude. Jennie and a set of twins were born but died at some point but I don't have that information yet.
Gottfried Rothenberger Sr.
Alfred Rothenberger
Ida Ostrand
Ida Ostrand
Gottfried A. Rothenberger
Martha E. Kemppainen
Martha E. Kemppainen
Irving Rothenberger
Edna Harry
Edna Harry
Otto Rothenberger
Elizabeth Rothenberger
Allen Tapani
Allen Tapani
Living Rothenberger
Living Marinelli
Kenneth Luusua
? Dasco
Living Marinelli
Kenneth Luusua
? Dasco
Esther Rothenberger
Waino Ohtonen
Waino Ohtonen
Jennie Rothenberger
William Rothenberger
Freida Rothenberger
Paul Rothenberger
Lydia Rothenberger
Martha Rothenberger
Elsie Rothenberger
Ruth Rothenberger
Twin Rothenbergers
From l to r: Esther, Gottfried Jr., Elizabeth (back),
Girl and Otto
Girl and Otto
Family Photos
Email questions and comments to randy@rothenbergerfamily.com
Martha Rothenberger with her father (Friedrick Hoffman), far left,
her mother (Marie) seated left and her brother (Arnold) with the
rifle. The other people are unknown to me.
her mother (Marie) seated left and her brother (Arnold) with the
rifle. The other people are unknown to me.
Gottfried and Martha Rothenberger
with Irving (left) and Alfred standing
with Irving (left) and Alfred standing
This Page is under Construction
Martha Hoffman