Ottilie
Mathilde
Gottfried
Gottfried Rothenberger
Gottfried A. Rothenberger
I don't know much about Johann and Ottiliege while they lived in Volhynia, but I found some records indicating
they were married in Rozyszcze, Volhynia, Russia on Feb 4, 1874. I also found a record indicating a child born
to them on Jan 14, 1880. The child's name was Emilie Ottilie Rothenburger.
they were married in Rozyszcze, Volhynia, Russia on Feb 4, 1874. I also found a record indicating a child born
to them on Jan 14, 1880. The child's name was Emilie Ottilie Rothenburger.
Johann immigrated with his family to Canada in the first half of 1893 and settled in the city of Winnipeg, in the
Province of Manitoba. He found work as a laborer. On September 4, 1894, a daughter, Mathilde was born.
Johann became naturalized as a British subject in the Dominion of Canada on June 10, 1896. In the spring of
1898, Johann moved his family to Rosthern in the Saskatchewan Province to take advantage of the Dominion
Lands Act of 1872. Under that act, the homesteader paid only ten dollars for 160 acres, but was required to
build a home and cultivate a number of acres within three years. In April 1898, Johann found a 160 acre
homestead in Rosthern. Since there were no dwellings on the homestead Johann and his family must have
stayed with friends in the area. Johann built a small house in less than a month from logs with the
measurements of 18' x 36'. Records show Johann, his wife, and two children took immediate residency.
Johann worked the land and by the end of 1898, broke 30 acres and cropped 15 of them and acquired 4 head
of cattle and 2 horses. By the end of 1899, Johann broke 40 more acres and cropped all 70. In 1900, he
broke another 45 acres and cropped another 20 for a total of 90 acres cropped. In 1901, Johann cropped 115
acres. That number did not change in 1902 and 1903 so I assume he must have filled his homestead
obligations. By the year 1903, Johann's homestead included a stable, a grainery, a well, 9 head of cattle, 6
horses, and 13 hogs. On April 22, 1904, a patent was issued in Johann Rothenburger's name giving the
homestead to him free and clear.
Province of Manitoba. He found work as a laborer. On September 4, 1894, a daughter, Mathilde was born.
Johann became naturalized as a British subject in the Dominion of Canada on June 10, 1896. In the spring of
1898, Johann moved his family to Rosthern in the Saskatchewan Province to take advantage of the Dominion
Lands Act of 1872. Under that act, the homesteader paid only ten dollars for 160 acres, but was required to
build a home and cultivate a number of acres within three years. In April 1898, Johann found a 160 acre
homestead in Rosthern. Since there were no dwellings on the homestead Johann and his family must have
stayed with friends in the area. Johann built a small house in less than a month from logs with the
measurements of 18' x 36'. Records show Johann, his wife, and two children took immediate residency.
Johann worked the land and by the end of 1898, broke 30 acres and cropped 15 of them and acquired 4 head
of cattle and 2 horses. By the end of 1899, Johann broke 40 more acres and cropped all 70. In 1900, he
broke another 45 acres and cropped another 20 for a total of 90 acres cropped. In 1901, Johann cropped 115
acres. That number did not change in 1902 and 1903 so I assume he must have filled his homestead
obligations. By the year 1903, Johann's homestead included a stable, a grainery, a well, 9 head of cattle, 6
horses, and 13 hogs. On April 22, 1904, a patent was issued in Johann Rothenburger's name giving the
homestead to him free and clear.
The 1901 Canadian Census shows four members of Johann's family, They are Johann 53 yrs, Ottiliege 41 yrs,
Gottfried 13 yrs, and Mathilde 6 yrs. The record does not show Emilie, whom if alive would be 21 yrs old by
then. I do not know at this time what happened to her, if she left home by then or if she even immigrated
with her family from Russia.
Gottfried 13 yrs, and Mathilde 6 yrs. The record does not show Emilie, whom if alive would be 21 yrs old by
then. I do not know at this time what happened to her, if she left home by then or if she even immigrated
with her family from Russia.
I've been told by family members that Mathilde died during child birth but I do not know the year. Ottiliege
died in 1912 and is buried in the Rosthern Town Cemetery. Gottfried left Canada in 1914 and immigrated to
the United States. I do not know the year of Johann's death and I'm not sure where he is buried.
died in 1912 and is buried in the Rosthern Town Cemetery. Gottfried left Canada in 1914 and immigrated to
the United States. I do not know the year of Johann's death and I'm not sure where he is buried.
This page created and maintained by:
G. Randy Rothenberger
G. Randy Rothenberger
Email questions and comments to randy@rothenbergerfamily.com
From l to r: Mathilde, Ottilie, Gottfried and Johann
Rothenburger at about 1906.
Rothenburger at about 1906.
First of all I have to admit to people who read this that although I'm still trying to locate documentation to
prove everything written here, there is a very small chance that some of this information is incorrect. The
problem is the names Johann, Ottiliege, Mathilde, Gottfried and Emilie were very common names in this area
of Russia in this time period. Actually the surname Rothenburger was common too. Many Germans in Volhynia
had some or all of the above names in their families so it is hard to follow a family line. But, I have not found
more than one family with Ottiliege's maiden name as Marquardt who was married to a Johann Rothenburger.
So...
prove everything written here, there is a very small chance that some of this information is incorrect. The
problem is the names Johann, Ottiliege, Mathilde, Gottfried and Emilie were very common names in this area
of Russia in this time period. Actually the surname Rothenburger was common too. Many Germans in Volhynia
had some or all of the above names in their families so it is hard to follow a family line. But, I have not found
more than one family with Ottiliege's maiden name as Marquardt who was married to a Johann Rothenburger.
So...
