Leo Rostermundt - USA
Family and Farm History of Leo Rostermundt November 2015 Family Background Leo’s family emigrated from Schleswig-Holstein, Germany in the 1890’s. His father, Julius, born in 1880 was 13 and came with his family including 3 older teen aged siblings. He worked in the galley of the 300+foot ship as part of his fare for the trip to the U.S. His family lived in Rosthusen, Germany located near the Elbe River just a few kilometers from the English Channel. His mother, Meta Klevemann, born in 1885 was about 7 and also came with her family which lived in Bergdorf, Germany also near the Elbe River but further inland from the English Channel. We understand the family had $300 when they arrived and went directly to Leigh, Nebraska. Neither of my parents had any substantive formal education – perhaps 4th grade in Germany. They both learned to read and write German and English when they arrived in the U.S. Julius’ family initially settled near Manilla (mid western), Iowa and later moved to Lyons, Nebraska where they farmed. Julius and Meta were married in 1911 and continued farming in Nebraska until 1920 before moving to Manning, Iowa (very near Manilla). In 1922 Julius purchased and operated a dairy farm in Manning until 1944 when he retired. Meta passed away in 1939 from cancer. page 1