Gustav Frederick Reidel/Riedell was born 26 Aug 1859 in Posen, Posen, Germany (now Poznan', Poland), to Gustav Frederich Reidel and Henrietta Kampf/Kempf. [The father born 4 Oct 1834 in Schleisin/Silesia Germany (now Slasz, Poland) and died 19 Apr 1893 in Rock Island, Rock Island Co., IL,
with burial in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetary in Rock Island on 21 Apr 1893. He was a postal worker in Germany.  He married his wife in Germany, probably @1855.  Henrietta Kampf/Kempf was born on 12 Aug 1834/5 in Posen, Posen, Germany (now Poland) and died 18 Mar 1920 in Rock Island, and is buried in
the same cemetary.  They immigrated around 1885, after their sons .] Gustav married Ernestina Wadtke/Wottke in Germany (some say on shipboard) around 1881, which is also the date of Gustav's immigration. Gustav died 6 Mar 1934 in Barron, Barron County, WI and is buried in the Wayside Cemetary in Barron.  His wife, Ernestina, was born 4 Apr 1863, possibly in Berlin, Germany, the daughter of August Wadtke. She immigrated in 1882, with their first child. Ernestina died 17 Mar 1939 in Barron, and is buried in the same cemetary, next to her husband. Census records indicate that Gustav, the son, was a naturalized citizen. I believe that the dates of immigration for Gustav then  his wife & daughter, and that daughters birth in Germany, suggest that they married in Germany, and he left very shortly after for the US, and then sent for wife and daughter. (Or they all had their dates wrong? and came at the same time?)

Gustav and Ernestina first lived in Rock Island then near Plainfield, IL, then moved to Fulda, MN. They next  moved near Hillsdale, Barron Co., WI. They again moved to St. Paul, MN, but moved back to WI, and finally settled into a house in Barron, across the street from the present day Dairy Queen (2001). In the 1892-93 city directory for Rock Island, IL we find Frederick (the father) residing at 1417  42nd St., Gustav (the son) residing at 1301 44th St., and siblings Herman and Hulda living with the father (Frederick).

The spelling change in the name from Reidel to Riedell, seems to have been initiated by Gustav and Ernestina's children before WW II. How much before that date, one can not know for sure, but I believe that after WW I, their German heritage was too difficult to advertise to their neighbors. Grandaughters of Gustav and Ernestina, remember the use of German language in prayers up to World War II.

The children of Gustave and Henrietta were:

• one son who died in Germany before they immigrated in 1885;
• Gustave Frederick (the subject of this piece);
• Herman, born 13 Jul 1864 in Posen, married 24 April 1895 in Rock Island to Freda Briettner, and died 10 Jan 1950 at Norfolk, NE with burial in the Pierce, Nebraska Cemetary.;
• Emma born 16 Mar 1867/8 in Posen, married 1)@1888 to James Bergert, who died 1894 and  2) marr. James S. Shortridge on 16 Oct 1908 at Rock Island, with Emma dying on 29 Apr 1942 in Rock Island, and her burial in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetary;
• Hulda  born 29 Mar 1871/2 in Posen, married 24 Apr 1902 in Burlington to Francis H. Mason, with her death on 9 Jun 1946 in Cushing, OK and burial in the Lexington, OK cemetary, 2 1/2 miles south of the town of Lexington;
• Helen (last child) born 29 Mar 1876 in Germany, married 14 Feb 1893 in Rock Island, IL to Alois Seeberger, she died 29 may 1918 in Rock Island, IL and is buried in the Chippianock Cemetary in Rock Island.

Gustave and Ernestina had the following children:
• Henrietta b. 15 Dec 1882(?)  in Germany. (Maybe Ernestina and Henrietta immigrated in 1883, with Herman, Gustavs brother.) She married Dorus A. Bullock, and she died @1935.
• Hedwing Adolphine "Olive" born 22 Nov 1884/5 poss. in Plainfield or Rock Island, IL.  She married Robert Sauers on 28 Nov 1907 in Barron, Barron County, WI and died  in 1945.
• Leopold Herman born 13 Nov 1886 in Fulda, Murray Co., MN, married 16 Nov 1914 in Barron to Rena Louis/Lewis.  He died on 13 Nov 1951 in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN and is buried in the Wayside Cemetary, Barron, BArron County, WI , Block 10 Lot 66.
• Helene A. was born on 19 Aug 1888 in MN. She died in 1956 and is buried in the Wayside Cemetary in Barron, in Block 1 Lot 62.
• Ernest R.  was born 23 Mar 1890 in IL and died in 1957 in St. Paul, Ramsey County, MN, with his burial in Roselawn Cemetary in Ramsey County, MN.
• Natalie J. "Nettie" was born 1 Jan 1895 in MN. She died in 1962 in St. Paul, MN and is buried in the Roselawn Cemetary in Ramsey County, MN also.
• Rudolf  "Ralph" was born 29 Jan 1896 in MN and married 1st) Anna Raabe and 2nd) Gertrude__. He died 1964 in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN.
• Gustav Adolf Theodore born 8 Jan 1897 in Bondin Twp., Murray Co., MN.  He married on 25 Jun 1927 to Sophia Ella Ida Ploeger in Fremont, Waupaca Co., WI.  He died 18 Jun 1963 in St. Paul, Ramsey Co., MN and is buried in the Union Cemetary in St. Paul, Ramsey Co., MN.
• Paul Oscar Samuel was born 20 Jan 1898 in Barron County and died on 4 Mar of the same year, in Barron County.
• Otto Frederick Hugo was born 22 Jun 1899 in Barron County and died on 24 Oct of the same year in Barron County.
• Elsie Gunhilde "Alma" was born 1 Sep 1900 in Barron, Barron County, WI and died 10 Apr 1974 in St. Paul, Ramsey County, MN.
• Amadine Cornelia "Irene Marie"  was born 7 May 1902 in Barron and married Elmer J. Stuhr.  She died Jun 1988 in Woodbury, MN.
• Erstene "Edmund Emmanuel" was born 16 Mar 1904 in Barron. He married Louise___?. He died 27 Sep 1962 in St. Paul, MN and is buried in the Roselawn Cemetary with others of his family.
• Alfred Bruno was born 26 Feb 1905 in Barron and died @1958 in Anoka Co., MN.