In 1873, my 2nd Great Grandparents John and Maria Walterscheid and their 5 children came from Germany and bought an 80-acre farm in Roselle Township (Carroll County). The farm was located at 25093 Hawthorne Ave which is 2 miles west of Roselle and ¼ mile south. For six generations (1873-2026+) this farm has remained in our family:
John & Maria Walterscheid with son Charles 1874 |
| 1873-1900 | John & Maria Walterscheid |
| 1900-1922 | Peter & Elizabeth (Walterscheid) Bellinghausen |
| 1922-1940 | Frank & Mary (Schoeppner) Bellinghausen |
| 1940-1964 | Joseph and Mary Mayne (Bellinghausen) Riesberg |
| 1964-2024 | Irvin & Leona (Lechtenberg) Riesberg |
| 2024 + | Dennis, Marilyn and Joseph Edward Riesberg |
I have documented the history of these families who all came to Iowa from Germany and would met and marry in Roselle Township. If you would like a free copy of this 60-page historical document please contact Gary Frank Bellinghausen at gvbell@comcast.net/. It contains notes on our family history both in Germany and for 150+ years on the Roselle Farm, many family stories, farm photos as well as Roselle Township Farm Maps from 1884, 1901, 1906 and 1923 which show the evolution of the farm families.
A Brief Synopsis Follows
The Walterscheid-Bellinghausen-Riesberg immigrants came separately from Germany between 1863-1881. A critical development that led to families moving across Iowa was the creation of the Iowa Northwest Railroad Land Company in 1869.
1. One branch of the railroad company ran through Carroll and we believe that when John & Maria Walterscheid and their 5 children left Germany on 5/17/1873 they took the train to Carroll County. We have a hand written copy of the deed dated 7/1/1873 which shows the purchase of the 80-acre Family Farm for $520 ($6.50/acre). Records indicate that a 4-room house (which still is in use) was built in 1880. It is important to note the Walterscheid family was one of the original members of the Holy Angel Catholic Church first built in Roselle in 1875 and then expanded in 1903.
2. Peter Bellinghausen came to Roselle from Hommerich, Germany with his parents and 6 siblings in 1881. He would meet and marry Elizabeth Walterscheid (the youngest daughter of John & Maria Walterscheid) in Roselle in 1887. Peter & Elizabeth would live on the Family Farm and raise 10 children and expand the farm to 320 acres. Their son Frank & Mary (Schoeppner) Bellinghausen would live on the Family Farm from 1922-1940 and have a family of 17 children.
3. Joseph & Mary Mayne (Bellinghausen) Riesberg purchased the farm in 1940. Mary was the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Bellinghausen. Joseph’s Grandparents Joannes & Anna Riesberg had immigrated from Germany to New Vienna, Iowa in 1863. Joseph’s parents Anton & Anna (Eickman) married in New Vienna and moved to Roselle in about 1881. Joseph and Mary Mayne (Bellinghausen) Riesberg married in 1915 and raised 12 children on the farm.
4. In 1964 Joseph and Mary Mayne sold the farm to their son Irvin & Leona (Lechtenberg) Riesberg who had married in 1946. They had 11 children. In 1982 Irwin made an application to designate the Family Farm as a Century Farm by the Iowa Department of Agriculture. The plan is to now apply for a Heritage Farm (150 Years of Continuous Family Ownership) designation: 1873-2026.
5. Leona (Lechtenberg) Riesberg passed away in 2023 at the age of 101 and the 80-acre Family Farm was sold to son Dennis, daughter Marilyn and Grandson Joseph Edward Riesberg.
It is important for us to tell our ancestor’s story so future generations can know the sacrifices they made for us. Their legacy reflects not only an amazing sense of adventure and hard work but a strong trust in God to guide and provide for them in an unknown new world. Hopefully this Family Farm in Roselle Township serves to honor those that came before us.
