Our Rohde history starts in the state now called Schleswig-Holstein, in Germany. The life of the Rohde family prior to the emigration of the Heinrich D. Rohde Sr. family (my great grandfather) is somewhat of a mystery.

The last place most of our Rohde family lived prior to coming to America was the town of Rendsburg. Rendsburg is part of the Dithmarschen Kreis (District) that is today part of the state of Schleswig-Holstein in the country of Germany. Dithmarschen (Danish “Ditmarsken”) is on the west coast of the Jutland peninsula between the Eider and the Elbe rivers. Rendsburg was the name given as the “place of departure” on all three ship manifests that brought the Rohde family members to America between 1910-11. Great Grandpa Heinrch Sr. and Great Grandma Antje (my mother’s grandparents) were both 57 years old when they arrived in America.
Great Grandpa Heinrich Sr was born in Hennstedt according to the manifest of the ship named “President Lincoln” that brought them to America. Great Grandma Antje Hennings Rohde, his wife, listed her birthplace as Hennstedt although I was told that Hanover was where she was born by her granddaughter, Aunt Lillie. I’ve seen her birthplace listed as Horst in family records – they could be in the same area! I’m not too knowledgeable about German geography. Great Aunts Maria, Anna, Alwine and Great Uncle John (my grandfather’s brother and sisters) were all listed on the manifest as being born in the same place however, I cannot discern the name of the place from the handwriting on the ship manifest! Great Uncle Klaus (Claus), Grandpa Heinrich, Jr., Great Aunts Angnese, Amanda, and Frieda had Prinzenmoor shown as their place of birth on the ship manifest. Looking at the map, these all seem to be in the same general area of Schelswig Holstein.

Footnote: The given name for Henry can be spelled Heinrich, Hinrich, Henrich and abbreviated as Hein. I am trying to be consistent using “Heinrich” when referring to both Great Grandfather Henry Sr. and Grandpa Henry Jr. I have seen one signature with the “Hein” abbreviated version of the name which leads me to think it was really spelled Heinrich. My grandfather always signed his name as H. D. Rohde.