Name/Title
Rosenau family: Louis and Katherine (Rediske) Rosenau, 1885 settlers by Grandin, Dakota TerritoryEntry/Object ID
2026.19.1Description
This family history folder describes the lives of Louis Rosenau, who came to Grandin, Dakota Territory, in 1885, married Katherine Rediske in 1895 (photo), and began farm near Grandin beginning in 1896. They raised four children, including Henrietta, Rudolph, Alfred and Alice to adulthood (photo). In 1913 Louis and Katherine finally settled on a farm in Section 7 in Kinyon Township in Cass County just west of Grandin (see plat map). Their grandson, Louis Rosenau farmed their land, a Century Farm, until his death in October 2025 (see story).
As described on page 499 in the 1976 Bicentennial book "Rural Cass County: The Land and People", Louis Rosenau was born in Meriden in Dakota County, MN, on 1 May 1868, and came to Grandin at the age of 17 in 1885. Katherine Rediske was born on 13 December 1868 in Bangor in La Crosse, County, WI, and came to Traill County with her family to settle along the Goose River by Hillsboro. As a young woman, Katherine worked at the Grandin Hotel, where she met Louis Rosenau. Katherine Rediske and Louis Rosenau married on 6 November 1895. After they married, they rented a Mansfield farm in Kelso Township in Traill County (see photo of Louis with his team of horses; also, TCHS Catalogit Photography entry 2026.121.1), but after a year farmed west of Grandin, eventually settling on a farm and farmstead in Section 7 in Kinyon Township in Cass County.
Louis and Katherine (Rediske) Rosenau raised four children on their farm by Grandin, including Henrietta, Alfred, Rudolph, and Alice. They also had two children that died in infancy. From family information on page 499 in the 1976 Rural Cass County book and on page 130 in the 1982 Grandin Centennial book, we know the following about their four children:
Henrietta Rosenau was born on 4 February 1899 in Grandin, ND, and on 10 November 1931 married Adolph Zeigler at Grandin. Adolph and Henreitta lived in Georgetown, MN. Adolph and Henrietta had one daughter, Adele Zeigler, and three grandchildren. Henreitta (Rosenau) Zeiler died on 7 March 1955 in a Fargo Hospital after a long illness [obituary, The Fargo Forum, 8 Mar. 1955].
Rudolph Rosenau was born on 16 August 1901 by Grandin and married Ann Crummy. They farmed 4 miles west of Grandin in Bell Township, Cass County, and were active in the Grandin Community. Ann (Crummy) Rosenau passed away, age 65, on 10 October 1972 [obituary, The Fargo Forum, 12 Oct. 1972]. Rudolph Rosenau passed away, age 74, on 9 April 1976 at Minneapolis, MN [obituary, The Fargo Forum, 12 Apr. 1976].
Alice Rosenau was born on 25 February 1905 in Grandin. Alice graduated from Grandin High School in 1923, the very first graduate [see TCHS Catalogit Books entry 2026.31.1]. On 2 May 1937, Alice Rosenau married William Margach in Grandin. William and Alice lived and worked in Grandin, ND. They had one daughter, Kathryn Ann Margach. Williiam Margach died, age 59, on 28 May 1953 at his home in Grandin [obituary, The Fargo Forum, 28 May 1953]. Alice (Rosenau) Margach died, age 73, on 13 September 1978 [obituary, The Fargo Forum, 15 Sep. 1978].
Alfred Rosenau grew up on the family farm and married Lillian Frank of Hope, ND. Alfred and Lillian had one son, Louis 'Louie' Rosenau, who was named after his grandfather Louis J. Rosenau. Alfred farmed with his father, Louis J. Rosenau. Alfred continued to farm the Rosenau land when his father retired. Unfortunately, Alfred died, age 58, on 30 May 1969 in a Fargo hospital after a tractor accident on the farm a few days earlier [see obituary]. Alfred and Lillian's son, Louis 'Louie' Rosenau, then operated the Rosenau Century Farm until he passes away on 4 October 2026, age 77 [see Louie Rosenau photo and funeral bulletin pages].
Louis J. Rosenau passed away, age 72, on 5 May 1941 at his home by Grandin [see obituary]. After funeral a service at Grace Lutheran Church in Grandin, Louis J. Rosenau was interred at the Bohnsack Cemetery [see monument and grave-marker photos] located about 9 miles NW of Grandin in Bohnsack Township, Traill County, ND.
Katherine (Rediske) Rosenau died at her home, age 87, on 10 December 1956 [see obituary]. After funeral a service held at Grace Lutheran Church in Grandin, Katherine (Rediske) Rosenau was interred next to her husband Louis J. Rosenau at the Bohnsack Cemetery [see grave-marker photo].Acquisition
Accession
2026.19Source or Donor
Louis Rosenau Estate Collection, Cass County Historical Society, Traill County Historical SocietyLocation
* Untyped Location
Resource RoomBuilding
Plummer House
