I am a descendant of the RATH and DEMMER families of Richland County. I have heard that my great,great grandfather, John Carl RATH, who immigrated from Mecklinberg-Schwerin Germany in 1871, made the comment during WWI that with one hand he sent money to Germany and with the other hand bullets. I can only try to imagine the distress that the German immigrants must have felt during that time. I have recently been reading about the Executive Order that President Roosevelt initiated in Feb 1942 which authorized the U.S. War Department to exclude or relocate people from certain areas of the country. The ruling was aimed at not-yet-naturalized emigrants from countries fighting against the US during WWII as well as American-born citizens of "alien ancestry". Surely a large percentage of the population of Richland County during this time would have qualified as being of "alien ancestry" - I know that my great grandfather, William Henry RATH, would have been included in this category. I would like to hear any stories about life for the German descendants in Richland County during World War II. Was the Ash Creek Church allowed to continue having services in German? Was there much discrimination against the residents of the county who were of German descent? Were the traditions of our German ancestry stifled during this period? Any of your personal comments or information on where I could locate published articles related to these questions would be appreciated. Rosemary Tiwari Coralville, Iowa retiwari@home.com

Dear Everyone, For quite a time, I have subscribed to this list, having interest in Richland County, its pioneers & family. The farm we live in is in Section 5 of Marshall Twp. & was apparently the homestead of Archibald Wanless. The original log cabins sits here today, although in disrepair...and I know that the Wanless family name is prevalent in this area. (We consulted a log home expert last year & he marvelled at the construction techniques - Norweigan & very well-done, but he wanted about $30,000 to do the most fundamental repair work!) My curiosity was originally aroused when we purchased this farm, because instead of a more modern title, we were provided with a historical deed which listed all owners, liens, etc. since the land was originally deeded by the US. Quite interesting really. Once a condition of a mortgage was that 16 cows be maintained on the farm at all times! Anyway, I am trying to find out more about the residents that lived here. I do know that Archibald Wanless was the first town chairman of Marshall Township, but would like any detail that anyone might be able to provide. I did some research at the library, and found that he was married to Ruth Totten, had a number of children, etc. I am looking for specific details about their lives here or any little tidbits that may be out there. Thanks, Julie Marquardt

Hi Julie, A cousin of my husband has the complete info. on Archibald Wanless. I e-mailed her. They are from Archibald's line. Gloria ps I have info. Jeanne mailed to me. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Julie" <marq@mwt.net> To: <WIRICHLA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, February 15, 2002 9:31 AM Subject: [WIRICHLA] Marshall Twp./Archibald Wanless > Dear Everyone, > > For quite a time, I have subscribed to this list, having interest in > Richland County, its pioneers & family. The farm we live in is in Section 5 > of Marshall Twp. & was apparently the homestead of Archibald Wanless. The > original log cabins sits here today, although in disrepair...and I know that > the Wanless family name is prevalent in this area. (We consulted a log home > expert last year & he marvelled at the construction techniques - Norweigan & > very well-done, but he wanted about $30,000 to do the most fundamental > repair work!) > > My curiosity was originally aroused when we purchased this farm, because > instead of a more modern title, we were provided with a historical deed > which listed all owners, liens, etc. since the land was originally deeded by > the US. Quite interesting really. Once a condition of a mortgage was that 16 > cows be maintained on the farm at all times! > > Anyway, I am trying to find out more about the residents that lived here. I > do know that Archibald Wanless was the first town chairman of Marshall > Township, but would like any detail that anyone might be able to provide. I > did some research at the library, and found that he was married to Ruth > Totten, had a number of children, etc. I am looking for specific details > about their lives here or any little tidbits that may be out there. > > Thanks, Julie Marquardt > > > > ==== WIRICHLA Mailing List ==== > Search the list archives: > http://searches2.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl - put WIRICHLA for > the name of the list >