For the family of Ferdinand A. & Bernadina M. Pille Rattermann

FERDINAND A.  RATTERMANN was born on 24 September 1832 in Alfhausen, Hanover, Germany. His parents were John Bernard Henry Ratermann and Anna Maria Margaret Wellman.  On Ferdinand’s christening record in Alfhausen, it was noted that John, Anna & 1 year old Ferdinand emigrated to the United States on 20 July 1834.  They landed in Baltimore and traveled to Cincinnati, probably by stagecoach.  From Cincinnati they drove a yoke of oxen to Berlin (later known as Ft. Loramie).  One could only imagine this 100 mile trip by oxen, without good roads, with a young mother caring for her year old baby.

After Ferdinand came of age, John B.H. Raterman bought a 160 acre farm for Ferdinand.  Ferdinand married BERNADINA M. PILLE on 15 November 1853 in Shelby County, Ohio.  She was  born on 03 November 1837 in Ohio to Bernhard and (??) Pille. 

We find them living in McLean Township (Fort Loramie)  at the time the 1860 federal census was taken.  Again, they are found in McLean Township for the 1880 federal census.  Ferdinand died in 1881.  For the 1900 federal census then, we find widow Bernadina Rattermann living with son Anthony in McLean Township..  Then Bernadina passed away on 09 August 1900.   Both are buried in the Old St. Michael’s Cemetery in Fort Loramie, Shelby County, Ohio.   I have seen Bernadina’s tombstone, however could not locate Ferdinand’s.  In the book “The History of the Ratermann family”, it indicates that someone in 1945 saw Ferdinand’s tombstone and noted that many of the tombstones (at that point) were becoming quiet deteriorated.  The tombstone was not seen in 1975 when a cemetery reading was taken.  They were both faithful members of St. Michael’s Church in Fort Loramie.

They had 9 children, all surnamed RATTERMANN:

I have seen Ferdinand’s surname spelled many ways, such as Rattermann, Raterman, Ratterman and so on.  I generally go with the way an individual spelled his own name.  However, I have not yet found Ferdinand’s signature.  So therefore, I went with the spelling “Rattermann” as it was spelled this way both on his marriage record and a county history.   For Ferdinand’s given name, a great granddaughter told me his name was “Arnold Ferdinand”.  However, in all the books and records I have seen he was referred to as “Ferdinand” or “Ferdinand A.”  In the Ratermann history book, he is referred to as “Uncle Ferdinand”.  So until I find his signature, I am referring to this person as “Ferdinand A.”.