Heinrich Ernst Carl Dietrich "Henry" Rambow  was born in Mecklenburg area of Germany on March 31, 1840. He was the son of Heinrich Christoph Jochim Rambow and Elisabeth Catharina Friederike Müller. His family lived in Gross Wokern which was the same hometown of August and Rika (Knaack) Heiden.

He married Wilhelmina Augusta Sophia "Minnie" Milhan on November 8, 1968 in Germany. She had been born on November 30, 1847 also in Gross Wokern, Germany. They had seven children including two daughters who married Heiden brothers. Mary Rambow married William Carl Heiden and Fredareka Rambow wedded Herman Heiden. They were sons of August and Rika Heiden.

Henry Rambow served his country in the Seven Weeks War (Austro-Prussian War) in 1866 prior to coming to America in 1874.

After arriving in New York City aboard the S.S. Thuringia, they made their way to Monroe County, Michigan where they settled first in Dundee Township and eventually bought a farm at 7400 South Custer Road in Raisinville Township. According to a story from one of their daughters, Fredareka Heiden, August Heiden who was a brick mason, helped build their house.

Heinrich died of pneumonia at his home on  January 15, 1918. He was 77 years old.

Wilhelmina passed away at home on March 29, 1936 at the age of 88. She was living at the home farm with her two youngest, unmarried children, William and Wilhelmina "Minnie" Rambow.

Heinrich and Wilhelmina are both buried at the St Matthew Lutheran Church cemetery in Raisinville Township.

Henry and "Winnie" were living in Raisinville Township with their 7 children and working a 100 acre farm that they owned. They had 3 horses and 6 cows and a telephone. Their son, William, who was not married was also listed as farming on this property.

There are four men named either Heinrich or Henry Rambow. One is listed as Henry Martin Rambow III. If this is true, technically that would make his father Heinrich Ernst Rambow, Jr. (right) and his grandfather, Heinrich Christoph Rambow, Sr. This deviates from the traditional naming rules where a Sr, Jr and III would have the same middle names too.

Although  we did not find any references using these suffixes, we will use them to try to help keep things straight among these four people.

The fourth person is Henry John Rambow, son of Alvin Rambow and grandson of Henry, III. Oh, well...another of those quirks found in genealogical research.
 

Heinrich (40), Minnie (32), Frederick (11), "Betty" (8), Henry (5) and Mary (2) lived in Dundee Township. Henry was listed as a laborer.

Note: Betty is actually Bertha.

On January 10, 1921, a fire in the Commerce Department building, Washington, DC, resulted in the destruction of most of the 1890 census.

Heinrich (60) and Wilhelmine (52) are listed as living in Raisinville Township (presumably at 7400 South Custer Road) with their son William (17) and daughter, Minnie (14). Heinrich is listed as a naturalized citizen.

Heinrich (69) and Minnie (62) are shown living with their children, William (26) and Minnie (24) at the farm at 7400 South Custer Road.

Note: The were next door to Charles Weilnau whose sister, Caroline married Henry Rambow III in 1900. Heinrich died in 1918 at the age of 77.