Andrew came to Oregon in a covered wagon at the age of 15 years, he told his granddaughter Juliane that it was a sightful trip, he seen two men hung, the aftermath of Indian wars, arrow heads, etc. He said the wars were long over when he made his journey to Oregon with his father, mother, siblings , and extended family members.
Andrew's grandfather Chesley was a carpenter, as were many of his great Uncles. Andrew took the trade up at a young age, he built an armoire writing desk at the age of 19, Grandmother Ada had it for years, there were flowers and leaves carved out on the door and Ada painted them, it was very lovely.
Andrew was a homesteader in Oregon and also ran a mill, he went into partnership with brother Ira and dismantled the mill from it's location on Ben's Branch in Myrtle Creek and moved to another location.
Grandmother Ada said he was arrested once for preaching on the street in Portland ,Oregon. Andrew was a deeply religious Methodist. He would spend hours sitting at the dining room table with his magnifying glass, reading the family bible. He was devoted to his family and worked hard all his life. Never a foul word came from his mouth, one time when he was in his 80's he said " well that is crap"!. I said do you know what crap means grandpa? and he said "junk", so I explained and we never heard him utter that word again.!!!
Andrew ran a 90 acre ranch in Curtin, Oregon, and helped raise all his grandchildren, he was one of the most honest men I have ever known.I never once heard him say he was tired or complain about anything, he was a strong man and had strong values.His word was never broken, his handshake was his honor.
Ada was his first and only love, they were married for over 50 years when she died.
Grandpa had one grey and one brown eye, each time a great grandson was born he would always inquire to see if their eyes were Ok.I always told him ,yes they are just fine, both the same color. I am so thankful that my three sons' spent time with him, all three loved him and he was so proud of them.
I remember when grandpa cut the head off of a chicken and it ran around , it terrified me as I was a young child at that time, I have never forgot that scene.
When I was twelve I helped him deliver a calf on a wet stormy night, we had to cross a swollen creek to get to the mama, we took gunny sacks and wrapped the calf and carried her back across the creek with a rope lead, the mama followed and we got them both to the barn safe and sound. Grandpa never did say in words "thank you", but I knew he was gratefull for my help that awful night. Grandma was very upset he would take a twelve year old child out on such an awful night and expose me to the birth of a cow and the danger of the overflowing creek. It was all a big deal back then.I look back on those times with fondness and regret, the regret comes from being a child and not knowing how to appreciate the lessons being taught.I loved my grandfather even when his punishment seemed harsh, the lessons learned stayed with me my entire life and really did help shape the person I became.Thank you grandpa and grandma,I love you.
Occupation:Husband, Father, grandfather, preacher,farmer, carpenter,sawmill owner.
Grandpa was named after Uncle Chilton R. Smith who married his Aunt Julia Ann Redifer in Missouri.
My grandfather always said "If you meet any Redifer, you are related,we all descend from one man, Andrew Rothenhofer who came to America from Germany in 1738".The Rothenhofer name has evolved to" Redifer,Redheffer,Rodeffer,Rodefer ,Rodifer .
Andrew's grandfather Chesley was a carpenter, as were many of his great Uncles. Andrew took the trade up at a young age, he built an armoire writing desk at the age of 19, Grandmother Ada had it for years, there were flowers and leaves carved out on the door and Ada painted them, it was very lovely.
Andrew was a homesteader in Oregon and also ran a mill, he went into partnership with brother Ira and dismantled the mill from it's location on Ben's Branch in Myrtle Creek and moved to another location.
Grandmother Ada said he was arrested once for preaching on the street in Portland ,Oregon. Andrew was a deeply religious Methodist. He would spend hours sitting at the dining room table with his magnifying glass, reading the family bible. He was devoted to his family and worked hard all his life. Never a foul word came from his mouth, one time when he was in his 80's he said " well that is crap"!. I said do you know what crap means grandpa? and he said "junk", so I explained and we never heard him utter that word again.!!!
Andrew ran a 90 acre ranch in Curtin, Oregon, and helped raise all his grandchildren, he was one of the most honest men I have ever known.I never once heard him say he was tired or complain about anything, he was a strong man and had strong values.His word was never broken, his handshake was his honor.
Ada was his first and only love, they were married for over 50 years when she died.
Grandpa had one grey and one brown eye, each time a great grandson was born he would always inquire to see if their eyes were Ok.I always told him ,yes they are just fine, both the same color. I am so thankful that my three sons' spent time with him, all three loved him and he was so proud of them.
I remember when grandpa cut the head off of a chicken and it ran around , it terrified me as I was a young child at that time, I have never forgot that scene.
When I was twelve I helped him deliver a calf on a wet stormy night, we had to cross a swollen creek to get to the mama, we took gunny sacks and wrapped the calf and carried her back across the creek with a rope lead, the mama followed and we got them both to the barn safe and sound. Grandpa never did say in words "thank you", but I knew he was gratefull for my help that awful night. Grandma was very upset he would take a twelve year old child out on such an awful night and expose me to the birth of a cow and the danger of the overflowing creek. It was all a big deal back then.I look back on those times with fondness and regret, the regret comes from being a child and not knowing how to appreciate the lessons being taught.I loved my grandfather even when his punishment seemed harsh, the lessons learned stayed with me my entire life and really did help shape the person I became.Thank you grandpa and grandma,I love you.
Occupation:Husband, Father, grandfather, preacher,farmer, carpenter,sawmill owner.
Grandpa was named after Uncle Chilton R. Smith who married his Aunt Julia Ann Redifer in Missouri.
My grandfather always said "If you meet any Redifer, you are related,we all descend from one man, Andrew Rothenhofer who came to America from Germany in 1738".The Rothenhofer name has evolved to" Redifer,Redheffer,Rodeffer,Rodefer ,Rodifer .
Andrew came to Oregon in a covered wagon at the age of 15 years, he told his granddaughter Juliane that it was a sightful trip, he seen two men hung, the aftermath of Indian wars, arrow heads, etc. He said the wars were long over when he made his journey to Oregon with his father, mother, siblings , and extended family members.
Andrew's grandfather Chesley was a carpenter, as were many of his great Uncles. Andrew took the trade up at a young age, he built an armoire writing desk at the age of 19, Grandmother Ada had it for years, there were flowers and leaves carved out on the door and Ada painted them, it was very lovely.
Andrew was a homesteader in Oregon and also ran a mill, he went into partnership with brother Ira and dismantled the mill from it's location on Ben's Branch in Myrtle Creek and moved to another location.
Grandmother Ada said he was arrested once for preaching on the street in Portland ,Oregon. Andrew was a deeply religious Methodist. He would spend hours sitting at the dining room table with his magnifying glass, reading the family bible. He was devoted to his family and worked hard all his life. Never a foul word came from his mouth, one time when he was in his 80's he said " well that is crap"!. I said do you know what crap means grandpa? and he said "junk", so I explained and we never heard him utter that word again.!!!
Andrew ran a 90 acre ranch in Curtin, Oregon, and helped raise all his grandchildren, he was one of the most honest men I have ever known.I never once heard him say he was tired or complain about anything, he was a strong man and had strong values.His word was never broken, his handshake was his honor.
Ada was his first and only love, they were married for over 50 years when she died.
Grandpa had one grey and one brown eye, each time a great grandson was born he would always inquire to see if their eyes were Ok.I always told him ,yes they are just fine, both the same color. I am so thankful that my three sons' spent time with him, all three loved him and he was so proud of them.
I remember when grandpa cut the head off of a chicken and it ran around , it terrified me as I was a young child at that time, I have never forgot that scene.
When I was twelve I helped him deliver a calf on a wet stormy night, we had to cross a swollen creek to get to the mama, we took gunny sacks and wrapped the calf and carried her back across the creek with a rope lead, the mama followed and we got them both to the barn safe and sound. Grandpa never did say in words "thank you", but I knew he was gratefull for my help that awful night. Grandma was very upset he would take a twelve year old child out on such an awful night and expose me to the birth of a cow and the danger of the overflowing creek. It was all a big deal back then.I look back on those times with fondness and regret, the regret comes from being a child and not knowing how to appreciate the lessons being taught.I loved my grandfather even when his punishment seemed harsh, the lessons learned stayed with me my entire life and really did help shape the person I became.Thank you grandpa and grandma,I love you.
Occupation:Husband, Father, grandfather, preacher,farmer, carpenter,sawmill owner.
Grandpa was named after Uncle Chilton R. Smith who married his Aunt Julia Ann Redifer in Missouri.
My grandfather always said "If you meet any Redifer, you are related,we all descend from one man, Andrew Rothenhofer who came to America from Germany in 1738".The Rothenhofer name has evolved to" Redifer,Redheffer,Rodeffer,Rodefer ,Rodifer .
Andrew's grandfather Chesley was a carpenter, as were many of his great Uncles. Andrew took the trade up at a young age, he built an armoire writing desk at the age of 19, Grandmother Ada had it for years, there were flowers and leaves carved out on the door and Ada painted them, it was very lovely.
Andrew was a homesteader in Oregon and also ran a mill, he went into partnership with brother Ira and dismantled the mill from it's location on Ben's Branch in Myrtle Creek and moved to another location.
Grandmother Ada said he was arrested once for preaching on the street in Portland ,Oregon. Andrew was a deeply religious Methodist. He would spend hours sitting at the dining room table with his magnifying glass, reading the family bible. He was devoted to his family and worked hard all his life. Never a foul word came from his mouth, one time when he was in his 80's he said " well that is crap"!. I said do you know what crap means grandpa? and he said "junk", so I explained and we never heard him utter that word again.!!!
Andrew ran a 90 acre ranch in Curtin, Oregon, and helped raise all his grandchildren, he was one of the most honest men I have ever known.I never once heard him say he was tired or complain about anything, he was a strong man and had strong values.His word was never broken, his handshake was his honor.
Ada was his first and only love, they were married for over 50 years when she died.
Grandpa had one grey and one brown eye, each time a great grandson was born he would always inquire to see if their eyes were Ok.I always told him ,yes they are just fine, both the same color. I am so thankful that my three sons' spent time with him, all three loved him and he was so proud of them.
I remember when grandpa cut the head off of a chicken and it ran around , it terrified me as I was a young child at that time, I have never forgot that scene.
When I was twelve I helped him deliver a calf on a wet stormy night, we had to cross a swollen creek to get to the mama, we took gunny sacks and wrapped the calf and carried her back across the creek with a rope lead, the mama followed and we got them both to the barn safe and sound. Grandpa never did say in words "thank you", but I knew he was gratefull for my help that awful night. Grandma was very upset he would take a twelve year old child out on such an awful night and expose me to the birth of a cow and the danger of the overflowing creek. It was all a big deal back then.I look back on those times with fondness and regret, the regret comes from being a child and not knowing how to appreciate the lessons being taught.I loved my grandfather even when his punishment seemed harsh, the lessons learned stayed with me my entire life and really did help shape the person I became.Thank you grandpa and grandma,I love you.
Occupation:Husband, Father, grandfather, preacher,farmer, carpenter,sawmill owner.
Grandpa was named after Uncle Chilton R. Smith who married his Aunt Julia Ann Redifer in Missouri.
My grandfather always said "If you meet any Redifer, you are related,we all descend from one man, Andrew Rothenhofer who came to America from Germany in 1738".The Rothenhofer name has evolved to" Redifer,Redheffer,Rodeffer,Rodefer ,Rodifer .
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