Ritschel/Hiekel Family

The Ritschel and Hiekel families were of German decent who emigrated to the United States. The homestead is tucked away in a quiet valley in Chipmunk Coulee, situated in the southwest corner of the town of Greenfield, just north of the Vernon County line.

 Pioneer immigrants were hardly settled in their new land when illness or hardship often struck. Johan Ritschel died June 27, 1860, at the young age of 31 years. His sister, Presita, followed him two-and-a-half years later, just shy of her 18th birthday. Another sister, Theresia (Ritschel) Hiekel died the following spring on May 3, 1863. A six-month-old daughter, presumably of Theresia's, also is buried on this hillside under a large, old growth pine tree. Some family members are also buried in Chipmunk Coulee Cemetery and were associated with the mission church of the Salzer Memorial Methodist Church there.

Ritschel-Hiekel family oral history says that another three people are also buried at the site, but only one stone was uncovered in April 2000 hidden under eight inches of pine needles and dirt. The large stone, now broken in two pieces, lists all four Ritschel family members. A translation of the stone is given below:

Census List Details: