Farm Timeline

• July 1844 - Johannes Ruehle, father, and  Fredericka Siebold, mother, with children Jacob and Katerina purchase land and move into log house.
• 1855 - First addition to log house.
• March 30, 1862 - Jacob Realy (Americanized version of his name) enlists in the 20th Michigan Infantry, Company K, 1st United States Sharpshooters at age 21 to fight in the Civil War.
• 1865 - At the end of the war Jacob musters out in Washington, DC.
  
• 1866 - Jacob builds a cider mill across the road.
• 1868 - Jacob, age 28, marries Catharine Archenbronn.
• 1880 - The log house is torn down, the frame 'L' is completed.
• 1960 - Albert Realy dies, farm goes to the State of Michigan.
• January 1967 - Waterloo Area Historical Soiety founded to preserve the farm. The 1st Pioneer Day is held in October.
• 1976 - The Log House is built.
• 1993 - The Hannewald Barn is built.