The People.

Rudolf and Annie Ziehl were of German descent. Both their parents emigrated from Germany and settled in East London, South Africa, in 1857 and 1858. When Rudolf and Annie left South Africa to farm in Rusape, Rhodesia, they took with them a mix of their German/South African heritage, which influenced future generations.  

Four of Rudolf and Annie’s seven children lived to adulthood and married in Rhodesia. However, only the youngest son, Leonard (Lenny) Carl Ziehl, continued to live in Rusape. His parent’s farm, Recondite, was divided to make two farms. Leonard and his family lived on the portion called Alpha Farm, while his parents continued to live on what was left of Recondite Farm. It is mainly Leonard’s family and his descendants who are the subject of this blog.

Lenny and Susan Ziehl with children Lorna, Sylvia, Kenneth and Gerald, about 1945.

Lenny and Susan Ziehl with adult children, spouses and grandchildren on Alpha Farm in 1957.

 

Some of Lenny and Susan Ziehl’s grandchildren, their spouses,

and great-grandchildren, on Harrisonville Farm in 1995.

Many of Lenny and Susan’s great-grandchildren, in the above picture, now have children of their own. Today, there is only one member of the entire Ziehl family living in Rusape. Next week I will give an overview of what happened to the family.