Diedenshausen
History
The small farming village of Diedenshausen was first mentioned in documents in 1194. The political philosopher Johannes Althusius was born and raised there. The accepted faith of the people was the Reformed doctrine of Calvinism. Native son Daniel Womelsdorf was the first from the village known to emigrate to America in 1724. Native son Jacob Weller von Molsdorf die Schwanfelder and his family were some of the earliest recorded members of this family to emigrate to America, landing in Philadelphia in 1710.
Today, the village has a large number of restored half-timbered houses for which reason it was designated by the German government, in 1998, as one of the "Federal Golden Villages". In 2008 Diedenshausen celebrated its millennium (1000th anniversary) as a dedicated village/area which drew many American descendants to celebrate as well.
References
- ^ "Johannes Althusius", Encyclopædia Britannica.