Rhodius, Marianne (1814-1902)
Marianne Rhodius (1814-1902), a Mennonite philanthropist, was born 12 October 1814, at Krefeld, Germany. After the death of her husband Christian Rhodius in 1873 she lived quietly in retirement, finding her happiness in making others happy. The records of the "Rhodius petitions" which she quietly granted, have been preserved in the archives of the Krefeld city poor-law administration. Of these petitions there were in poor years about 2,400; in 1892-93, 2,191 were granted; after 1884 Mrs. Rhodius contributed 25,000 Marks annually for this purpose alone. In addition she was the first contributor in all undertakings for the common welfare (for example, 100,000 Marks for the erection of the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum). Almost unnoticed were her contributions to all institutions and associations as well as for the support of talented students in the universities or art schools, regardless of creed. When she came into the inheritance of the property of her uncle Cornelius de Greiff she contributed the business house of the firm of her grandfather, Cornelius and Johann Floh, for the initial care of the poor; four years later 25,000 Talers to enlarge the city hospital; and in 1867, 50,000 Talers for the support of fifty needy families (see de Greiff). Later she gave 40,000 Marks for the building of a market hall, and in her will, under the name of "Cornelius de Greiff'schen Unterstützungsfonds," she bequeathed to the city for benevolent purposes 1,800,000 Marks, to the Linn community 100,000 Marks, and for institutions and communities at other places, including the Mennonite congregations at Weierhof, Neuwied, and Monsheim, 54,000 Marks. Her residence, which the city acquired in 1905 from the heirs, houses the Krefeld city library. A portrait of this benefactress has been placed in the library.
Bibliography
Die Heimat (1939).
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. III, 496 f.
Mennonitische Blätter (1902): 195.
| Author(s) | Karl Rembert |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1959 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Rembert, Karl. "Rhodius, Marianne (1814-1902)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1959. Web. 24 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Rhodius,_Marianne_(1814-1902)&oldid=146148.
APA style
Rembert, Karl. (1959). Rhodius, Marianne (1814-1902). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Rhodius,_Marianne_(1814-1902)&oldid=146148.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 322. All rights reserved.
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