Roger P. Minert, PhD, AG and a team of researchers at BYU are currently involved in a project wherein they read and extract German-American vital records from historic local church vital records. These church records often pinpoint German origins in the “old country.” Places and dates of birth, marriage, and previous residence in Germany are commonly found in these records. Dr. Minert estimates that over 65 percent of historic local church records give an immigrant’s exact place of birth. Entries found in the volumes include people born in Switzerland.
The first 18 volumes of this ongoing series were published by Lewis Rohrbach of Picton Press. Following his death, Family Roots Publishing contracted with Dr. Minert to continue publication of the series – starting with Volume 19, which deals with Missouri church vital records. The full series could reach 40 volumes given enough time.
Volume 19 includes historic vital records that include German places of origin – all from Missouri churches. The churches are from the following Missouri counties:
• Audrain Co.
• Bates Co.
• Benton Co.
• Callaway Co.
• Clark Co.
• Cole Co.
• Cooper Co.
• Cape Girardeau
• Franklin Co.
• Gasconade Co.
• Jackson Co.
• Jefferson Co.
• Lewis Co.
• Lincoln Co.
• Marion Co.
• Moniteau Co.
• Monroe Co.
• Morgan Co.
• Perry Co.
• Pettis Co.
• St. Charles Co.
• St. Clair Co.
• St. Francois Co.
• Warren Co.
• Wayne Co.
Typical entries from the St. Johannis Evangelical Church, of Berger, Franklin Co., Missouri – as follows:
Elisabeth Jacke b. Niderwil, Zofingen, Switzerland 29 March 1829; d. Berger, MO 29 Dec 1894; bur. Berger 31 Dec 1894; m. – – Lauer. Ref: Deaths 1894.
Carl Heinrich Ludwig Bruening b. Haarburg, Sachsen (province) 7 Aug 1827; d. Berger, MO 15 Jan 1895. Ref: Deaths 1895.
Johanne Louise Horstmann b. Brockhagen, Westfalen 12 Oct 1837; d. Berger, MO 1895, age 57-7-12; m. 1869, Karl Kautz. Ref: Deaths 1895.
This hard-bound volume has 761 pages, 8,863 extracted records from 68 churches, an every-name index, and is printed on high-quality acid-free paper. ISBN 978-1-62859-093-7; Item #FR0653; $119.95 (plus $8 p&h). Standing Order customers may take a 15% discount, making their cost for this volume $101.96 + $8 p&h and may cancel at any time. Standing Order cost will not exceed $101.96 + $8 p&h per volume, but may be less. Contact me at Lmeitzler@gmail.com if you wish a standing-order.
Order the volume at the Family Roots Publishing website: http://www.familyrootspublishing.com/store/product_view.php?id=3233
