| Affental
Geography:
Affental is an ancient winery village in the Buehl valley in middle
Baden. Its location is 6 kilometers north of the District city of Buehl.
History:
The Affental red wine was well-known as early as 1330. At that time,
the Cistercian Cloister of Lichtental owned the vineyards. The development
of the fiery Burgundy wines started with the women of this cloister. Aloys
Schreiber, noted historiographer, wrote"I should always take off my hat
before every glass of Affental Sheltered in the mountainous foothills, the
vineyards and natural granite soil of the region produce wines known
throughout the world today.
As one enters the village of Affental, on the old Mill Stream Road,
lined with frame-work houses, the first thing seen is the Chapel, built in
1754. The chapel was named St. Gallus.
In the early 1850's a new romanistic basilica was built. At the same
time the building of the rectory was begun. Bishop Lothar von Kuebel, son of
Sinzheim residents, consecrated the new House of God on September 20, 1868.
The inhabitants of Affental celebrate this date with a festival every year.
To cancel out the building debts of the Basilica, a church building fee was
levied. The most highly taxed of the 349 payers contributed 29 gulden a year;
the least paying parishioner paid one kreuzer.
A Natural Wine Society of Affental was founded in 1909. It was the
second society of this sort in the wine region of Baden. The city of Buehl
established a wine market in 1872. In 1931, a distilled spirits market took
place with the wine market in Baden.
Emigrant Surnames: (from Eisental and Affental)
Bauer, Baumann, Baumgartner, Baumgärtner, Bender,
Ehereisser, Fanz, Fritz, Geiges, Graf, Hahn,
Harbrecht, Hochstuhl, Keller, Kirschner, Krauth,
Kunz, Maier, Mayer, Meier, Moser, Mürb. Oser,
Pflininger, Reith, Rupp, Schmidt, Schütt, Seiter,
Stark, Störk, Straub, Streule, Vetter, Vollmer,
Weil, Weis, Ziegler
Information Sources:
Catholic
1754-1852 St. Gallus
1870-1900
Researchers in this area:
Links: |
| Altschweier
Geography:
Altschweier is located four km.
directly south of the district capitol of Buhl. In 1972, through
incorporation, Altschweier was one of the many villages of the area
that was consolidated into the city of Buhl.
The Basilica dominates the skyline of both the village and country-side.
The village is surrounded by a "forest" of plum trees, beyond which are
terraces of vineyards. The houses of Altschweier crowd the river Buehlot.
Signs of prosperity are evident in the style of the farm houses, some of
which are in the Kizingtal style, while others are two storied
half-timbered houses. The countryside is dominated by the Schartenberg
Mountain, which protects the village from icy winds so that the favorable
climate and fertile soil of the region result in high volume fruit
production. Peach trees were planted around the turn of the century and
production reached its peak in the thirties, however the winter of 1939/40
wiped out all the orchards.
History:
The residence of Altschweier are proud of their parish church of St.
Gallus. It took thirty years of struggle with the government before they
achieved their wish for a church of their own.
Initially, there was only a small St. Gallus chapel, actually too small
for the number of residence of the town. So the residents were divided. The
people of Altschweier living on the Buhl side of the river were incorporated
into the parish in Buhl called St. Peter and Paul's. The residents on the
opposite side of Altschweier became parishioners of St. Mary's parish in
Kappelwindeck. Between 1824 and 1868 all the inhabitants of Altschweier
planning to attend services or bury their dead had to travel to
Kappelwindeck.
In 1870, the parish in Altschweier received its own priest, Rev. Joseph
A. Kappler, who had been employed in the parish at Kappelwindeck for forty
years. He bequeathed a large sum of money to the villagers of Altschweier for
construction of a church and parsonage. Building was started on the Buhl side
of the village by the architect, Heinrich Hubsch. He designed the church in
the Romanesque style as a basilica. When Bishop Lothar von Kuebel consecrated
the church on September 20,1888 the villagers turned the occasion into a
festival, which is still celebrated today.
Emigrant Surnames:
Baumann, Bechtold, Eberle, Ebler, Eckert, Ehreiser, Fauth,
Frey, Götz, Gretz, Grohe, Häußler, Herrmann, Hörth, Huber,
Jägel, Jost, Kirschner, Kohler, Linz, Maushart, Mayer,
Meier, Morath, Moser, Müller, Pfetzer, Rapp, Rheinschmitt,
Rettig, Rieser, Ruckenbrod, Rummel, Schäfer, Schemel,
Schmidt, Schorla, Seifried, Seiter, Vetter, Werner, Winter,
Zimmerman
Information Sources:
Catholic
birth and baptism: 1810 - 1870
marriage: 1810 - 1900
death and burial: 1810 - 1900
Links:
Altschweier Home Page |
| Au Am Rhein
Geography:
The village of Au am Rhein can be found in the northern
region of the county of Rastatt. It obtained its name from
its location in the Rhein Valley, at the most northern part
of the Rheinau Woods. This ancient village is only 10 miles
or 15 kilometers from the coast of France. A tidy community
of only 2,800 residence, its size is 13.28 square kilometers.
History:
Earliest reference to Au was in the year 811 A.D. when it was
the home of the estate of priest, Milo. Later, the monasteries
of Hirsau and Cloister Reichenbach owned property in Am.
The Romans left behind their traces in Am. A roman leuga was
stored in the tower of the old parish church. A leuga was a
Gallic measure of distance 2.2 km = 1.4 miles.
The leuga supported the theory that a Roman road existed from
Baden-Baden (called Aquae by the Romans) to Au, which crossed
the Rhein river, at Au.
The Channel house in Au had four Roman gods depicted in gold
in its cornerstone. Until the end of the 19th century gold was
still being mined in the Rhein Valley area near Au.
Today these ancient artifacts of Au can be seen in the Baden
State Museum in Karlsruhe.
Emigrant surnames:
Abert, Angele, Ball, Bauer, Baumstark, Brendel,
Brunner, Busch, Fahrner, Ganz, Gimbler, Göpf,
Großmann, Heitz, Herrmann, Hertweck, Hettel,
Hirth, Hoch, Hönig, Huditz, Jäger, Karecher,
Kast, Kessel, Klumpp, Krieg, Lumpp, März, Mayer,
Melcher, Merkel, Merz, Müller, Peter, Pflüger,
Schröder, Schweigert, Stahlberger, Steinel, Steinle,
Weißenburger, Weß, Weßbecher, Werz.
Information Sources:
LDS records:
Evangelical, Lutheran
births and baptism: 1849 - 1962
marriage, church and civil 1861 - 1933
death and burial 1861 - 1962
Links: |
| Au im Murgtal
Geography:
History:
Emigrant Surnames:
Information Sources:
Links: |
| Balzhofen
Geography:
Located in the rich lands of the Rhein Valley, Balzhofen is five and
one-half kilometers north of the district city of Buehl.
History:
Balzhofen was developed from a feudal estate and was part of the
region under the jurisdiction of the Monastery at Schwarzach. The Margraves
of Baden and the Roder family owned extensive property here also.
A chapel was erected in Balzhofen in 1701. It was a very simple
wooden structure. In 1784, a larger Chapel was built, but was kept in the
simple baroque style common in the region between the Black Forest and the
Rhein.
A farming community right out of a picture book. One glance confirms
the village as an agricultural settlement. Newspapers are canceled during
spring planting, for only winter permits time for reading.
Villagers consider to be important, the school, which was built in
1914, the General Store of the Eringer family and the Inn, At the Sign of the
Crown, where villagers go after Sunday services to talk politics.
Due to the reformation act of 1973, the village of Balzhofen was
incorporated into the city of Buehl.
Emigrant Surnames:
Burkart, Ehinger, Göhringer, Götz, Hensel, Ibach, Jäger,
Jörger, Lienhard, Manz, Meier, Meyer, Reith, Royal,
Scherzinger, Seiler, Strack, Wiemer, Wild, Wolf
Information Sources:
Balzhofen (Balzhofen)
Catholic
baptism, marriage and burial: 1810-1870
Balzhofen (Oberbruch)
Catholic
baptism, marriage and burial: 1810-1870
Balzhofen (Vimbuch)
Catholic
baptism, marriage and burial: 1810-1870
family registry: 1850
Links: |
| Barnhalt
Geography:
History:
Information Sources:
Links: |
| Bermersbach
Geography:
History:
Emigrant Surnames:
Barth, Bauer, Fritz, Geiser, Götz, Hoch, Krämer, Krieg,
Kröner, Maier, Mayer, Merkel, Roth, Staub, Stößer, Wagner,
Wunsch
Information Sources:
See Forbach
Links: |
| Bietigheim
Geography:
The Bundesstrasse (Federal Route) 36 is one of the main traffic
arteries of the county of Rastatt and runs through the community of
Bietigheim in the northern part of this county. With a population of more
than 5,200, this is not one of the smaller communities of this county. Here,
as in many other striving communities, agriculture has taken a backseat to
the smaller and mid-size industries, now dominating the economic structure.
History:
Bietigheim was first mentioned in the year 991 under the name
Buadincheim. Remnants of the old foundations and Roman coins point to a
settlement during Roman times, and a Roman trades route leads past the
settlement to Baden-Baden.
During the 13th century, a local noble family ruled the town, whose
dependents were vassals of the Court of Eberstein. Possessions of the
monasteries of Weibenburg, Herrenalb and Lichtenal, as well as the margrave
of Baden have been documented.
When the margraviate remained catholic after the withdraw of the Swedes
in 1634, it meant continuity for the Bietigheims, at least concerning their
religion. Previously they had to switch denominations repeatedly even within
one century, due to the constant change in rulership.
In 1808/09 and upon invitation by the Russian Czar, several Bietigheim
families had emigrated to Rastatt and Seyer in southern Russia. After 1848,
many more Bietigheim residents were looking for a new home in the United
States.
Emigrant surnames:
Andres, Anselment, Arrand, Augenstein, Beck, Beckert,
Bertsch, Brunner, Dreixler, Dürrschnabel, Fritz, Ganz,
Hartmann, Heck, Herm, Hettel, Hornung, Jung, Kambeitz,
Karle, Klumpp, Kühn, Matz, Mockert, Nagel, Nold, Rapp,
Rastätter, Rittler, Schenkel, Schmitt, Schröder, Schröter,
Silber, Stoll, Strotz, Trickel, Volz, Würz
Information Sources:
Catholic
birth and baptism: 1585 - 1890
marriages: 1693 - 1896
death and burial: 1607 - 1894
family registers: 1808 - 1877
Civil
births: 1808 - 1888
family registers: 1818 - 1888
Links:
Researchers in this area:
www.jennifer.heer.com
jennifer@heer.com |
| Bischweier
Geography:
The location of Bischweier
is best described by its proximity to the "spa" city of
Baden-Baden. From Baden-Baden you would travel 2 km.
to the town of Gernsbach. From Gernsbach travel 5 km.
straight north. At the entrance of the Murgtal
Valley, of the River Murg, is Bischweier. The village
of Bischweier is 13.90 square kilometers in size. It's
nickname is "Kirchendorf" (Cherry Village) because of
the large volume of fruit grown in the fertile valley soil.
With a population of nearly 6,000, only 5% of today's
inhabitants earn their living from agriculture.
Even with it's craft shops and business concerns, Bischweier
is today clearly a "dormitory community", meaning people
live here, but work elsewhere.
History:
Excavation in the region points to the presence of a
Roman settlement, because a Roman estate
was found at the nearby village of Oberweier.
Bischweier was first mentioned in documents in the year 1288,
as a hamlet of the bishop, probably the bishop of Speyer.
This theory is strengthen by the fact that Bischweier has
been linked, from early times both religiously and politically
with Rotenfels, which has belonged to Speyer since 980.
Of historical value are the gothic wall paintings in the
ancient St.Ann's Chapel. The chapel today serves the Lutheran
faithful as a place of worship.
In 1844/45 a 14.5 km. long horse-drawn railway was built between
Bischweier and Rastatt. It was used to have construction material
from Bischweier moved to Rastatt for the fortress of Rastatt,
a fortress of the German Confederate.
Emigrant Surnames:
Busch, Föry, Gerstner, Jocher, Jörger, Jung, Keller,
Mack, Müller, Rieger, Säckinger, Scherer, Simon, Späth,
Westermann, Zimmermann
Information Sources:
LSD Records: There are no records found for Bischweier.
Records for the "parent parish" of Rotenfels.
Catholic:
birth and baptism:
1616-1901
marriage, civil and church:
1614 - 1668
1670 - 1678
1692 - 1913
death and burial:
1614 - 1622
1630 - 1638
1649 - 1669
1696 - 1912
family registers:
1790 - 1930
Links: |
| Bühl
Geography:
Originally the town of Buehl was the county seat for the county with
the same name. When the German government redrew the boundaries of their
counties in 1973, the county of Buehl was dissolved. Later, in 1973 Buehl was
annexed to the newly formed county of Rastatt.
Located near the romantic Black Forest Mountain Road, Buehl is directly
15 kilometers west of Baden-Baden. With its various town districts, Buehl
stretches up to an elevation of 1040 meters in the area bordering the Black
Forest Mountains Road. Balzhofen, is situated at its lowest point at 130
meters.
The town of Buehl, in the middle of the fruit growing region is
nicknamed "Plum City", with a plum festival in early October as its annual
event. Today, the population of over 25,000 residents makes Buehl the third
largest city in the new county of Rastatt.
History:
Roman milestones, extensive coin finds and pot remains indicate an
early Roman settlement in the area of Buehl.
Around 1149 the town first appears in documents with the name Buhel
(meaning hillock). The name was officially changed to Bühel in 1283.
By the first quarter of the 14th century, the town had acquired its own
court, (both a legislative and an administrative body) with this was an
assigned village mayor. It also established a trial court of its own. This
allowed it to be granted its own court seal, which it has
retained as a city seal to this day.
The right to hold an annual fair was tightly controlled in the old
German states. Buehl was approved to have such a fair, called a "Jahrmarkt "
as early as 1403 and by 1442 was allowed to hold a weekly Farmers' Market.
These steps had secured its roll as an economic power a generation before
Columbus.
In 1514, the church, called St. Peter and Paul's (today Town Hall 1) was
built on the site of the 15th century Benedictine Monastery, by architect
Hans von Maulbronn.
Buehl was not without problems. The town was completely burned down in
the 1600's during the 30 Years War. In 1689 the town was again destroyed by
the French.
Margrave von Baden, in 1767 acquired the imperial fief of Buehl for
30,000 florin. The section of Buehl situated south of the Buhlot thus becomes
part of Baden.
The upswing came during the 19th century when the market town of Buehl
was elevated to the status of a city by Grand Duke Leopold von Baden.
The 1800's brought much renovation to the city. The Town Hall was built
on the site of the former parish church, incorporating the church tower into
its design. The new neo-gothic city church of St. Peter and Paul was built
and consecrated in 1877.
In 1930, Buehl, saw the incorporation of the communities of
Kappelwindeck and later the towns of Neuweier, Steinbach and Varnhalt.
Although Buehl lost its rank as a county seat with the county reform, it
enjoyed a substantial benefit from the accompanying municipal reform, which
allowed it to nearly double in population by annexing the formerly
independent communities of Oberweier, Oberbruch, Neusatz (all in 1971),
Balzofen, Eisenthal (both in 1972), and (in 1973) Altschweier, Moos,
Vimbuch and Weitenung.
In the years 1148/49 -
St. Peter and Paul, Earliest Catholic Church
Emigrant Surnames:
Abele, Berdon, Berger, Bloch, Bodenheimer, Bordolo,
Bubenhofer, Bühler, Burgert, Burkart, Burkhard, Christ,
Doll, Eckerle, Edelmann, Eisele, Fanz, Fensch, Fertig,
Flick, Fraaß, Grank, Frey, Frietschi, Frietschy, Fritz,
Geieger, Götz, Graf, Groß, Hagenjos, Hasenforter,
Haungs, Heimann, Heitz, Herzog, Hettler, Hildebrand,
Hils, Hirschbühl, Hockenjoos, Hoerth, Hofer, Hunkler,
Jäckel, Jäckle, Jägel, Klein, Konrad, Kuster, Landherr,
Lang, Levi, Lieber, Liebich, Maurath, Maushard, Meier,
Meister, Meixel, Mertz, Meyer, Moeppert, Moerch,
Morgenthaler, Müller, Netter, Niedhammer, Oehgass,
Ollry, Oster, Peter, Pezold, Pfaadt, Pflegber, Rapp,
Reingried, Reinschmidt, Reis, Rheinbold, Rinschler,
Rödler, Roos, Sackmann, Scheidet, Schick, Schickel,
Schlageter, Schleh, Schmieder, Schmitt, Schnabel,
Schüßler, Schweizer, Sebert, Seiter, Seith, Sinsheimer,
Speuer, Springer, Strack, Strobel, Weil, Wenk,
Wertheimer, Wiedmaier, Winter, Wippermann, Wirth,
Wisch, Wohlgemuth, Wolf, Wunsch, Zachmann,
Zaehler, Zapf, Zeis, Ziegler, Zöller
Information Sources:
Catholic
birth , marriages and deaths: 1625-1938
Stadtverwaltung Buehl
Hauptstr.47
77815 Buehl
Telefax 01149-7223-935207
Links: |
| Buhlertal
Geography:
The roughly 8.000 residents of this residential, recreational and
mountain resort of Buehlertal with Untertal (lower valley) and Obertal (upper
valley) stretches from the Rhein plain (150 meters above sea level) all
the way up to the colored sand stone surface of Schwarzwald ( 770 meters
above sea level). Buehlertal covers an area of 17,68 square kilometers.
History:
In 1325, this place appears for the first time in documents as
"Hugeltal". Even before this first document the Ebersteins were the first
landlords, and on their part they rewarded the knights and nobles, Von
Windeck, with this land.
Known as an agricultural town, for a long time the farmers grew the best
plums and grapes for the wine makers of the region.
Next to the smaller craft and industrial establishments, a branch plant
of the Bosch firm offers employment opportunities.
An important asset here is tourism, since a section of the Black Forest
Overpass passes over Buehlertal.
There was a small hospital in this community, which in 1903 the great
Dutchess, Luise Von Baden, dedicated. Today, the hospital is closed and is
kept as a hospital exhibit due to its historical importance.
Gone is the train which earlier connected the valley with the city of
Buehl. Remaining is the neighborly feelings between the communities.
In the year 1325 -
St. Michael, Earliest Catholic Church
Emigrant Surnames:
Bäuerle, Baumann, Berdon, Bernhard, Berwanger, Bey, Boy,
Blun, Braun, Braxmeier, Brügel, Burkard, Burkart, Butsch,
Coi, Decker, Diler, Dorn, Dresel, Egner, Ehereiser, Erhard,
Faller, Gschwender, Gutmann, Hedinger, Heisch, Henkel, Herrmann,
Hils, Höll, Hörth, Horcher, Ihle, Jost, Karcher, Kauzmann, Koch,
Koegel Kohler, Kraemer, Kraus, Kuest, Kunz, Landele,
Langenbacher, Liebmann, Ludwig, Manz, Meier, Meyer, Muerb,
Müller, Naber, Nesselhauf, Oberle, Oesterle, Pabst, Rapp,
Reinschmidt, Reinschneid, Reith, Rettig, Riehle, Rühle,
Rumpf, Schäfer, Schaufler, Schenk, Schmalz, Schmieder,
Schmidt, Schneider, Schoch, Schofer, Schühle, Sebacher,
Seifermann, Seifried, Seiter, Spieß, Steuer, Steuerer, Stößer,
Stolz, Strahl, Stricker, Striebel, Strübel, Weck, Wek, Weis,
Welle, Wesbacher,Wittmann, Wolf, Zäpfel, Ziegler, Zink
Information Sources:
Catholic
births, marriages and burials: 1763 -1900
family registry: 1800, 1808, 1810, 1830 - 1858
Links:
The Buehlertal, Baden Home Page
cybermom@springnet1.com |
| Durmersheim
Geography:
Durmersheim is located only
eight kilometers south of the city of Karlsruhe. It serves as
a suburban town to the commuters of the city of Karlsruhe. The
area first belonged to the precinct of Kuppenheim, but is now
a part of the county of Rastatt. The population with the
absorbed villages of Bickelsheim and Würmersheim numbers 10, 800 inhabitants.
History:
(with the ancient villages of Bickesheim and Würmersheim)
The city of Durmersheim dates back to the sixth century, when it was
part of the Weissenburg Monastery. It appeared as "Turmaresheim" (Home of
Turmar) in official documents as early as 991. The present day spelling first
appeared in the records around 1388.
Between 1244 and 1350 there was a clan of knights named after the town.
The former moated castle called Rohrburg, mentioned as early as 1388, today
only exist in the history books. The castle was totally dilapidated by the
18th century.
The old monastery and the Bickesheim church of St. Mary are located on
the northern edge of Durmersheim. Bickesheim was an independent town until
the 14th century, when it was taken over by the villagers of Durmersheim. As
early as 1683 there are written reports of the portrait of Madonna in the
church, to which miracles were attributed. In the early 1700's there are
reports of pilgrimages to Bickesheim-Durmersheim, from all over the area.
As part of the municipal reforms in the early 1970's of Baden-Wurttemburg
the former ancient town of Würmersheim, with about 1,500 residents, was
incorporated with Durmersheim into one municipality. Artifacts from the
stone age, and major Roman digs from the days of the Roman and Alleman tribe,
provide insight into the ancient past of Würmersheim history.
Emigrant Surnames:
Abath Becker, Bertsch, Braun, Brunner, Buchmüller,
Datz, Dunz, Dutenhofer, Ell, Enderle, Flasak, Ganz
Görig, Gräfenäcker, Greif, Häfele, Hammer, Heck, Heinz,
Hettel, Höger, Kary, Kassel Kastner, Kiefer, Kistner,
Kock, Koffler, Kössel, Lrug, Lang, Maier, Manz, Martin,
Mayer, Nägele, Obert, Ocks, Ring, Rummel, Sattler, Schlager,
Schuler, Schwamberger, Seiberlich, Siegel, Späth, Tritsch,
Völlinger, Vollmer.
Information Sources:
Catholic
birth and baptism: 1660-1714
birth and baptism: 1716-1895
marriages: 1672-1900
death and burial: 1675-1895
confirmations: 1726-1756
confirmations: 1762-1856
family registry: 1756, 1762, 1856
civil records:
births: 1849-1930
births: 1934-1962
marriages: 1859
marriages: 1861-1933
marriages: 1943-1961
death and burial: 1860-1962
Links: |
| Ebenung
Geography:
History:
Emigrant Surnames:
Information Sources:
Links: |
| Eisental
Geography:
History:
Emigrant Surnames: (from Eisental and Affental)
Bauer, Baumann, Baumgartner, Baumgärtner, Bender,
Ehereisser, Fanz, Fritz, Geiges, Graf, Hahn,
Harbrecht, Hochstuhl, Keller, Kirschner, Krauth,
Kunz, Maier, Mayer, Meier, Moser, Mürb. Oser,
Pflininger, Reith, Rupp, Schmidt, Schütt, Seiter,
Stark, Störk, Straub, Streule, Vetter, Vollmer, Weil,
Weis, Ziegler
Information Sources:
Links: |
| Elchesheim (see also Illingen)
Geography:
Located on the northern Rhein River and sharing the Goldkanal Lake both
the town of Illingen, the population today with the town of Illingen today is
only 2,700 inhabitants.
History:
Eschesheim was first mentioned in official records in 1102. From 1250 to
1300 there was a local aristocracy, whose roots were in Wasserburg
Elchesheim. The town, like so many others was completely burned to the ground
by the French troops in 1689. Afterwards many of the inhabitants migrated
into southwest Europe. By the 1800's many of the descendants of the
Elchesheim residents immigrated to the United. States.
Elchesheim was incorporated with the town if Illingen through the
co-operation of each town in 1923.
The District reforms of 1 July 1971 united the two towns on a permanent
basis.
Emigrant Surnames:
Altenbach, Aman, Arnold, Beiter, Engelhard, Fettig,
Fortenbacher, Fütterer, Heck, Herz, Joram, Kistner,
Kleinbub, Kölmel, Kraft, Kuhn, Melzer, Müller, Oberle,
Völlinger, Weiler
Information Sources:
Catholic
birth and baptism: 1702 - 1733
birth and baptism: 1742 - 1897
marriages: 1705 - 1707
marriages: 1717 - 1781
marriages: 1786 - 1904
death and burial: 1719 - 1733
death and burial: 1782 - 1941
family register: 1831
Herausgegeben von der Kolpingfamilie Iffezheim 1926 e. V. im Jahre 1985 Gesamtherstellung: Druckerei Durrschnabel, 7551 Elchesheim-Illingen
(translation)"WRITINGS ON THE KOLPING FAMILY OF IFFEZHEIM 1926"
compiled in 1985 by Durrschnabel Printing Company in Elschseheim-Illingen
Researchers in this area:John@johnmerkel.com
Links: |
| Forbach
Geography:
The community of Forbach, in the Murgtal (Murg Valley) covers by far the
largest area of any incorporated municipality in the county of Rastatt, at
least in terms of land area. Of the just over 284 square miles in the county,
Forbach takes up almost 51 of that, and over 46 of that is covered by forest.
Still, the modest population (around 57,000 counting the various satellite
communities) does not put Forbach into the ranks of the larger counties.
History:
In 1361, the roman fortress of Forbach was supposedly turned over to the
Weissenburg Monastery as a fiefdom by Wilhelm of Eberstein. Today no trace
remains of the old fortress. The only remaining hint of this piece of the
past is the name Castle Rock, which is the name of the parish at Raumuenzach.
From 1368 on, Forbach lay under the joint condominium of the Counts of
Eberstein and the Margraves of Baden, after some fifty per cent of the
community had been transferred to the House of Baden through sale. Via the
Diocese of Speyer the other half came to be part of Baden in 1676.
Many of the enclaves and estates in the Forbach community are quite
spread out from the center of town. This is particularly true for the small
former lumbering hamlets like Herrenweis, at the edge of the Black forest
Highway, and Hundsbach, in the shadow of the Hornisgrinde mountain.
The Schwarzenbach Dam, between Herrenweis and Forbach, has special
significance beyond its immediate area, as the dam's Powerplant plays an
important role in regional hydroelectric generation. Beyond this, the Murgtal
area has several established paper mills and quarries that remain
economically significant, along with the timber industry.
With the state land reform in Baden-Wurttemburg in mid 1974, Forbach
became even larger. Forbach annexed the previously independent municipalities
of Bermersbach, Gausbach and Langenbrand.
Emigrant Surnames:
Bauer, Beck, Blausch, Burger, Burkert, Decker, Dieterle,
Fallmoser, Faßer, Filder, Fortenbacher, Frick, Fritz,
Fritz (genannt Mugenast), Gaiser, Geiser, Geisler,
Gernsbock, Gerstner, Götz, Haas, Heiler, Herrmann,
Hettich, Hoch, Hoffmann, Hofmann, Karcher, Kaub,
Kaub (genannt in der Klamm) Keiser, Kiemer, Kleehammer,
Klumpp, König, Krämer, Kraft, link, Maier, Mayer, Meier,
Marx, Merkel, Merkel (genannt bei der Kirch) Mörmann, Moser,
Müller Mungenast, Neff, Reiner, Roth, Rothenberger,
Ruckenbrod, Schaub, Schauffler, Schelling, Schiel,
Schillinger, Schmidt, Schock, Schweitzer, Spissinger, Staub,
Stefan, Steiner, Stoll, Storz, Vogel, Warth Wasmer,
Welzenberger, Werner, Wörner, Wunsch, Wunsch (genannt in der Bach)
Wunsch (genannt in der Kräwengaß) Wunsch (genannt auf dern Rain)
Information Sources:
Forbach (Bermersbach)
Catholic
birth, marriages, death and burial records: 1810 - 1869
Forbach (Gausbach)
Catholic
birth and baptism: 1621-1909
marriages: 1720-1907
death and burial: 1720-1900
family registry: 1720
Forbach (Forbach)
Catholic
birth and baptism: 1621-1909
marriages: 1621-1909
death and burial: 1621-1900
family registry: 1720
birth and baptism: 1953 - 1963
marriages: 1953 - 1960
death and burial: 1953 - 1963
Links: |
Freiolsheim (also see Gaggenau)
mit Moosbronn
und Mittelberg
Geography:
History:
Emigrant Surnames:
Abendschön Anselm, Bauer, Braxmeier, Muhlinger, Decker, Essig,
Glasstetter, Göring, Götz, Götzmann, Grässle, Harlfinger,
Herr, Herrmann, Hirt, Huber, Kull, Laub, Lauinger, Merklinger,
ÖhlerRieger, Rund, Schäfer, Schoch, Schoenwald, Siegwarth,
Walther, Wunderlich, Zimmer
Information Sources:
Researchers in this area:
glassman@iquest.net
Researching
Surnames: Glasstetter (Glassteadter, Glasstedter), Bauer, Schoch
Links: |
| Gaggenau, Stadt
Geography:
History:
Gaggenau originally called "Gackenouwe" was first mentioned in the
Rotenfels parish registers in 1243. By 1288, it was an expansion within the
dukedom of Rtenfeld.
It was first mentioned as Gaggenau when the Margrave was divided for Herman
VII of Baden.
The trades soon flourished in Gaggenau. In 1681, an iron hammer was at
work there, from which the oldest iron production works of the city
originated, the Iron Works Gaggenau. This laid the foundation for the
economic and industrial rise of Rindenschwender.
Mr. Rindenschwender founded a glass works and gypsum works in 1772.
housing for 16 glass blowers and their families was added. The timber framed
house with the bell-tower ( now a land mark) was called Rindenschwender
Glassworks. Another strong basis of the Gaggenau industry was the Benz-Works
founded by Michael Flurscheim and Theodore Bergmann. In 1894, the first cars
were built in the Murg Valley. A company merger between Gaggenau Works and
Daimler-Benz was the start of the world wide victory march of the diesel
engine.
In the western part of the city lies the former Bad Rotenfels. The
mineral bath spa there dates back to the discovery of the Elizabeth Spring in
1839.
Gaggenau benefited from the Baden-Wurtembuerg reforms, since the actual
town has fewer than half the total number of inhabitants. The villages of
Bad-Rotenfels and Selbach were added in 1970. One year later Freiosheim was
added. In 1972, Oberweiser and Moosbronn (previously part of the village of
Bernsbach) became part of the city. 1973 saw Sulzbach and finally Horden and
Michelbach were added in 1975.
Emigrant Surnames:
Adam, Ball, Black, Corneli, Eckert, Ehleiter, Eheleiter,
Eisenmann, Fritsch, Fritz, Fütterer, Götzmann, Graf, Hartmann,
Henkele, Herm, Heß, Hilzinger, Himmel, Hirth, Hoffer, von Holl,
Hornung, Hurrle, Jäger, Kleehammer, Klingele, Köhler,
Kohlbecker, Kohm, Lang, Little, Maisch, Mark, Mayer, Melcher,
Merkel, Müller, Rauenbühler, Rettig, Reutenberger, Scheuermann,
Schiffmacher, Schindler, Schmadel, Schmitt, Seeholzer, Seitz,
Siebert, Simon, Sprenger, Stösser, Stricker, Strobel, Traub,
Vogt, Wagner, Wittmann, Zapf
Information Sources:
Catholic
birth and baptism: 1786-1844
birth and baptism: 1873-1902
marriages: 1786-1907
death and burial: 1786-1899
family register: 1882
Researchers in this area:
John@johnmerkel.com
John R Merkel
2922 Delaware Ave
Baltomore, Md.21227 USA
Links: |
| Gausbach
Geography:
History:
Emigrant Surnames:
Bauer, Bechle, Fritz, Heizler, Kleehammer, Krämer, Mayer,
Meier, Merkel, Mungenast, Rassler, Roth, Seidt, Spissinger,
Staub, Striebich, Striebig, Weiser, Wunsch
Information Sources:
see Forbach
Links: |
Gernsbach
mit Kolonie Rombach
Geography:
History:
Although it can't be documented, Gernsbach, is assumed to be
one of the oldest settlements in the Murg Valley.
It was first mentioned in a document in the year 1219, in
which the settlement in the Murg Valley is referred to as
"Genrespach villa". The name supposedly comes from the leader
of a franconian tribe, who had moved upstream along the
Murg river with his farmers and, had settled along the sunny
slopes of the Kugel mountain. At that time, Gernsbach was
already under the rule of the house of Eberstein. Starting in
1387, two houses temporarily ruled under one name, the
condominate of Eberstein-Baden, which resulted due to the
sale of half the town to the margrave of Baden.
The reformation caused another division of the town in 1556, for
the subjects in Eberstein had to switch to the protestant
religion, while those in Baden remained catholic. Another
important date in the history of Gernsbach is the year 1583,
when its citizens were able to liberate themselves from
serfdom.
Already in the 15th and 16th century, Gernsbach was a booming
community, to which the Old City Hall, a marvelous renaissance
building in the Patrician style, as well as the still existing
society of the "Murgschifferschaft"(Seamen's Guild of the Murg)
can testify. However, the town did not escape the confusion of
the Thirty-Year War, and the fighting during the revolution
of 1849 also left its traces in Gernsbach. Remnants of the
fortress of the community, which received the title of "town"
in 1250, are also still visible. Only in the oldest parts
of the city remain within the ancient city walls.
Today, Gernsbach is often called "the pearl of the Murg valley",
and with its 14,000 citizens and an area of more than 82
square kilometers, it is the fourth largest community of the
county of Rastatt.
In addition to its considerable industrial structure, the
area has also a lively tourism trade as well as an active
cultural life. Paper manufacturers play a special role in
Gernsbach. The county's paper manufacturing center,
together with its paper manufacturing school and other aspects
of this industry, are world renowned.
Gernsbach experienced considerable growth through community
reform measures, by which the communities of Staufenberg
(1971), Lautenbach (1973), Obertsröt (incl. Hilpertsau, 1974),
and Reichental (1975) were incorporated.
Emigrant Surnames:
Aberle, Aichele, Bachmann, Belz, Bender, Benz, Benz(vulgo Wankmüller),
Bickenacker, Bischof, Bittmann, Bürgin, Deißler, Deuchler,
Dieterle, Dittmann, Drück, Dürr, Eberlin, Elsenhans, Ettlinger,
Fieg, Fischer, Gaupp, Gaus, Gelbarth, Gerstner, Girrbach,
Gleisle, Gräber, Grohe, Haas, Haug, Heidinger, Hennenhofer,
Herzog, Hetzel, Hirth, Jenne, Kärcher, Kaufmann, Kistler,
Knecht, Krieg, Kriegr, Langenbach, Leiner, Lemmerich,
Lemmermaier, Netter, Neumayer, Pfrang, Rehm, Repple,
Tothengatter, Sailer, Sauer, Schabinger, Schandelwein,
Schanz, Scheidecker, Schmidt, Schwank, Seiferth, Sonntag,
Steimer, Straub, Vetter, Viola, Wagner, Wallraff, Wankmüller,
Weil, Weiß, Welper, Wohlschlegel, Wunsch, Würz, Wurz, Zeuner
Information Sources:
Stadtarchiv Gernsbach
Stadtverwaltung
Postfach 140
76584 Gernsbach
Jewish
birth: 1809 - 1869
marriage: 1809 - 1869
death: 1809 - 1869
Catholic
birth and baptism: 1810-1869
marriage: 1810-1869
death and burial: 1810-1869
Civil Records
birth: 1579-1814
birth: 1819-1895
birth: 1901-1963
marriage: 1579-1580
marriage: 1586-1869
death and burial: 1605-1962
family registry: 1578-1862
Evangelical-Lutheran
birth: 1810 - 1869
marriage: 1810 - 1869
death and burial: 1810 - 1869
Links:
Researchers in this area:
Pat Ellifson surnames: Götz,
Göz, Goetz, Kalmbacher, Seiler, Sailer, Speth, Späth
Sarah Knecht Jones surname: KNECHT |
| Grauelsbaum
Geography:
History:
Emigrant Surnames:
Hauss, Herbig, Hummel, Korn, Schwarz, Stengel
Information Sources:
Links:
Researchers in this area:
SAJGE@aol.com
|
| Greffern
Geography:
Greffern is a small village located on the Rhein River between
Karlsruhe and Strasbourg, France. Although it is part of the county of
Rastatt it is only 20 kilometers west of the city of Baden-Baden.
Emigrant Surnames:
Batzer, Bertisch, Buhlinger, BUrkard, Burkart, Dilger, Feurer
Fraß, Friedmann, Gausch, Görth, Götz, Groß, Hoch, Hofmann,
Hoffmann, Ihling Jäger, Jörger, Kiefer, Koch, Kohler, Küstner,
Kunz, Latzer, Leppert, Lusch, Mußler, Pfisterer, Reif, Reibold,
Schuhmacher, Seiler, Sprauer, Stolz, Tritschler, WWalther, Weiler,
Weiller, Wetzel, Wurz, Zahn, Zimmer, Zimmermann
History:
Originally, Greffern was under the jurisdiction of Schwarzach. A ferry
service existed here because the Abbey of Schwarzach owned considerable
properties in Elsass, on the west bank of the Rhein.
Long ago there existed a fresh water fishery and the fishermen formed
a guild. However, their number diminished because there was limited income
from this occupation.
For the producers and traders in hemp from Buehl, Ottersweiler, Achern
and the surrounding areas it was advantageous to transport their harvest to
Greffern and then ship it on barges to the market. As bargees, the men of
Greffern, sailed the rivers and canals of Europe, particularly the Rhein.
Some of them owned there own barges and tugs. The trade in coal from the Ruhr
district started at the turn of the century, since it was possible to ship
the product from the town of Greffern. Docking facilities were built in the
year 1903/4.
A tour of Greffern should include a visit to the pontoon bridge, the
first one of which was built in 1875. The catholic church, in Greffern, was
built in 1887/8. and today is called, St. Michael"s. Also worth visiting
would be the 100 year old Inn called "The Sign of the Ship".
Information Sources:
Catholic-Greffern
birth, marriages and deaths: 1810-1870
Catholic-Schwarzach
birth, marriages and deaths: 1830-1889
Links: |
| Halberstung
Geography:
History:
Emigrant Surnames:
Information Sources:
Links: |
| Hatzenweier
Geography:
History:
Emigrant Surnames:
Acker, Ambrecht, Baier, Braun, Edelmann, Gerber, Jäger, Jörger,
Metzinger, Scheuerer
Information Sources:
Links: |
| Herrenweis
Geography:
History:
Emigrant Surnames:
Acker, Ambrecht, Baier, Braun, Edelmann, Gerber, Jäger, Jörger,
Metzinger, Scheuerer
Information Sources:
Links: |
| Hildmannsfeld
Geography:
Hildmannsfeld is located only 3 km. west of Schwarzach, its "parent
church". Mostly an agricultural village, the growing of tobacco provides the
main income to the villagers. Altogether, sixteen communities in the
administrative district of Buhl grow tobacco.
Through the incorporation act in 1972, Hildmannsfeld became part of the
community of Schwarzach.
History:
Hildmannsfeld called Hiltmansvelde in 1391, the field of Hildmann. Its
earliest recordings tell how the village was continually visited by
plundering scorching mercenaries throughout the centuries.
Even in the earliest times the residents of Hildmannsfeld had a chapel.
In 1723, the chapel and most of the town was burnt down. The citizens rebuilt
their town. The new chapel is dedicated to St. Wolfgang. Hildmannsfeld being
part of Schwarzach explains the patron saint because St. Wolfgang (924 - 994) was a Benedictine monk;
like the monks who had built the monastery at Schwarzach.
Around the turn of the 19th century a "staff holder" and later a mayor
resided over the town.
In the year 1391 - St. Wolfgang, Earliest Catholic Church
Information Sources:
Catholic
birth and baptism: 1810-1870
marriage: 1810-1870
death and burial: 1810-1870
Civil
birth: 1830-1889
marriage: 1830-1889
death and burial: 1830-1889
Links: |
| Hilpertsau
Geography:
History:
Emigrant Surnames:
Bandalion, Fritz, Gerstner, Hoch, Kalmbacher, Krieg,
Schill, Sieb, Strobel, Weiler, Wörner, Wunsch
Information Sources:
Links:
Researchers in this area:
Pat Ellifson |
| Hörden (also see Gaggenau)
Geography:
History:
Emigrant Surnames:
Anselm, Bauer, Brückel, Grötz, Häfele, Haitz, Heitz, Hartmann,
Hornung, Immer, Karcher, Kiesel, Kräuter, Kraft, Lang, Mendel,
Machmann, Rahner, Säuger, Staudinger, Stößer, Streb
Information Sources:
Links: |
| Hügelsheim
Geography:
Hugelsheim is located 20 kilometers north of the city of Baden-Baden.
Located on the Rhein River it is 14,97 square kilometers in size, with a
small population of about 4,000 inhabitants.
History:
The first official mention of Hugelsheim was in 788 when the town was
part of the estate Elsabgau. In the year 1212 the town belonged to the
monastery of Schwarzach, in whose documents Hugelsheim is mentioned with the
village of Sollingen to belong to the staff city of Stollhofen. Hugelsheim
was sold to the county of Baden in 1309.
Hugelsheim was a farming and fishing village. There was a fisherman
guild in 1593. From 1500 until 1778 there was a Rhein River tax to be paid.
Until the beginning of the 19th century the citizens had the right to
transport goods on the Rhein River.
Today Hugelsheim is the second smallest independent community in the
rural district of Rastatt. The "parent church" is located in Wintersdorf.
Emigrant Surnames:
Bätzler, Bechtold, Beck, Bernhard, Diebold,
Dreher, Eberle, Eisenmann, Frank, Freissprung, Graf, Gretz,
Hüber, Huck, Husser, Jakob, Kärcher, Krämer,
Leppert, Löw, Maier, Müller, Peter, Rheinbold, Röder, Schloß
Siegel, Spiegelhalter, Ullrich, Vollmer, Weis, Winter
Information Sources:
Evangelical - Lutheran
birth and baptism: 1643 - 1716
birth and baptism: 1727 - 1961
marriages: 1643 - 1963
death and burial: 1643 - 1964
Links: |
| Hundsbach
Geography:
History:
Emigrant Surnames:
Acker, Ambrecht, Baier, Braun, Edelmann, Gerber, Jäger, Jörger,
Metzinger, Scheuerer
Information Sources:
Links: |