Andy Niekamp's History Site

History of Cassella Parish 1972

By Oscar Eifert

History of Cassella Parish 1972

History of Cassella Parish 1972 (PDF Version)
Oscar Eifert’s 1972 history traces the first 125 years of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Cassella, Ohio, from its founding in 1847. It recounts the parish’s early settlers, pastors, church construction and rebuilding, and the many parishioners who entered religious life.
6 MB - 9 pages

Nativity Of The Blessed Virgin Mary Church Sesquicentennial 1847-1997

Cassella, Ohio

Nativity Of The Blessed Virgin Mary Church Sesquicentennial 1847-1997 (PDF)
Published for the parish’s 150th anniversary, this book celebrates the history of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Cassella, Ohio, from 1847 to 1997. It places the parish’s story within the broader history of Cassella, preserving the heritage of the church and its surrounding community.
31 MB - 175 pages

The Society Of The Missionary Fathers Of The Most Precious Blood 1907

Saint Joseph's College

The Society Of The Missionary Fathers Of The Most Precious Blood 1907 (PDF)
This 1907 publication introduces the Society of the Missionary Fathers of the Most Precious Blood and its connection with Saint Joseph's College. It offers a period perspective on the religious community associated with the college and its Catholic mission.
3 MB - 50 pages

Not with Silver or Gold
A History of the Sisters of the Congregation of the Precious Blood

Salem Heights, Dayton, Ohio, 1834-1944

Not with Silver or Gold with Photos (PDF)
Courtesy of Sisters of the Precious Blood
Written by Sister Octavia Gutman, this history follows the Sisters of the Precious Blood from their founding by Maria Anna Brunner in 1834 through 1944. It traces the congregation's beginnings in Switzerland and its ministries in America, preserving the story of the community associated with Maria Stein and Salem Heights in Dayton, Ohio.
29 MB - 227 pages

A History Of The Archdiocese Of Cincinnati

M. Edmund Hussey

A History Of The Archdiocese Of Cincinnati (PDF)
M. Edmund Hussey presents an illustrated overview of the history of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Organized into three periods, the book follows the local Church from its beginnings through the Civil War, its subsequent growth up to the Second Vatican Council, and the changes that followed the council.
27 MB - 145 pages

Celina Ohio Sesquicentennial 1834-1984

By Joyce L. Alig

Celina Ohio Sesquicentennial (PDF)
Joyce L. Alig commemorates Celina, Ohio's 150th anniversary with a history spanning 1834 to 1984. Published by the Mercer County Historical Society, the book brings together historical events and photographs to preserve the story of the city across a century and a half.
14 MB - 75 pages

Coldwater Ohio At 150

By Eugene Weber and Joyce L. Alig

Coldwater Ohio At 150 (PDF)
Eugene Weber and Joyce L. Alig commemorate Coldwater, Ohio's sesquicentennial with a history of the village and a portrait of the community in 1988. The book connects Coldwater's past with its anniversary year, preserving a record of the town at 150.
70 MB - 313 pages

Wilderness Trail Cookery

Fort Loramie Historical Association, Ohio

Wilderness Trail Cookery (PDF)
Compiled by the Fort Loramie Historical Association, Wilderness Trail Cookery brings together recipes from the association's Christmas dinners and other favorites. It preserves a taste of the community gatherings and home cooking associated with Fort Loramie, Ohio.
9 MB - 154 pages

Willke Family Cookbook

Willke Family Cookbook (PDF)
This family cookbook gathers cherished recipes contributed by descendants of Alois and Caroline Willke. It preserves the family's shared cooking traditions, offering future generations a way to bring familiar flavors to their own tables.
7 MB - 54 pages

Preserving the Abundance - New Bremen's Food Legacy

By Genevieve Conradi, Joyce Ruedebusch, Delores Stienecker

Preserving the Abundance - New Bremen's Food Legacy (PDF)
Genevieve Conradi, Joyce Ruedebusch, and Delores Stienecker explore the food traditions that have connected generations of families in New Bremen, Ohio. Combining family histories, memories, and vintage recipes, the book preserves the community's culinary heritage and the stories behind its food.
5 MB - 45 Pages

Ancestral Portraits of Ohio Settlers

By Con Fecher

Ancestral Portraits of Ohio Settlers (PDF)
Con Fecher explores the family roots of Ohio settlers through genealogy and biographical accounts. Following ancestral connections back to Europe, the book places individual lives and family migrations within the broader story of settlement in Ohio.
34 MB - 336 pages

Native Americans And Early Settlers

The Meeting Of Cultures 1780s-1980s

Native Americans And Early Settlers (PDF)
Mercer County Historical Society
Published by the Mercer County Historical Society, this volume examines the meeting of Native American peoples and incoming settlers in the region. It places Mercer County's frontier history within the wider story of the Northwest Territory, with particular attention to the era of the Ohio Indian wars.
11 MB - 50 pages

Saint Joseph Parish Egypt Ohio 1852-1996

Saint Joseph Parish Egypt Ohio 1852-1996 (PDF)
This parish history traces the story of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Egypt, Ohio, from 1852 through 1996. It preserves the heritage of the parish and its place in the surrounding community, documenting more than 140 years of local Catholic history.
11 MB - 67 Pages

Historic Fort Loramie

A Story of Discovery and Conquest

By Herbert K. Skinner

Historic Fort Loramie - A Story of Discovery and Conquest
Courtesy of Fort Loramie Historical Society, Ohio

Historic Fort Loramie - A Story of Discovery and Conquest (PDF Version)
5 MB - 52 pages

Herbert K. Skinner traces Fort Loramie's history from early travel routes and Peter Loramie's trading post to the military fort and the settled community. The book also explores the area's canals, Saint Michael's Church, local government, businesses, and civic organizations.

Fort Loramie Sesquicentennial 1837-1987

Fort Loramie Historical Association

Fort Loramie Sesquicentennial 1837-1987 (PDF)
35 MB - 166 pages

Published by the Fort Loramie Historical Association for the village's 150th anniversary, this volume celebrates the community's history from its early years as Berlin to Fort Loramie in 1987. It preserves the story of the village's development and honors the generations who helped shape it.

Saint Michael Church Centennial Celebration 1881-1981

Fort Loramie, Ohio

Saint Michael Church Centennial Celebration 1881-1981 (PDF)
13 MB - 73 pages

This commemorative volume celebrates the centennial of Saint Michael's present church building in Fort Loramie, dedicated in 1881. It honors the clergy and parishioners who sustained the parish, including its sons and daughters who entered religious life.

Saint Michaels Church Fort Loramie Ohio

By Mary Lou Barnhorst & Virginia Hoehne

St Michaels Church Fort Loramie Ohio

Saint Michaels Church Fort Loramie Ohio (PDF Version)
3 MB - 36 pages

Compiled by Mary Lou Bornhorst and Virginia Hoehne for the Jubilee Year 2000, this booklet explores the history and art of Saint Michael's Church in Fort Loramie. It follows the parish's growth from its early places of worship to the present church and explains the heritage reflected in its architecture and adornments.

Reverend Wilhelm P Bigot Pastor Saint Michael Parish 1874-1903

Fort Loramie Historical Association

Reverend Wilhelm P Bigot Pastor Saint Michael Parish 1874-1903 (PDF)
24 MB - 105 pages

Reverend Wilhelm P. Bigot's annals recount Saint Michael's Parish history from 1838 to 1903, alongside the earlier history of Loramie and its pioneer period from 1769. Originally written in German, this translated edition was reproduced by the Fort Loramie Historical Association with revisions and an appendix.

Saint Michael 2015

Fort Loramie, Ohio

Saint Michael 2015 (PDF)
13 MB - 66 pages

This 2015 pictorial directory records the people and parish life of Saint Michael Catholic Church in Fort Loramie. Photographs of staff, parish leadership, sacraments, and milestone celebrations accompany a portrait of the faith community during this period.

Saint Michael 2010

Fort Loramie, Ohio

Saint Michael 2010 (PDF)
25 MB - 150 pages

Saint Michael's 2010 parish directory presents a photographic record of the Fort Loramie congregation, its staff, and its leadership. Introduced by Father Steven Shoup's reflection on stewardship, it highlights the people who contribute their time and talents to parish life.

Saint Michael 2005

Fort Loramie, Ohio

Saint Michael 2005 (PDF)
24 MB - 146 pages

This pictorial directory captures Saint Michael Parish in 2005 as it joined Saints Peter and Paul Parish in a shared pastoral region. It records parishioners, staff, and community activities during a period of growing membership and planning for the parish's future.

Saint Michael 1995

Fort Loramie, Ohio

Saint Michael 1995 (PDF)
13 MB - 66 pages

This 1995 pictorial directory portrays Saint Michael's Parish and welcomes members of nearby Saint Patrick's Parish following its closure in 1994. It includes a tribute to Saint Patrick's and preserves a record of the clergy, staff, and families forming the expanded parish community.

Saint Michael 1990

Fort Loramie, Ohio

Saint Michael 1990 (PDF)
13 MB - 66 pages

This 1990 parish directory preserves a photographic record of Saint Michael's Church and its Fort Loramie congregation. It highlights the church renovation completed in 1988, Father Gerald Bensman's 25th ordination anniversary, and the parish's leadership and organizations.

Saint Michael 1972

Fort Loramie, Ohio

Saint Michael 1972 (PDF)
13 MB - 66 pages

This 1972 pictorial directory records Saint Michael's Catholic Church and its parish community in Fort Loramie. Alongside its clergy and parishioners, it recognizes sons and daughters of the parish who became priests and sisters or were preparing for religious service.

Community Life 2015

Saint Michael And Saints Peter and Paul Churches

Fort Loramie, Ohio and Newport, Ohio

Community Life 2015 Saint Michael And Saints Peter and Paul (PDF)
11 MB - 58 pages

This 2015 photographic publication celebrates the community life of Saint Michael in Fort Loramie and Saints Peter and Paul in Newport. It documents the worship, fellowship, leadership, volunteer service, and parish groups that connect the two congregations.

Fort Loramie German Heritage Song Book

Fort Loramie Historical Association, Ohio

Fort Loramie German Heritage Song Book

Fort Loramie German Heritage Song Book (PDF Version)
2 MB - 28 pages

Created for Fort Loramie's German Heritage Days, this songbook gathers lyrics to traditional German songs, drinking songs, polkas, and familiar sing-along favorites. English verses and explanations of common German expressions help festivalgoers join in the musical celebration.

Fort Recovery Bicentennial 1791-1991

Jack Hiestand

Fort Recovery Bicentennial 1791-1991 (PDF)
Jack Hiestand recounts the history of Fort Recovery, Ohio, in this bicentennial publication covering 1791-1991. The book brings together the area's Native American battle history, biographical accounts, and the early development of the town.
5 MB - 34 pages

This Is Our Life

By Alfrida Willke

This Is Our Life (PDF)
Alfrida Kleinhenz Willke combines family history, photographs, and personal recollections to tell the story of her life with Dr. Edgar J. Willke in Maria Stein, Ohio. The album traces their ancestors, marriage, children, and later years, preserving the family's story for their descendants.
27 MB - 72 pages

Niekamp Family Portrait

By Thomas F. Niekamp

Niekamp Family Portrait (PDF)
Thomas F. Niekamp traces the family of Johan Gerd Friedrick Niekamp, who emigrated from Oldenburg, Germany, to Ohio in 1833. This 1979 genealogy recounts his life, marriages, and settlement in Mercer County while documenting the generations that followed.
14 MB - 108 pages

Ancestors and Relatives of Mervin Lawrence Niekamp

By Mervin Lawrence Niekamp

Ancestors and Relatives of Mervin Lawrence Niekamp (PDF)
Drawing on more than twenty years of research, Mervin Lawrence Niekamp traces eight ancestral families from Germany to Ohio. Published in 1996, the book combines an ancestor chart, family histories, descendant records, and source references for the Niekamp, Koch, Buehler, Stammen, Gieseke, Dicke, Schierholt, and Wrissenberg families.
33 MB - 369 pages

My Bertke Family History

By Martha Siegrist

My Bertke Family History (PDF)
Martha Siegrist documents the Bertke family and its connections to the Fullenkamp, Goecke, and Ashman families. Combining family histories, genealogical reports, an ancestor chart, and maps, the book follows their German origins and places their lives within the history of Maria Stein, Ohio.
21 MB - 190 pages

Kramer Family History

By Mary Kramer, David John Schmitz, and John M. Kramer

Retyped by Brian Hausfeld

Kramer Family History

Kramer Family History (PDF Version)
This multigenerational history follows Henry Kramer and Anna Mary Renneker from Oldenburg, Germany, to America in 1835 and their pioneer life in Mercer County, Ohio. Drawing on a family account begun in German by John M. Kramer in 1885, it preserves migration stories, family relationships, and recollections of the early Maria Stein community.

Saint John The Baptist Catholic Church 175 Anniversary 1836-2011

Maria Stein, Ohio

By Paul Mizer

Saint John The Baptist Catholic Church 175 Anniversary 1836-2011 (PDF)
Paul Mizer commemorates Saint John the Baptist Parish's 175th anniversary with a richly illustrated account of its history, people, and traditions. Building on Henry J. Leugers' earlier work, the book explores pioneer life, church art and architecture, parish ministries, schools, and the wider Maria Stein community.
31 MB - 141 pages

Pictorial Scenes And Early History Of Maria Stein Ohio

By Henry J. Leugers

Pictorial Scenes And Early History Of Maria Stein Ohio (PDF)
Henry J. Leugers presents historic photographs and early scenes of Maria Stein drawn from his collection and pictures shared by local families. Published in 1999, this pictorial history preserves views of the community's past and includes pioneer drawings by Liwwat Boeke.
10 MB - 100 pages

Saint John Church Maria Stein Ohio 1836-1986

By Henry J. Leugers

Saint John Church Maria Stein Ohio 1836-1986 (PDF)
Henry J. Leugers traces the first 150 years of Saint John Church in Maria Stein, Ohio, through parish history and photographs. Drawings and selections from pioneer Elizabeth 'Liwwat' Boeke's writings offer a firsthand perspective on the immigrant community and its early life.
16 MB - 110 pages

Saint John Parish 1836-1986

Maria Stein, Ohio

Saint John Parish 1836-1986 (PDF)
Prepared for Saint John Parish's 150th anniversary, this pictorial directory presents the Maria Stein congregation as it appeared when the photographs were compiled in 1985. It serves as a parish family album, preserving the faces and shared faith of the community for future generations.
6 MB - 46 pages

Saint John The Baptist Catholic Church

Maria Stein, Ohio

Saint John The Baptist Catholic Church (PDF)
This pictorial directory records the people and parish life of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Maria Stein during Father Gregory H. Moorman's pastorate. It includes clergy, parish workers, and sons and daughters of the parish who entered religious life, preserving a photographic record of the congregation.
4 MB - 36 pages

1952 Maria Stein Telephone Directory

Maria Stein, Ohio

1952 Maria Stein Telephone Directory (PDF)
Courtesy of Don Gagel of New Bremen, Ohio
This 1952 telephone directory lists residents, businesses, and institutions in Maria Stein and nearby communities, along with their telephone numbers and location details. Local advertisements add a glimpse of the area's commerce, making the directory a useful snapshot for family and community history research.
6 MB - 4 pages

Maria Stein, Ohio Historical Photos

Maria Stein, Ohio Historical Photos

Family, Faith, Travel And A Life Well Lived

By Janet Willke Niekamp Bolton

Family Faith Travel And A Life Well Lived (PDF)
18 MB - 88 pages

Janet Willke Niekamp Bolton recalls her childhood in Maria Stein, Ohio, and selected experiences from her adult life. Family stories, faith, music, travel, and everyday memories form a personal portrait of a life spanning the Depression, World War II, and the decades that followed.

I Remember It Well

By Alfrida Willke

I Remember It Well


I Remember It Well (PDF Version)
1 MB - 36 pages

Alfrida Kleinhenz Willke recalls growing up in a large family on the Kleinhenz farm in St. Rose, Ohio. Her memoir blends family history with memories of parents, siblings, farm work, and daily life, preserving a firsthand account of her early years.

My Memories

By Gerald (Jerry) Pulskamp

My Memories (PDF)
4 MB - 74 pages

Gerald 'Jerry' Pulskamp shares personal memories beginning with his birth in Celina, Ohio, during the Great Depression. Written with humor and candor, these recollections preserve the people, family experiences, and moments he wanted to remember.

A Corporal's view of World War II

From England, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Austria

16th Field Artillery Observation Battalion

By Harold B. Kleinhenz

A Corporal's view of World War II (PDF)
5 MB - 44 pages
Full Page Color Map
Harold B. Kleinhenz recounts his World War II service with the 16th Field Artillery Observation Battalion across Western and Central Europe. His firsthand memories include the Battle of the Bulge, crossing the Rhine, encounters with the war's devastation, and the journey home.

Turp & Eb

Albert (Eb) Freytag

Turp & Eb (PDF)
16 MB - 143 pages

Albert 'Eb' Freytag recalls small-town life in the 1930s through the adventures he shared with his friend Turp Ratermann. Beginning with their newspaper-delivery rounds, the book brings back the people, places, and everyday experiences of boyhood in Fort Loramie.

Memories of Working for Dr. Edgar J. Willke

Various Office Nurses and Staff

1985

Memories of Working for Dr. Edgar J. Willke

Memories of Working for Dr. Edgar J. Willke (PDF Version)
Compiled in 1985 to mark Dr. Edgar J. Willke's retirement, this collection brings together recollections from his office nurses and staff in Maria Stein. Personal tributes and humorous anecdotes describe his approach to medicine, his relationships with coworkers and patients, and the daily life of his practice.

Memories of Days Gone By

Photo Album of Bernard and Kathrina Bertke And Children

Memories of Days Gone By (PDF)
Bertke / Niekamp Photos & History
6 MB - 36 pages

This family album preserves photographs and historical material relating to Bernard and Kathrina Bertke and their children. Memorial records and newspaper clippings accompany the images, offering glimpses of the family's connections to Cranberry Prairie and the wider Bertke and Niekamp families.

Ralph May Remembers New Bremen

By Ralph May

Ralph May Remembers New Bremen (PDF)
24 MB - 121 Pages

Ralph May recalls his boyhood in New Bremen through short stories about its people, shops, industries, and everyday life. His photographs enrich these recollections, many originally published in the St. Marys Evening Leader, preserving the changing community as he remembered it.

A Portrait and Biographical Record of Mercer and Van Wert Counties, Ohio

1896

Biographical Record of Mercer and Van Wert Counties (PDF)
A 1971 Reproduction
186 MB - 1500 pages

Originally published in 1896, this volume presents biographical sketches and portraits of prominent and representative residents of Mercer and Van Wert counties. Accounts of their families and careers are accompanied by biographies of United States presidents and Ohio governors; this copy is a 1971 reproduction.

History Of Mercer County Ohio and Representative Citizens

1907

1907 History Of Mercer County Ohio (PDF)
Courtesy of Jim Keller - Maria Stein, Ohio
105 MB - 757 pages

Edited and compiled by S. S. Scranton, this 1907 volume combines a history of Mercer County with biographical sketches of its representative citizens. It records the county's development through the early twentieth century while preserving family backgrounds and the lives of local residents.

Mercer County Ohio History

1978

Mercer County Ohio History 1978 (PDF)
Mercer County Historical Society
243 MB - 975 pages

Published by the Mercer County Historical Society, this extensive 1978 volume brings together Mercer County's local history and family heritage. Historical accounts and biographical material provide a broad reference for researching the county, its communities, and the people who lived there.

Mercer County Ohio History of Maps Beginning in 1755

By Joyce L. Alig

Mercer County Ohio History of Maps (PDF)
Mercer County Historical Society
11 MB - 51 pages

Edited by Joyce L. Alig, this collection explores Mercer County's past through historical maps beginning in 1755. The maps offer a way to study changing geographic knowledge, boundaries, and settlement in the region over time.

Mercer County, Ohio's Oldest Family Businesses

By Joyce L. Alig

Mercer County, Ohio's Oldest Family Businesses (PDF)
Mercer County Historical Society
13 MB - 74 pages

Joyce L. Alig documents Mercer County's longstanding family businesses and their contributions to the area's economic and cultural development. Published in 2009 for the Mercer County Historical Museum's 50th anniversary, the book also highlights the historical society's role in preserving the county's heritage.

Mercer County Centennial Buildings

By Joyce L. Alig

Mercer County Centennial Buildings (PDF)
Mercer County Historical Society
8 MB - 50 pages

Joyce L. Alig surveys Mercer County's historic buildings in this volume of the Passport to History series. Prepared in connection with the Riley Home's 1896-1996 centennial, the book provides a reference for identifying older structures and understanding their place in local history.

The Mercer County Fair Celina Ohio 1852-2002

Mercer County Agricultural Society & Mercer County Historical Society, Inc.

The Mercer County Fair Celina Ohio 1852-2002 (PDF)
18 MB - 84 pages

This commemorative history traces 150 years of the Mercer County Fair in Celina, from 1852 to 2002. Historical research, photographs, and personal memories document the fair's development and its enduring place in the county's agricultural and community life.

Those Magnificent Big Barns

In Mercer County Of Western Ohio

Those Magnificent Big Barns (PDF)
Mercer County Historical Society
103 MB - 624 pages

This Mercer County Historical Society volume documents the large barns that are part of western Ohio's agricultural landscape. It preserves a record of the county's rural buildings and invites readers to explore their place in the area's farming and cultural heritage.

Mercer County, Ohio Cemetery Inscriptions

Volume I

Volume I - Jefferson Township Oldtown Petrie and Swamp College (PDF)
Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society

This indexed volume preserves cemetery inscriptions from Jefferson Township, including Oldtown, Petrie, and Swamp College cemeteries. Compiled by the Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, it helps researchers locate burials and recover names, dates, and family relationships recorded on gravestones.

Mercer County, Ohio Cemetery Inscriptions

Volume II

Volume II - Jefferson Township Mercer Memory Catholic North Grove Mead (PDF)
Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society

This indexed volume preserves cemetery inscriptions from additional Jefferson Township cemeteries, including Mercer Memory, Catholic, North Grove, and Mead. Compiled by the Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, it helps researchers locate burials and recover names, dates, and family relationships recorded on gravestones.

Mercer County, Ohio Cemetery Inscriptions

Volume III

Volume III - Center and Union Townships (PDF)
Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society

This indexed volume preserves cemetery inscriptions from Center and Union townships. Compiled by the Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, it helps researchers locate burials and recover names, dates, and family relationships recorded on gravestones.

Mercer County, Ohio Cemetery Inscriptions

Volume IV

Volume IV - Butler Franklin and Washington Townships (PDF)
Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society

This indexed volume preserves cemetery inscriptions from Butler, Franklin, and Washington townships. Compiled by the Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, it helps researchers locate burials and recover names, dates, and family relationships recorded on gravestones.

Mercer County, Ohio Cemetery Inscriptions

Volume V

Volume V - Dublin Township (PDF)
Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society

This indexed volume preserves cemetery inscriptions from Dublin Township. Compiled by the Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, it helps researchers locate burials and recover names, dates, and family relationships recorded on gravestones.

Mercer County, Ohio Cemetery Inscriptions

Volume VI

Volume VI - Blackcreek Hopewell and Liberty Townships (PDF)
Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society

This indexed volume preserves cemetery inscriptions from Blackcreek, Hopewell, and Liberty townships. Compiled by the Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, it helps researchers locate burials and recover names, dates, and family relationships recorded on gravestones.

Mercer County, Ohio Cemetery Inscriptions

Volume VII

Volume VII - Gibson and Recovery Townships (PDF)
Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society

This indexed volume preserves cemetery inscriptions from Gibson and Recovery townships. Compiled by the Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, it helps researchers locate burials and recover names, dates, and family relationships recorded on gravestones.

Mercer County, Ohio Cemetery Inscriptions

Volume VIII

Volume VIII - Granville and Marion Townships (PDF)
Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society

This indexed volume preserves cemetery inscriptions from Granville and Marion townships. Compiled by the Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, it helps researchers locate burials and recover names, dates, and family relationships recorded on gravestones.

Mercer County, Ohio Cemetery Veterans Grave Registration Burial Places 2025

Veterans Grave Registration Burial Places 2025 (PDF)
This reference brings together veterans' grave-registration and burial-place information for Mercer County, Ohio. Cemetery maps, an index, and burial records help researchers locate veterans' graves and connect military service with local family history.

By: Janel Weiss

Minster Centennial 1832-1932

Minster, Ohio

Minster Ohio Centennial 1832-1932 (PDF)
11 MB - 62 pages

Compiled by Velma F. Schmieder for Minster's 1932 centennial, this souvenir history traces the community's first hundred years from its beginnings as Stallostown. Drawing on early records and residents' recollections, it preserves the story of the town, its founders, and its church community.

Saint Augustine Church

Windows, Paintings, and Altar Descriptions

Minster, Ohio

Saint Augustine Church Windows Paintings Altar Descriptions (PDF)
2 MB - 24 Pages

This illustrated guide explores the stained-glass windows, paintings, and altars of Saint Augustine Church in Minster, Ohio. Issued following the church's 1991 roof replacement, it explains the interior's religious imagery and connects the building's history with the faith and German heritage of the parish.

1972 Saint Augustine Church Directory

Minster, Ohio

1972 Saint Augustine Church Directory (PDF)
6 MB - 42 Pages

This 1972 pictorial directory presents Saint Augustine Parish in Minster as a family album intended to connect parishioners across generations. Family portraits and chronological highlights preserve a record of the people and parish history at that time.

1982 Saint Augustine Church Directory

Minster, Ohio

1982 Saint Augustine Church Directory (PDF)
9x MB - 58 Pages

Published during Minster's 1982 sesquicentennial celebration, this pictorial directory records the people and parish life of Saint Augustine Church. Portraits of parish families, clergy, and staff offer a snapshot of the community as it marked 150 years since the first Mass in Minster.

1987 Saint Augustine Church Directory

Minster, Ohio

1987 Saint Augustine Church Directory (PDF)
15 MB - 73 Pages

This 1987 pictorial directory documents the people, ministries, and organized groups of Saint Augustine Parish in Minster. Created to help parishioners recognize and get to know one another, it preserves a visual record of the parish community and its shared work.

1992 Saint Augustine Church Directory

Minster, Ohio

1992 Saint Augustine Church Directory (PDF)
16 MB - 78 Pages

This 1992 pictorial directory updates Saint Augustine Parish's record of its families, staff, and organized groups following the arrival of new parishioners since the 1987 edition. Its portraits and accounts of parish activities reflect the theme of passing on the faith through community life, service, and worship.

The Report #34 - A Journal Of German American History

Society for the History of Germans in Maryland

The Report #34 - A Journal Of German American History (PDF)
Page 25 - German Communities in Northwestern Ohio
7 MB - 58 pages

Published in 1970 by the Society for the History of the Germans in Maryland, this journal contains research and recollections on German-American history. Of particular local interest is Wolfgang Fleischhauer's article on German communities in northwestern Ohio, which examines settlement and the prosperity brought by the Miami and Erie Canal.

Death/Memorial Card Collection

of the German-American Communities of Southern Mercer County Ohio (1884 - 1999)

Death/Memorial Card Collection (PDF)
Allen W. Bernard
22 MB - 124 pages

Allen W. Bernard compiles information from death and memorial cards held by the Mercer County Historical Museum, covering residents of southern Mercer County's German-American communities from 1884 to 1999. Names, birth and death information, cemetery details, and family notes make the collection a genealogical resource while preserving the region's traditions of remembrance.

Ohio Magazine August 1992

God's Country Article

God's Country Article
Courtesy of Jim Keller - Maria Stein, Ohio

God's Country Article (PDF Version)
3 MB - 11 pages

This August 1992 Ohio Magazine article explores the German-Catholic communities of western Ohio's Land of the Cross Tipped Churches. Through local voices and photographs, it examines the ties among farming, faith, family, and high school sports that shape the region's identity.

Symbols

By Jim Keller

Symbols Poem (PDF)
.5 MB - 1 pages

Jim Keller's August 2018 poem celebrates Maria Stein through three familiar symbols: goalposts, silos, and church steeples. Its verses connect football, farming, and faith with the families, neighbors, and traditions of the surrounding rural community.

Podcast: A Shower Card Saved My Life!

Featuring Janet Bolton

Joy To Life Foundation
Duration: 19 minutes
When Janet picked up a Joy to Life breast self exam shower card during a visit from Ohio to Alabama’s Gulf Coast, she never imagined that it would be instrumental in saving her life!

In this 19-minute Joy to Life Foundation podcast, Janet Bolton shares how a breast self-exam shower card she picked up while visiting Alabama's Gulf Coast became instrumental in saving her life. Her story highlights the lasting impact of a simple educational reminder encountered during a trip from Ohio.

Janet’s Story: Blog Post

New Bremen Then and Now 1833-2003

New Bremen Then and Now 1833-2003 (PDF)
8 MB - 44 Pages

This illustrated history pairs earlier views of New Bremen with more recent photographs to show how its streets, buildings, and businesses changed over time. A chronology of community milestones places the images within the village's development from its founding in 1833 through 2003.

A Journey Through Time - New Bremen's Canal History

By Genevieve Conradi, Tom Fledderjohann, Joyce Ruedebusch, Delores Stienecker

A Journey Through Time - New Bremen's Canal History (PDF)
11 MB - 64 Pages

Compiled by Genevieve Conradi, Tom Fledderjohann, Joyce Ruedebusch, and Delores Stienecker, this history explores the Miami and Erie Canal's role in New Bremen's growth. Historical photographs, drawings, and documents connect the canal with German immigration, local commerce, and the community's transportation heritage.

New Bremen Ohio Marriages

By Lucille M. Frances

New Bremen Ohio Marriages (PDF)
27 MB - 130 Pages

Compiled by Lucille M. Francis, this genealogical reference brings together marriage records from New Bremen's St. Paul's, St. Peter's, and Zion churches. Maiden-name indexes and chronological listings help researchers trace spouses and family connections, drawing on records translated from German script.

Saints Peter and Paul 2010

Newport, Ohio

Saints Peter and Paul 2010 (PDF)
7 MB - 45 pages

This 2010 pictorial directory records the families, staff, and parish organizations of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Newport, Ohio. An introductory history traces the parish from its founding in 1856 through the construction of the present church and later improvements, alongside photographs of parish life.

Saints Peter and Paul 2015

Newport, Ohio

Saints Peter and Paul 2015 (PDF)
4 MB - 22 pages

This 2015 pictorial directory presents the people and ministries of Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Newport, Ohio. Photographs of parish families, clergy, staff, and volunteer groups preserve a snapshot of the community and the many roles that support its worship and activities.

Osgood Community Centennial Homecoming 1983

Osgood, Ohio

Osgood Community Centennial Homecoming 1983

Osgood Community Centennial Homecoming 1983 (PDF Version)
4 MB - 40 pages

Prepared for Osgood's 1983 centennial homecoming, this booklet celebrates a century of village life in northeastern Darke County. Historical accounts and photographs document early settlers, churches, railroads, businesses, and local government, alongside the people who organized the anniversary celebration.

John W. Kleinhenz

1871-1944

John W. Kleinhenz Web Page
This collection follows John W. Kleinhenz from his St. Rose farm to his development of the St. Marys Union Stockyards and a wider livestock business. Family photographs, newspaper articles, stockyards histories, and a timeline preserve the story of his work and family in Mercer and Auglaize counties.

Father Sebastian Kremer, C.PP.S

1881–1955

Father Sebastian Kremer Web Page
Precious Blood (C.PP.S.)
This biography traces Father Sebastian Kremer's life from his Maria Stein roots to his long pastorate at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Cleveland. Parish recollections, family memories, photographs, and a timeline describe his leadership, the building of a new church, and the personality remembered by relatives and parishioners.

Father George Niekamp, C.PP.S

1897–1969

Father George Niekamp Web Page
Precious Blood (C.PP.S.)
This biography follows Father George John Niekamp's service as a Precious Blood priest in parishes and hospitals across the Midwest after his 1925 ordination. Archival records, photographs, and newspaper articles also document his electrical work at St. Charles Seminary and other houses of the religious community.

History of Joseph Kleinhenz by Roger Camp

Submitted by Roger Camp, these two family-history documents recount Joseph Kleinhenz's life, including his Civil War service, family, and business ventures. A 1974 letter by his grandson Paul Gardner preserves personal recollections and stories of his later years, offering a family perspective on a long life rooted in western Ohio.

Andy Niekamp Photo Archive

Photo Archive
Andy Niekamp's photo archive brings together family portraits, wedding photographs, historic homes, and other images connected with the Willke, Kleinhenz, Niekamp, and related families. Accompanying captions identify people, places, dates, and family relationships, preserving glimpses of life in Maria Stein, St. Marys, Cincinnati, and other communities.

Mercer County, Ohio Post Office Application and Approval Forms 1837–1950

Mercer County Post Office Records 1837–1950
Explore forms submitted by postmasters documenting post office applications, locations, nearby offices, mail routes, and geographical details, including some hand-drawn maps. Arranged mostly alphabetically by city name, these records come from the U.S. National Archives, Microfilm Publication M1126, Roll 460.

A History Of Saint Henry Ohio 1836-1971

By Joyce L. Alig

A History Of Saint Henry Ohio (PDF)
71 MB - 207 pages

Joyce L. Alig traces the history of Saint Henry's village and parish from the arrival of early settlers in 1836 through 1971. Prepared to honor the present church's seventy-fifth dedication anniversary, the book draws on historical records, newspapers, private papers, and photographs to document local businesses, civic improvements, and religious life.

Saint Henry Ohio Sesquicentennial 1837-1987

By Joyce L. Alig

Saint Henry Ohio Sesquicentennial (PDF)
30 MB - 313 pages

Edited by Joyce L. Alig for Saint Henry's 150th anniversary, this volume combines the community's heritage with accounts written by residents about life in 1986. Sections on businesses, the church, schools, civic organizations, and local families preserve a broad portrait of the village as it prepared for its 1987 celebration.

Saint Henry Ohio Historical Tour 2003

Compiled by Jane Woods

Saint Henry Ohio Historical Tour 2003 (PDF)
4 MB - 25 pages

Compiled by Jane Woods for Ohio's bicentennial, this illustrated tour identifies historic sites throughout Saint Henry and explains their changing uses. Drawing on Joyce Alig's histories and residents' knowledge, it connects local addresses with former factories, shops, transportation facilities, and other community landmarks.

The Saint Marys Story 1823-1973

By Frank B. Shuffleton

The Saint Marys Story 1823-1973

The Saint Marys Story 1823-1973 (PDF Version)
8 MB - 78 pages

Frank B. Shuffelton recounts Saint Marys' first 150 years through a narrative focused on the people, ambitions, achievements, and hardships that shaped the city. Chapters follow its frontier beginnings, canal era, oil boom, industrial growth, and Depression years, with special-topic contributions by Kathryn C. Geiger and drawings by Richard J. Cromer.

Saint Patrick Parish A Pictorial History 1862-1994

The History of St. Patrick Committee

Saint Patrick Parish A Pictorial History 1862-1994 (PDF)
81 MB - 432 pages

Compiled by the History of St. Patrick Committee, this collection preserves the story of Saint Patrick Parish and its surrounding Ohio community through photographs, newspaper articles, and memorabilia. Images of early settlers, schoolchildren, clergy, and families trace generations of parish life through the school's closing in 1954 and the church's closing in 1994.

Saint Rose Sesquicentennial 1839-1989

Edited by Walter Braun

Saint Rose Sesquicentennial 1839-1989 (PDF)
10 MB - 122 pages

Edited by Walter Braun, this anniversary volume commemorates 150 years of Saint Rose Parish and its community. Historical accounts trace its founding, early places of worship, pastors, and church development, preserving the parish's connections with pioneer families and the Society of the Precious Blood.

Saint Rose Church 1839-1979

Saint Rose, Ohio

Saint Rose Church 1839-1989 (PDF)
6 MB - 40 pages

This 1979 parish directory combines a history of Saint Rose Church with a record of its pastors, parish leadership, and religious organizations. Historical notes compiled by Father Milton A. Bailor draw on parish archives and earlier accounts to explain the community's origins, church buildings, and parish boundaries.

Saint Rose, Ohio History

Xerox of Photos

Saint Rose, Ohio History (PDF)
Church under construction in 1911, St. Rose schoolhouse and children in 1924, Old Catholic Church, Plat Map 1900, Main Street
3 MB - 5 pages

This short collection of photocopied historical images offers glimpses of Saint Rose's church, school, and village landscape. Views include the church under construction in 1911, schoolchildren in 1924, an earlier Catholic church, a circa-1900 plat map, and Main Street.

Memorial Records Of Shelby County Ohio 1819-1975

Barbara Adams and Gene Mozley

Memorial Records Of Shelby County Ohio 1819-1975 (PDF)
117 MB - 682 pages

Compiled by Barbara Adams and Gene Mozley, this reference preserves Shelby County burial information from cemetery records, church and mortuary records, and gravestone inscriptions. It includes information on unmarked graves and translations of German and French inscriptions, helping researchers recover details that weathering and lost markers might otherwise erase.

Marriage Records Of Shelby County Ohio Volume I 1819-1870

Barbara Adams and Gene Mozley

Marriage Records Of Shelby County Ohio Volume I 1819-1870 (PDF)
24 MB - 208 pages

Barbara Adams and Gene Mozley compile Shelby County marriage records through 1870, including early license information for 1819-1824 recovered from a newspaper account. Entries are arranged alphabetically by groom, with an index of brides and notes on matters such as consent, age verification, and previous marriages.

Marriage Records Of Shelby County Ohio Volume II 1871-1899

Barbara Adams and Gene Mozley

Marriage Records Of Shelby County Ohio Volume II 1871-1899 (PDF)
22 MB - 211 pages

This second volume by Barbara Adams and Gene Mozley continues the compilation of Shelby County marriage records from 1871 through 1899. Alphabetical listings by groom and an index of brides help researchers trace family connections, while notes preserve additional information such as consents, prior marriages, and ages and residences when recorded.

Shelby County Ohio 1978 Phone Book

By The Harvest Publishing Company

Shelby County Ohio 1978 Phone Book(PDF)
16 MB - 72 pages

Published by the Harvest Publishing Company, this 1978 directory lists Shelby County residents and businesses with addresses and telephone numbers. County and township maps, local officials, post offices, and advertisements provide a snapshot of the area's communities and commercial life in the late 1970s.

Family Memories

Written By The Children and Grandchildren Of Edgar & Alfrida Willke

Family Memories (PDF)
Memories of the four children and 19 grandchildren of Edgar & Alfrida Willke. Written in the year 2000 ten years after the death of Edgar & Alfrida. In commemoration of our first family reunion without them.
5 MB - 47 pages

Written for the July 2000 family reunion, this collection brings together memories from Edgar and Alfrida Willke's four children and nineteen grandchildren. Personal anecdotes and family details recall childhood, everyday life, and time spent together, honoring Edgar and Alfrida ten years after their deaths.

Willke Reunion Book 1977-1989

Written By The Grandchildren Of Edgar & Alfrida Willke

Willke Reunion Book 1977-1989 (PDF)
A collection of handwritten Thanksgiving family gathering reports by the grandchildren and more.
4 MB - 28 pages

This family keepsake gathers handwritten accounts of Thanksgiving gatherings by Edgar and Alfrida Willke's grandchildren, along with related clippings and other material. The reports preserve the meals, conversations, activities, and memorable moments that brought the extended family together from 1977 through 1989.

Short Essays 1909-1910

By George Willke

Short Essays (PDF)
A Memoir
1 MB - 2 pages

These short compositions by Gerhard (George) Willke describe his family home in Maria Stein, a memorable sleigh trip to Minster, and proposed improvements to Minster's streets and infrastructure. Copied from his high school composition book, they offer a young person's firsthand view of local life in the early twentieth century.

The Kettering Fairmont Tradition 75 Years Of Fairmont Football

1922-1996

By Dick Hoppe and Don Fortener

The Kettering Fairmont Tradition 75 Years Of Fairmont Football (PDF)
24 MB - 174 pages

Compiled by Dick Hoppe and Don Fortener with the Fairmont Football Parents Club, this history celebrates seventy-five seasons of Fairmont football from 1922 through 1996. Team photographs, coaching profiles, season records, championship accounts, and player achievements trace the traditions of the Dragons, Falcons, and Firebirds.

Kettering Fairmont West High School

Yearbook 1978-1979

Kettering Fairmont West High School Class 1979 Yearbook (PDF)
44 MB - 233 pages

Fairmont West's 1979 Dragon yearbook captures the 1978-1979 school year through student portraits, classroom scenes, sports, clubs, and special events. Its theme of change reflects new leadership, coaches, and activities while preserving the friendships and everyday experiences of the school community.

Fairmont West Class 1979

10th Reunion Memory Book

Fairmont West Class 1979 10th Reunion Memory Book (PDF)
September 2, 1989
4 MB - 74 pages

Prepared for the September 2, 1989 reunion, this memory book reconnects members of Fairmont West's Class of 1979 ten years after graduation. Classmate information, school memories, athletic records, and a dedication to deceased classmates commemorate their shared high school years.

Fairmont West Class 1979

20th Reunion Memory Book

Fairmont West Class 1979 20th Reunion Memory Book (PDF)
November 26-27, 1999
11 MB - 26 pages

This photographic keepsake commemorates Fairmont West's Class of 1979 reunion held November 26-27, 1999. Portraits of classmates and their companions, together with the reunion committee's reflections, preserve the gathering twenty years after graduation.

Kettering Fairmont West Class 1977 Commencement Program (PDF)
This program records Fairmont West High School's June 7, 1977 commencement at the University of Dayton Arena. It lists graduating seniors and the ceremony's speeches, musical performances, student participants, and diploma presentations.


Kettering Fairmont West Class 1979 Commencement Program (PDF)
This program documents Fairmont West High School's June 5, 1979 graduation ceremony at the University of Dayton Arena. A roster of seniors accompanies the order of exercises, student addresses, musical selections, and the presentation of diplomas.


Kettering Fairmont West Class 1983 Commencement Program (PDF)
This program preserves the order of events for Fairmont West High School's June 1, 1983 commencement at the University of Dayton Arena. Graduating seniors, student speakers, musical performers, and school officials are listed alongside the ceremony's readings and diploma presentations.

Kettering Dwight L. Barnes Junior High School

Yearbook 1975-1976

Barnes 1975-1976 Yearbook (PDF)
7 MB - 55 pages

This 1975-1976 yearbook preserves a photographic record of Dwight L. Barnes Junior High School in Kettering. Student and staff images offer former classmates and families a way to revisit the people and school community of that year.

Kettering George Ernst Elementary School

Yearbook 1972-1973

Ernst 1972-1973 Yearbook (PDF)
17 MB - 32 pages

This 1972-1973 yearbook records life at George Ernst Elementary School in Kettering through photographs of students and school groups. Images of the student council, student assistants, safety patrol, and safety councils preserve the children and activities that helped shape the school community.

SWORCA Digest 1975

By Richard Sellers

SWORCA Digest 1975 (PDF)
11 MB - 55 pages

Edited by Richard Sellers, this first publication of the Southwestern Ohio Regional Caving Association shares the experiences and interests of cavers from the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana region. Articles range from international cave exploration to conservation, mapping, and caving techniques, accompanied by the group's distinctive humor and reflections on underground adventure.

Kentucky Speleofest 1987 16th Annual Renfro Valley

bY Gary A. O'Dell

Kentucky Speleofest 1987 16th Annual Renfro Valley (PDF)
10 MB - 56 pages

Edited by Gary A. O'Dell, this guidebook accompanied the sixteenth annual Kentucky Speleofest, held at Renfro Valley in May 1987. Cave descriptions and maps for Jackson, Pulaski, and Rockcastle counties appear alongside accounts of local exploration history, area geology, and event activities.

Speleofest 1992 Guidebook

By Gary A. O'Dell

Speleofest 1992 Guidebook (PDF)
13 MB - 66 pages

Edited by Gary A. O'Dell with associate editor Carol Sue O'Dell, this guidebook documents the Blue Grass Grotto's May 1992 Speleofest near Spears, Kentucky. It combines cave maps and descriptions from the Bluegrass region with exploration history, karst geology, and a hydrogeology field trip.

Karst-O-Rama 1992 Guidebook

By Chaz Schaffner

Karst-O-Rama 1992 Guidebook (PDF)
9 MB - 54 pages

Produced for the Greater Cincinnati Grotto's 1992 Karst-O-Rama, this guidebook brings together cave maps, descriptions, and event information for the Rockcastle County area of Kentucky. A hydrology road trip, local attractions, and humorous artwork complement the underground material and commemorate the grotto's thirtieth anniversary.

Dayton Underground Grotto 1994 Wormfest Guidebook

By Colin Gatland

Dayton Underground Grotto 1994 Wormfest Guidebook (PDF)
3 MB - 30 pages

This guidebook records the Dayton Underground Grotto's third annual Wormfest at Great Saltpetre Cave Preserve in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. Guided-trip descriptions, difficulty ratings, cave maps, and local information document the outing and the caves explored by its participants.