The German Corner: #3

Cranberry Prairie

David A. Hoying

      We had another successful German Heritage Day on 13 April at Saint John's Lutheran Church in Hopewell Township. Society member Arnold Fast spoke about the emigrants from Mecklenburg who settled in Mercer County, and he was followed by guest Gladys Donson who spoke on her visit to Mecklenburg. Our guest speaker for the day was Dr. Allen W. Bernard from Cincinnati and a Saint Henry native. Allen gave an interesting and entertaining presentation concerning research and publishing, bring in many points that he has encountered in his research and publishing. We thank our speakers and as well those who attended this annual event for making it another success.
      There has been some interest expressed in forming a group to foster our German heritage. This summer the historical and genealogical groups in the surrounding counties will be surveyed to see if they have any interest in forming such a group. The intention of the group will be not to supplant or take over any of the projects that the other groups are currently offering, but rather to act as a group to support and encourage such activities and to serve as a resource for advertising and coordinating such events. Keep watch here in the future for any further developments.
      Our German ancestors, especially those from Northwest Germany, usually received two names at Baptism, and invariably three names. In particular those from Neuenkirchen in Oldenburg, and from Ankum, Bersenbruck, and other surrounding villages in Hannover, both Evangelical and Catholic, received three names. As in the case of these multiple names, the last of these names was the call name of the individual, the name by which that person was familiarly known. It was not uncommon in the Mercer County area for three names to be given at Baptism far into the 1930's, and when recorded for the names to be in reverse order to what the person was known as. For first-born sons and daughters the custom was followed of having grandparents as the Godparents for Baptism. For the first-born son the father's father and mother's mother were the sponsors, and for the first-born daughter the mother's father and the father's mother. The child often received the names of their grandparents. Other children r eceived in whole or in part the names of their Godparents. In German records there may be found three Godparents listed for Baptism. The first two are the Godparents while the third is a witness to the Baptism. The subject of names will continue in our next edition.