My German-Russian ancestors, the Mengs, left the German colonies around Saratov, Russia and came to Red Oak, Montgomery, Iowa. Two sisters with their husbands came first, in 1876. A brother came next in 1892, and my ancestor, John Meng, came in 1893 with his wife and some of their children and grandchildren. My branch eventually moved west to Portland, Multnomah, Oregon. I've inherited some research done in the late 1960's by my parents, and have done some myself since. My parents also interviewed many family members, so some information is based on what those people remembered personally. This work-in-progress is posted here in the hopes it will both benefit others and, hopefully, catch the eye of anyone who might have some details that would fill in our holes, and prove or disprove the family stories.
In the process of our research, we have gathered some information on allied families, as well. This will also be posted here, a family group at a time as I get it entered. We hope that details about our "in-laws" will help us identify details about our direct ancestors.
I will be posting documents (death certificates, census, photos, etc.) as I get them sorted out and scanned in. I would very much appreciate anything anyone out there can add. Please send anything you might have to LisesMengs@gmail.com. Our goal is to trace all our direct lines back to their specific Russian village of origin, then back through the colonies to Germany. We are aware that we need to know which village they came from in order to do (or hire done) any research in the old country. We believe this village to be Messer (Ust'-Zolikha).*
*Fall 2008: Thanks to the translation efforts of Prof. Brent Mai, we now know that Messer IS the correct colony for our Mengs and also our Harts. Copies of the 1834 Census ($50) and the 1857 Census ($70) can be purchased from Brent Mai. I have also found the German villages of origin for both families. Email me with questions.
Below is an index of names I have posted so far.
Contact me at LisesMengs@gmail.com