A family history book donated to the chapter will be available to the public at the Bucyrus Public Library in Bucyrus Ohio.
Sprau/Sprow 1651to 2007 by Harry Pohlman Sprow, published by Gateway Press, Inc, Baltimore, MD in 2007. Harry Pohlman Sprow documents the GUMMO, HAASS, LEUSENRINK, NIEMEYER, POHLMANN, SCHNEIDER, WALISER and BURGDERFER surnames.
In the introduction, Paul gives a brief history about himself. In June 1972, Harry visited Germany and was met by dr. Fritz Sprau and his wife Doerle. They traveled to Walshausen and met Adolph Sprau and his wife at their home. Also present were Mrs. Mittelstaedt-Kubaseck and Theodor Rohr, recognized researchers in family genealogy. While there, he visited the site of the old family mill of which only part of the foundation existed. He also saw the old mill race which had a strong flow from the Felsalbe. He next visited the ruined shell of a house once occupied by his ancestor, Heinrich Paul Sprau (Family 37).
Review by Mary Fox, Chapter Vice-President
The roofless, crumbling building had not sheltered residents, other than various wild creatures for a very long time because like most of the village it had been demolished during the late 1930’s to make way for the Westwass-Bau (Siegfried line). Later the group traveled on to Nunschweiler and Reischweiler. It was during this time that Harry fine-tuned his interest in genealogy and over a period of 20 years, compiled the preliminary manuscript for the book. – He went on to say in 1991 a Sprau/Sprow family reunion was held at Sandusky, Ohio. He couldn’t attend but they were aware of the time of the diligent genealogical time work Harry invested in the book and elected him “Historian Emeritus of the Sprau/Sprow Family” and gave him a certificated signed by all.
Learn more about this book in the 2023 Jan/Feb issue of “Tracking In Crawford County” which will be mailed to chapter members soon.
View the book at the Bucyrus Public Library‘s Genealogy Room
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