Walzenhausen Parish, Appenzell, Switzerland Genealogy

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Geography
Walzenhausen is located in the eastern foothills of the canton of Appenzell. Walzenhausen lies in a valley that flows toward the southeast to Sankt Margrethen. The lowest point of the parish is at 509 meters above sea level, while the highest is at 947 meters. The area of Walzenhausen (698 hectares, 7 square kilometers, or 2.7 square miles) is divided into:

Residential: 92 hectares (13.1%) Agriculturally-developed areas: 367 hectares (52.4%) Forest: 242 hectares (34.4%)

Click for a geographical map of Appenzell, including Walzenhausen.

History
Walzenhausen was first mentioned in 1320 as a farm. The protestant parish of Walzenhausen was established in 1638 from the neighboring parish of Sankt Margrethen, and the church took approximately 9 months to build.

Locations within Walzenhausen
Aesch Aeschbach Allmendsberg Barloch Bild Birkenfeld Brand Donnesseln Franzenweid Freienland Fuchsloch Gais Gaismoos Gebert Gerschwendi Grauegg Grauenstein Grimmenstein Gütli Held Heldstadel Heldwies Hinterwald Hochrüti Hof Hofstatt Höhe Klosen Kuss Lachen Ledi Lehbach Leuchen Meldegg Moos Noord Platz Romsrüthy Rothlachen Ruten Rüti Sägentobel Sandplatten Sattel Schurtanne Schutz Sommerau Sonnenberg Steig Tholen Ulmensperg Walzenhausen Weid Wilen

Surrounding Parishes
Au (Sankt Gallen) Berneck (Sankt Gallen) Lutzenberg Oberegg (Appenzell-Innerrhoden) Rheineck (Sankt Gallen) Sankt Margrethen (Sankt Gallen) Wolfhalden

Church Records
Walzenhausen was established as a Reformed protestant parish in 1638 from the parish of Sankt Margrethen. Records held by the Family History Library include baptisms (Taufen) 1638-1870; marriages (Heiraten) 1638-1784 and 1821-1867; and deaths (Toten) 1660-1861. Baptisms 1870-1875, marriages 1784-1820 and 1868-1873, and deaths 1861-1871 are available at the Cantonal Archives in Herisau, Switzerland.

The following family books (Familienbuch) were created in Walzenhausen: Volume 1 (1762) - household rolls, non-citizens - held in the rectory in Walzenhausen Volume 2 (1830) - family registers, citizens - available at the FHL here Volume 3 (1850) - emigration register - held in the rectory in Walzenhausen

Catholics residing in Walzenhausen belonged to the parish of Sankt Margrethen; records begin in 1733.

Census Records
(see here for article describing the Zürich census records)

The following censuses are available for Walzenhausen. They are cataloged under Sankt Margrethen : 1634 - FHL Film 1,185,140, item 2, beginning on page 849 1637 - FHL Film 1,185,142, item 2, beginning on page 689 1640 - FHL Film 1,185,144, item 1, beginning on page 897 1643 - FHL Film 1,185,147, item 1, beginning on page 883 1646 - FHL Film 1,185,148, item 2, beginning on page 1015 1649 - FHL Film 1,185,150, item 1, beginning on page 579

Genealogies
(see here for article describing Swiss compiled genealogies)

The following genealogies have been researched for Walzenhausen families: Bärlocher family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 128,091; see also FHL Film 193,467) Blatter family, by Verla P. Moss (FHL Film 483,562; see also Billeter, FHL Film 128,120) Keller family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 128,011; see also FHL Film 193,476) Künzler family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 1,183,714) Lutz family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 127,973; see also FHL Film 193,478) Niederer family, by Julius Billeter (FHL Film 127,965; see also FHL Film 193,480) Rohner family, by Verla P. Moss (FHL Film 483,562) Sturzenegger family, by Verla P. Moss (FHL Film 483,562; see also Billeter, FHL Film 193,485)

Civil Registration
Civil registration began in 1876. Walzenhausen belongs to the Vorderland Appenzell civil registration district. Records are only available in Switzerland. For further information, contact the civil registry office at:

Zivilstandsamt Vorderland Appenzell Ausserrhoden St. Gallerstrasse 9 Postfach 13 CH - 9038 Rehetobel

Tel: +41 71 878 70 20

email: [mailto:jeannette.eisenhut@rehetobel.ar.ch jeannette.eisenhut@rehetobel.ar.ch]

Surnames
The following surnames have citizenship in Walzenhausen prior to 1875: Bärlocher Blatter Geiger Herzig Kellenberger Keller Künzler Leuch Lutz Niederer Rohner Schmid Sonderegger Sturzenegger

Related Sources
The town's website (in German) can be found here.

Societies and Libraries
Cantonal Archive of Appenzell-Ausserrhoden (in German)