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 St. 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%)

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

Locations within Walzenhausen
Aesch Bild Gais Gaismoos Hofstatt Hof Höhe Meldegg Moos Noord Platz Rothlachen Ruten Rüti Sandplatten Sattel Schurtanne Schutz Sommerau Sonnenberg Steig Walzenhausen Wilen

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

Church Records
Walzenhausen was established as a Reformed protestant parish in 1638 from the parish of St. 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. Family book records were established in 1830 and contain records reaching into the 1700s. Catholics residing in Walzenhausen belonged to the parish of St. Margrethen; records begin in 1733.

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)

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

Societies and Libraries
Cantonal Archive of Appenzell-Ausserrhoden (in German): www.ar.ch/departemente/kantonskanzlei/staatsarchiv/