Hello Eldon Davis,
I am probably able to help you with your questions. Several years ago I moved to Preussisch Oldendorf where I
still live.
1. Is there a Lutheran Church in PreuBisch Oldendorf and if so are there any
records showing the birth of Henry A. (maybe as Heinrick Gottlieb Meyers or
Meiers in 1827)? Am particularly interested in names of his parents and who
were sponsors at his baptism.
Yes, there is still the Lutheran Church, St. Dionysius, and I'll try to find out, if there are some old
records and if not, where they are to find. Just give me some days.
3. Is Meyers or Meirers a common name in this area?
The name "Meyers" or "Meier" is not found in todays telephonebook but the names "Meyer" or "Meier" (without
the "s" is very common here. Please check, if the name is spelled in this way.
4. Is the surname Kreuger common in the area?
As above, the name "Kreuger" is not found. But there are some "Krueger" and Kroeger" (with the german "Umlaut
u" and "Umlaut o", I think that your "Kreuger" is a "Krueger", please check this either.
5. Is there a town in this region (or maybe back in the 1830-1870s) that is
called
Schwettinghaasen, where the wife of Henry was born? On the maps that I have I
can not find such a town. Maybe it's in another part of Germany.
Well, I don't know any village/town called "Schwettinghaasen" and I think it would be very remarkable if the
wife came from far away, because that time most people married "around the church tower". But: there is a
village called "Schroettinghausen", today a part of Preussisch Oldendorf. And that sounds very similar to the
"Schwettinghaasen" pronounced by an American. Schroettinghausen belongs to the same parish of Preussisch
Oldendorf, so we'll might find something there.
Again, give me some days and I'll try to find out some more details.
Best wishes from Germany
Oliver Soddemann