
Many of the early settlers of Tazewell County emigrated from the Ostfriesland area of Germany. One of these settlers, Teis Smith, became a successful businessman in Pekin. He encouraged many other Ostfriesen families to migrate to central Illinois, providing employment in his wagon factory.
Ostfriesland, also called East Friesland or East Frisia, is an area in the northwest corner of Germany on the North Sea coast and includes the German islands in the North Sea. Ostfriesland is a region rather than any kind of administrative or political district such as a state or province.
Ostfriesland is contained within the German state of Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony). The approximate borders of Ostfriesland are the Netherlands to the west, south to about Papenburg, and east to Oldenburg.
The largest city in Ostfriesland is Emden. Other important cities are Aurich, Leer, Esens, Jever, Norden, and Wittmund.

Ortssippenbücher (OSB) and Ortsfamilienbücher (OFB) books contain important genealogical information for Ostfriesen researchers such as family names, social status; occupations; family relationships; and dates of births, marriages, and deaths for families found in a specific church in an Ostfriesen village.
The data in these books has been extracted from local church records and other village/city sources and is presented alphabetically by family surname and then chronologically by marriage date with references to further familial information.
OSB/OFBs are compiled by volunteers, some of whom have spent years writing them. The books are written in German and typically cover the time period from 1700 through 1900, depending on the available data.
Since the data has been extracted from the original records, please remember OSB/OFB books are only a secondary source. When possible, the data should be verified using the original sources.
These books are often the only available practical resources for researchers who cannot access the original records in German archives. However, some of the original church records may be available on microfilm from the LDS Church.
Ortssippenbüch (OSB) are published in Germany by the Upstalsboom-Gesellschaft (Genealogical Society of Ostfriesland). Ortsfamilienbüch (OFB) are privately published and sold. For all intensive research purposes, OSB and OFB books can be considered the same.
The value of an Ortssippenbüch is clear. Of course, not every village has an OSB/OFB, but when one is found, a researcher can gain a tremendous amount of information. New books are still being issued and are added to our collection as they are published.
Our OSB collection is currently thought to be complete and the largest in the State of Illinois. If it's not convenient to access our collection, many OSBs and OFBs are available for purchase from the Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America.
Ortssippenbücher (OSB) and Ortsfamilienbücher (OFB)
Ostfriesland Village/Parish YearsCovered Book Type Remarks Links
Accum
1657-1900
OFB
CD-ROM
Amdorf
1649-1900
OSB
Ardorf
1749-1900
OSB
Arle
1720-1900
OSB
Asel
1631-1930
OSB
Aurich - Oldendorf
1700-1900
OSB
Aurich - Reformed
1771-1900
OSB
Backemoor
1712-1900
OSB
Bagband
1696-1900
OSB
Baltrum
1707-1962
OSB
Bangstede
1724-1900
OSB
Barssel
1651-1900
OFB
CD-ROM
Barstede
1684-1907
OSB
Bedekaspel
1726-1900
OSB
Beningafehn
OFB
Includes Bruckefehn
Berne
1641-1900
OFB
CD-ROM
Blersum
1675-1940
OSB
Bingum
1760-1900
OSB
Blexen
1573-1900
OFB
CD-ROM
Böhmerwold
1695-1910
OSB
Borssum
1676-1900
OFB
Brake
1611-1900
OFB
CD-ROM - includes Elsfleth, Golzwarden, & Hammelwarden
Breinermoor
1700-1900
OSB
Bruckefehn
OFB
Includes Beningafehn
Burhafe
1650-1695
OFB
Book only contains surnames. Online version has additional info.
http://www.online-ofb.de/stedesdorf/index.php?lang=en||Also Online
Buttforde (2 volumes)
1646-1920
OSB
Campen
1731-1920
OFB
Canhusen
1740-1900
OSB
Canum
1729-1900
OSB
Carolinensiel (2 Volumes)
1777-1900
OFB
Cirkewhrum
1725-1910
OFB
Collinghorst
1701-1900
OSB
Critzum
1724-1900
OSB
Dedesdorf
1651-1900
OFB
CD-ROM
Detern
1644-1900
OSB
Ditzumerverlaat
1853-1900
OSB
Dornum
1706-1900
OSB
Driever
1767-1900
OSB
Includes Esklum
Dunum (2 volumes)
1670-1900
OFB
http://www.online-ofb.de/stedesdorf/index.php?lang=en||Also Online
Dykhausen-Neustadtgödens
1611-1900
OSB
Eggelingen
1651-1920
OSB
Eilsum
1718-1900
OSB
Elsfleth
1611-1900
OFB
CD-ROM - includes Brake, Golzwarden, & Hammelwarden
Emden (French Reformed)
1661-1897
OSB
Engerhafe
1666-1900
OSB
Esens (2 volumes)
1554-1811
OSB
Wine Purchase Logs
Esklum
1682-1900
OSB
Includes Driever
Fedderwarden
1665-1910
OFB
CD-ROM
Filsum
1716-1900
OSB
Firrel (in Remels)
OFB
Forlitz-Blaukirchen
1678-1910
OSB
Freepsum
1719-1900
OSB
Funnix (3 volumes)
1674-1900
OSB
Gandersum
1723-1910
OFB
http://www.online-ofb.de/gandersum/||Also Online
Golzwarden
1611-1900
OFB
CD-ROM - includes Brake, Elsfleth, & Hammelwarden
Grabstelen-Grabplatten
OFB
CD-ROM
Greetsiel
1694-1900
OSB
Grimmersum
1701-1900
OFB
Grossefehn
1701-1900
OFB
Grossenkneten
1678-1933
OFB
CD-ROM
Gross Midlum
1701-1900
OSB
Grosswolde
1728-1900
OSB
Grotegaste
1725-1900
OSB
Includes Mitling-Mark
Hage
1706-1900
OFB
Halte
1670-1875
OFB
Part of Vellage
Hammelwarden
1611-1900
OFB
CD-ROM - includes Brake, Elsfleth, & Golzwarden
Hamswehrum
1731-1915
OFB
Hatsum
1702-1900
OSB
Hesel
1643-1900
OSB
Hinte (2 volumes)
1697-1910
OSB
Hollen (in Remels)
OFB
Holtgaste
1695-1900
OSB
Holtland
1629-1900
OSB
Holtrop
1634-1900
OSB
Horsten
1682-1900
OSB
Ihrhove
1723-1900
OSB
Insel Spiekeroog
1669-1958
OSB
Jade
1621-1905
OFB
CD-ROM
Jarssum
1786-1900
OSB
Jemgum (2 volumes)
1674-1900
OSB
Jennelt
1715-1932
OSB
Kirchborgum
1724-1900
OSB
Landschaftspolder
1766-1900
OSB
Larrelt
1671-1900
OSB
Leer (12 Volumes) - Ref
1601-1900
OSB
Leer - Luth
1674-1900
OSB
Leer - Cath
1679-1900
OSB
Leer Index - Families Ref
1796-1873
OSB
Leerhafe
1672-1900
OSB
Leerort
1600-1900
OSB
Loga
1728-1900
OSB
Logabirum
1719-1900
OSB
Logumer Vorwerk
1730-1900
OSB
Includes Nesserland
Loppersum
1720-1900
OSB
Loquard
1632-1910
OFB
Manslagt
1695-1935
OSB
Marienchor
1755-1910
OSB
Marienhafe (3 volumes)
1680-1900
OSB
Marienwehr
1728-1900
OSB
Marx
1722-1950
OFB
Lists owners of each residence
http://www.online-ofb.de/marx/index.php?lang=de||Also Online
Middels
1684-1950
OSB
Midlum (Klein)
1704-1900
OSB
Mitling-Mark
1637-1900
OSB
Includes Grotegaste
Moordorf
1892-1900
OSB
Includes Victorbur
Neermoor
1665-1900
OFB
Nendorp
1698-1911
OSB
Nesse (2 volumes)
1614-1910
OSB
Nesserland
1719-1872
OSB
Neuburg
1648-1900
OSB
Neuenhuntorf
1800-1900
OFB
CD-ROM - includes Warfleth
Norderney
1688-1900
OSB
Nortmoor
1671-1900
OSB
Nüttermoor (2 volumes)
1663-1900
OSB
Ochtelbur
1706-1900
OSB
Ockenhausen (in Remels)
1898-
OFB
Oldendorp
1712-1911
OSB
Oldersum (2 volumes)
1652-1900
OSB
Osteel
1712-1964
OSB
http://www.online-ofb.de/osteel/||Online Only
Petkum
1681-1900
OSB
http://www.online-ofb.de/petkum/index.php?lang=en||Also Online
Pewsum
1729-1907
OFB
Pilsum
1715-1935
OSB
Potshausen
1685-1900
OSB
Rastede
1629-1899
OFB
CD-ROM
Reepsholt (3 volumes)
1633-1900
OSB
Remels (17 volumes)
1678-1900
OFB
Resterhafe
1666-1910
OSB
Riepe
1712-1909
OFB
http://www.online-ofb.de/riepe/||Also Online
Rodenkirchen
1691-1900
OFB
CD-ROM
Rorichum
1695-1900
OFB
Rysum
1712-1900
OSB
Sande
1652-1900
OFB
CD-ROM
Schonemoor
1668-1900
OFB
Schortens (6 volumes)
1684-1900
OFB
also CD-ROM
Siegelsum
1700-1907
OSB
Simmonswolde
1654-1900
OFB
http://www.online-ofb.de/simonswolde/||Also Online
Spetzerfehn
1767-1910
OFB
Spiekeroog
1669-1958
OSB
Stedesdorf
1629-1852
OFB
Book only contains surnames. Online version has additional Finfo.
http://www.online-ofb.de/stedesdorf/index.php?lang=en||Also Online
Steenfelde
1719-1900
OSB
Strackholt
1706-1900
OSB
Stapelmoor
1709-1900
OFB
Stollhamm
1609-1900
OFB
CD-ROM
Suurhusen
1705-1900
OSB
Tergast
1661-1900
OSB
Thunum
1670-1910
OFB
Timmel
1699-1900
OSB
Twixlum
1706-1900
OSB
Uphusen
1727-1900
OSB
Uplengen (in Remels)
OFB
Upleward
1715-1915
OFB
Uttum (2 volumes)
1667-1900
OFB
Varel
1676-1900
OFB
CD-ROM
Veenhusen
1669-1900
OFB
Vellage
1670-1875
OFB
Part of Halte
Victorbur (2 volumes)
1620-1900
OSB
Includes Moordorf
Visquard
1726-1900
OFB
Völlen
1677-1900
OSB
Waddens
1720-1900
OFB
CD-ROM
Warfleth
1659-1900
OFB
CD-ROM - includes Neuenhuntorf
Weene (3 volumes)
1671-1911
OFB
Weener (4 volumes)
1674-1900
OFB
Werdum (2 volumes)
1662-1900
OSB
Westeraccum
1668-1900
OSB
Westerbur
1556-1900
OSB
Westerende
1663-1929
OSB
Also have earilier editions covering 1663-1900 & 1663-1910
Westerhusen
1706-1910
OSB
Wiefelstede
OFB
CD-ROM
Wiegboldsbur
1700-1910
OSB
Wiesens
1652-1908
OFB
Wirdum
1652-1900
OSB
Wittmund
1540-1800
OSB
City
Wolthusen
1646-1900
OSB
Woltzeten
1780-1900
OSB
Woquard
1724-1900
OSB
Wybelsum
1724-1900
OSB
Wymeer
1713-1900
OFB
Zetel
1706-1899
OFB
CD-ROM
Other Ostfriesland Resources in our Collection
East Friesens in America | Newsletters - Ostfriesian Heritage Society of East Central Illinois (OHSECI) - Rantoul, IL |
First Settlers of Moordorf (1767-1817) | North Germany to North America |
Kopf Schatzung 1719 (census) | Ostfriesisches Geschlechterbüch (Band 212) |
Newsletters - Ostfriesen Genealogical Society of America (OGSA) - St. Paul, MN | Where did they stay? Boyken's Books (6 Volumes) |
Newsletters - Ostfriesen Genealogical Society (OGS) - George, IA | Where did they stay? Index |
Newsletters - Ostfriesen Heritage Society (OHS) - Grundy County, IA |