Records of the Organ Lutheran Church

The Organ Lutheran Church was established in Rowan County, NC in 1792. 

“Two stone churches built by Germans remain. The oldest of these, Zion, also called Organ Church was begun in 1792 and completed in 1795... it is not only the oldest church structure in Rowan County but is also the oldest Lutheran church in North Carolina." (Hood.Sep 6, 2011)”

Bernard W. Cruise translated these records and compiled a listing, which was filmed by the LDS Church in 1962. I have no knowledge of how complete these records are and I would definitely like to see them recompiled. 

While the copying and editing needs some tweaking the entire translated text had been a genealogical goldmine in my research.   

The LDS  Film#: 313884

URL: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4H-89YJ-V?i=1&cat=353923

Pages 1 –52 of the Record of the Organ Lutheran Church are an index of all the names within the records. On page 27 you will find the following surnames:

The first surname on the page KEPPLE is a surname that is in my paternal family lineage. Its also spelled Keppel, Kepley and others various spellings.   

We also see by this index that Mary Salome Kepple is on page 33. So lets look at the entry for Mary Salome Kepple.

Be careful here, There a page 33 of the Index (Image#040 of 322) and page 33 of the Record (Image#098 of 322). 

On this page we find Mary Salome Kepple about mid page

 

One thing missing from all the pages is the Heading Titiles. To Find the Heading Titles you will need to take a look at Image#79 of 322.

The Headings are> Born- Child- Bapt- Parents- Sponsor 

Born------------ Child------------ Bapt- ------------Parents----------- Sponsor 

Jan. 15, 1800 ~Mary Salome ~ May 11, 1800 ~ Killian Kepple ~ Peter Keple

Or

Born: Jan . 15, 1800

Child: Mary Salome

Bapt.: May 11, 1800

Parents: Killian Kepple 

Sponsor: Peter Keple

Mary Salome was born the 3rd child of Killian Kepple/Keple/Kepley

Her Sponsor at her baptism was Peter Kepple, Sr. her Grandfather.

Lets look at one more of my ancestors. Above Mary Salome on Image 98 of 322 we find Catherine Kepple.  

Catherine was born Sept. 30, 1788; baptised May 11, 1800,  a daughter of  Peter Kepple with Martin Duerr her sponsor.  

Born: Sept 30, 1799

Child: Catherine

Bapt.: May 11, 1800

Parents: Peter Kepple 

Sponsor: Martin Duerr

Catherine Kepple was the 3rd born child of Peter Kepple, Jr. and his wife Maria Barbara Grappin. Peter Kepple, Jr was also a son of Peter Kepple, Sr.  He migrated to Bedford County, Tennessee and used the spelling of CAPLEY as his surname. 

Martin Duerr, (anglicized to Martin Dry) is my 6th Great Grandfather.

Mary Salome Kepple is my 1st Cousin 5X Removed. Her father Killian Kepple is my 4th Great Grand Uncle. 

Catherine Kepple/Capley is my 1st Cousin 5X Removed. Her father Peter Capley, Jr. is my 4th Great Grand Uncle.  

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The LDS  Film#: 313884

URL: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4H-89YJ-V?i=1&cat=353923