Michigan's German Heritage

Today, German-Americans amount to 29% of Michigan's population, thereby making them the state's largest ethnic group. You would believe that any history of the state of Michigan would have to include the contributions of the German-American population, as they are nearly one-third of the state's entire population. But in 1927, when this history was written, this was not the case due to the anti-German feelings prevalent at the time. John Andrew Russell, acutely aware of this discrepancy, wrote his history to help these ignored people feel proud of themselves and their ancestors for their part in the settlement and growth of the state of Michigan. This work provides a comprehensive survey of the history of German immigration and settlement, and the growth and development of German-American institutions, as well as contributions made by German-Americans to the building of the state. It contains a great deal of information on local and county history in Michigan, as well as extensive biographical and bibliographical information. Also included are two appendices: one, a listing of German-American officers in the Civil War; and the other, a listing of German-Americans who died in the First World War.