Germany, Ohio, and Indiana

Since the early 1700s, the Roos family lived in the village of Rumbach in what is now Germany. 

The village - still a population of only 400+ - is in the county of Südenwestpfalz in the borough of Dahn in an area known as the Dahner Felsenland. 

This is a part of the Wasgau, which is a range of hills located in a region in the southern part of the Palatinate Forest in Germany and the northern part of the Vosges Mountains in France. 

Rumbach is only three miles from the border with France.  https://rb.gy/3moavd

The area in Germany includes the Palatinate Forest Nature Park (German: Naturpark Pfälserwald), which lies in the southern part of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate (one of the 16 German states) in which Rumbach lies.

The nature park covers an area of 684 square miles; 76% of its area is under the woods of the Palatinate Forest, the largest contiguous forest region in Germany. 

For this reason, Rumbach and the area surrounding it is a popular destination for hiking, climbing, camping, and other outdoor recreation.

The photographs on this webpage show what the around Rumbach looks like: https://goo.gl/FsmWqr

In 1836, the Roos family moved to Monroe County, Ohio, located in the southeastern corner of the state along the Ohio River.

An historical atlas of the area published in 1882, noted that the Roos family was “among the early settlers of the township, locating here when it was all woods.”

Note that the county just north of Monroe County, Ohio, is Belmont County – many residents of this area of Ohio relocated to south-central Indiana.

Thus, Monroe County, Indiana, and the small community of Belmont in western Brown County. 

Belmont was founded by the Kent family, which also moved to Brown County from this area of Ohio.

The region of Monroe and Belmont Counties – known as the Switzerland of Ohio – is very similar to Rumbach, Germany: https://goo.gl/7Qbv6y

Monroe County, Ohio, is the second least-populated county in Ohio. Over half of the county is included in the Wayne National Forest – and sounds like the Palatinate Forest Nature Park near Rumbach.

Which brings us to Brown County - - -

I don’t think I have to show photographs of our Brown County scenery for anyone to see that our Roos family loves the beautiful rolling hills of Rumbach, the same topography of Ohio, and our home in southern Indiana.

To say nothing of Brown County State Park, Yellowwood State Forest, and Hoosier National Forest.

The Roos/Rose family lived with the beauty of nature all around them.

All the more reason to visit our relatives in Ohio and in Germany, where we can enjoy the scenic drives, outdoors, and wine!