Dear Carolyn, St. Paul's only began in 1855. You might try looking in the records of Zion Evangelical (now UCC) of Millstadt, St. Clair County. Those records contain the marriage of my ggggrandparents who were married in 1853. Those records note that the marriage occured in Monroe County, so perhaps Zion was the "church of record". You might also need to find the records of other German churches in Monroe County - the earliest Ries (not Reis) at St. Paul's Columbia was: Thomas Ries confirmed in 1912, living in St. Louis,MO in 1938 Charles Ries confirmed in 1914, living in the city of Columbia in 1938 Edwin Ries confirmed in 1918, living in the city of Columbia in 1938 Sorry I can't be of more help. Peggy >Peggy, > >Do you have any church records that are before 1855? > >George Reis/Rice was suppose to have been born in Monroe County in 1844. >I can't locate that family on a census. I have not been able to learn the >name of his father. He was suppose to have a sister named Elizabeth that >was born around 1835. Elizabeth married an Abijah Hines and moved to >Posey County, Ind. > >Thanks, >Carolyn Sue Smith >[email protected] >