Monroe County is located on the extreme southeast corner of the state of Michigan. It is bordered to the south by Ohio, west by Lenawee County, east by Lake Erie and Washtenaw and Wayne County border on the north. The city of Monroe is the largest municipality and it lies about 40 miles from Detroit. The 2020 population of the county was 154,809.

Named after President James Monroe, it was the second county established in the territory in 1817. Although much of the county was established under the straight line, squarish lines of the Northwest Ordinance, the influence of the early French settlers is also evident especially in Frenchtown and Raisinville Townships. The French influence may be see in the name of the primary river. It is the River Raisin and not the Raisin River. Also many of the farms along the river tend to be long, and narrow so that each farm has access to the banks of the river.

Raisinville Township became the home base for the Heidens and Rambows as they immigrated to America in 1873 and 1874 respectively. From there over the decades, a large number of family members spread into the neighboring Dundee and Ida Townships. 

We have identified over 85 locations where people lived, attended school or church or held other family activities such as reunions. Some of the homes were occupied by multiple related families at different times or at the same time.