John H. Foertschbeck, Sr., grew up in the Highlandtown and Canton neighborhoods of Baltimore, Maryland.  He and his family moved to Woodbine, Carroll County, Maryland in 1968.

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Professionally, John was a Computer Systems Analyst in the Federal Government.  John formed an IT Consulting Co., IPS, Inc, after retiring from Government service,  John pursued his interest in family and local history after closing IPS, Inc.  He self-published four books, the latest is Neufang to Baltimore - The History of the Foertschbeck Family in America.  Other books are: German Catholic Parishes of Maryland and Pennsylvania, Same War - Different Missions, Carroll & Frederick County Canneries, and Woodbine on the B&O.

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John was a volunteer for the Community Media Center's, Carroll County History Project.  He also assisted members of the Carroll County Genealogical Society's, in updating and digitizing the Cemetery Project.  He consolidated seven published volumes of Carroll County, cemetery history into a single CD which greatly enhanced family research,