The 1870 US Census of Morton Township shows Justus & Mary Faupel and since they were married within the prior 12 months, it also tells that they were married in April. Both had been born in Germany and were almost certainly married in a German church, either in Washington, IL or in Morton Township.

My question is if the records of the early German churches of the area are available anywhere?

This of course has a connected question: which German churches were there in the area in April 1870?

For the second question, I did find the following about the German churches in Washington (http://www.washington-illinois.org/history_of_washington.htm): "The German Evangelical Church was organized in 1854 and its first minister was Rev. Jacob Schaefle. The German Evangelical Lutheran Church - St. John's Church - was organized in May, 1869, in Sickler's hall, by Rev. Holtgreve. St. Mark's Lutheran Church was organized April 26, 1875, at the home of Josiah Snyder. The congregation had previous to this worshipped with the German Lutheran Church but on their voting to exclude the English language the English church was organized."

But where are the records for these churches?

If You search IRAD marriages I get
FAUPEL,JUSTUS & MILLER,MINA married 1878-03-05 book B page 6 Lic #2600 IROQUOIS County.
Maybe a 2nd marriage for him Go you know her madian name?
If you order Lic info from IRAD it should tell more about him or them

FANPEL, JUSTUS & EUCNER, MARY married on 1870-04-21 book 4 page 59 Lic # 165 PEORIA County

Yes, Mary died after they moved to Iroquois County, and Justus remarried to Mina. So you are correct that that was his second marriage.

Thanks very much for this.

The reason that I specifically am looking for the church records is that they often told the parents of the bride and groom. And I am trying to find a documented link that gives Mary's parents. I do not know if the Tazewell County records will show her parents, but most Illinois civil marriage license records of this period that I have seen include only the names of the bride and groom and pastor.

I am hoping that the church records will have not only their parents' names but possibly also names of the witnesses. This is why my question was specifically aimed at the church records.

The more I think about this the more I realize how important your find in the Peoria County records is.

Hopefully that license will give the church or at least the pastor of the marriage, and that will narrow the search for that church's specific records.

They had at least two children born in the area as well Carrie & Henry. So the baptismal sponsors for the children would also be very important to learn, since they would be additional family connections.