Etienne, merci beaucoup for your information on the ruler-ship changes for the Alsace (Elzass) and Lorraine (Lothringen) regions. This is a complicated subject and worthy of an organized approach, as it is the source of much confusion. Which leads to: ".. I'm more confused than ever. On census records he always said he was born in Alsace." If it is true that "Adam Becker and his wife Maria Brunon Becker were killed in the 1860s.", they could have appeared only in TWO (2) of the US decennial censuses which would list them specifically by name and give their birth places -- 1850 & 1860. Censuses before 1850 did not list individuals (only households, by name of the head of household) nor did they contain birthplace information. So, "always" is being used loosely, I think. Further, the "always" statement conflicts with "In later census records he said he was born in Bavaria or Prussia." Is it "always Alsace" or "later Bavaria or Prussia"? Adam, having died, is unlikely to have said anything in 1870 or later. I suspect the "later" statements to be from or about the Becker children's birthplaces of their parents -- not direct statements by Adam or Maria. Therefore, 1870 and after censuses are, at best, secondary sources. It is common for US census information about birthplaces -- especially foreign ones -- to be misleading. Sometimes, neighbors would give information in the absence of actual knowledge. Sometimes, the enumerated would interpret their birthplaces or their parents' birthplaces to the current political situation. Etienne has pointed out how Bavaria's rule of Alsace & Lorraine began in 1816 and Prussia's rule followed the Franco-Prussian War of 1871. -rt_/)