This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: PETERSON, SWANSON, SCHWARTZ Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/219.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Hi Julie - Thanks for the additional information. I am not coming up with anything so far on my lookups for a Arvid E. or Esther Swanson PETERSON. I find no listing for either one in my 1945, 1955, and 1960 Phoenix city directories (which does not include Sun City), Glendale city directory of 1966 which DOES include Sun City nor in my 1975 metro phone book which also includes Sun City. I also found nothing for his parents Alfred and Johanna Matilda Swanson PETERSON or Johanna's mother Anna SWANSON for 1945 in the Phoenix city directory. I didn't look further for them assuming they would be more aged by 1955 or deceased. I am coming up with a couple of possible matches for brother Carl Hartwig, Axel and Gertrude PETERSON for 1960, 1975, and in the case of Axel 1966 in Sun City. However the information is not conclusive without middle names or initials. As to Arvid and Esther's children, I am finding a Martin PETERSON listed in 1945, 1955, and 1960 but without a middle initial or name nothing can be determined with certainty. This was interesting in that the Martin PETERSON was living in hotels. Was your Martin PETERSON known to have resided in hotels? There are also several Floyd PETERSON's in the 1960 and 1975 resources, but again, without a middle name or initial nothing certain can be determined. Do you have the married names of any of Arvid's sisters or daughters or the wive's names of his brothers and sons? That information could be very helpful in confirming a particular person? Desert Hills is in Mojave county in northeast Arizona, zip code 86403. As you indicate Arlene Peterson SCHWARTZ is still living, presumeably she would be co-operative regarding disclosing her family background as she knows it. If not, perhaps a posting at the Mojave board will prove helpful. Do you know if any of Arvid and Esther's children were schooled in the Phoenix area? My resources are not all inclusive of course. I have public records for 1931 on but some are specifically published for certain areas such as Phoenix only, while others are more inclusive of other areas such as Sun City. Therefore these lookups should not be considered conclusive and may in fact prove more helpful as you develop more information regarding family middle names or married names. For the moment I would suggest focusing on any more details that you might be able to provide regarding siblings Carl Hartwig, Gertrude, Axel, and children Martin and Floyd PETERSON. Sometimes, we end up finding other relatives living with another relative which helps explain the lack of a listing for a primary research subject. Lastly, having Swedish relatives in my line and being familiar with this issue, I need to poise the question about their surname. Is the surname PETERSON certain? Variant spelling such as PETERSEN could produce more results. Also, my wifes Swedish forebears changed their Swedish surname to something more Americanized upon arrival in America. To yourknowledge was any other name used by some of those that you listed in your postings? Glen F. Pritchett, USGENWEB volunteer