I will try to keep this brief because I don't want to take up too much space here: The information I seek, a common link so to speak, does not appear to have been filmed as of yet. The records I seek would be in the villages of: Myscowa, Brezowa, Milik, Andrzejowka and Desznica from mid 1850's to 1900/1910: former Galicia area of Austria now Poland and from Wojskowa, also former Galicia now Poland. My grandfather was John Tyrpak born 1882; either Feb or Sept depending on which record you go by. Most likely his birth name was Iwan or Jan. His brother, Samuel Tyrpak born 1878; either Dec or Sept depending on which record you go by. Most likely his birth name was Simeon or Szymon. Family un-documented lore says their parents were Paunko and Eva (Ewa) Haszchyc. Neither brother lists parents on their death certificates. There persist a rumor of twin sisters who stayed in Austria/Poland. I have three other branches of Tyrpak males who are related via a common paternal line but I can't pin down a name for this ancestor due to lack of records available. The men came generally between 1899 to 1915. Some earlier also, but I can't connect these men yet to my lines. Some through New York and some through Baltimore and Pennsylvania. These families were mining families and general laborers. My direct ancestors eventually landed in Missouri (Bonne Terre) and Illinois (Madison) Some stayed in MO and Il, my Grandfather and Great Uncle moved to Detroit, Michigan in the late 1920's. John Tyrpak married Annie Rydgig June of 1910. Annie's father was Mefthody Rydgig, going by Tom here in the US. He helped to found the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in 1902 in Madison, IL. He had at least one "cousin" who I have since discovered was actually a brother who lived in Missouri (Bonne Terre) and then moved to Granite City, Illinois (also in Madison County) Annie's mother was Sophie (Sophia) Fedak. The Spelling variant on Rydgig: Rydzik, Ridgik. Samuel married Mary Posypanko about 1904 or 1905. Mary's father was Frank and mother was Pansy Sagan. The name is also spelled Tirpak, Terpack, Turpack and many other variations on various US documents. I have ordered naturalization records from the Regional Office (NARA)for John and Samuel but got: "no records found" I have not given up, and keep trying at the local district court levels. There were too many possible locations for them to have applied that it is a waiting game: However I intend to wait it all out in the hopes that some small piece will finally fit and the puzzle can be completed. My information is all available online at ancestry.com and also at rootsweb.com, but I admit I do not update rootsweb very often. Almost all Tyrpak and Rydgig surnames listed on worldconnect.rootsweb.com have been placed there by me. I have found a few stragglers there but no one I have been in contact with is a relation to my Tyrpak lines that I can document. We have only guessed as to a possible relationship thus far using deduction going by the common surname and the general area each family was born into. I have also gotten birth records from the LDS files from 1794 to the mid 1800's from Andrzejowka and Milik. I cannot determine if Myscowa and Brezowa or Desznica have similar records from the LDS as of yet. It doesn't appear so but I may be missing something, my translations skills are sorely lacking. These area's were largely destroyed during the war and only a few churches remain intact. The country side is lovely, I have been fortunate enough to have had another researcher send me some photos taken recently in Milik and Andrezjowka. I am really looking for anyone who knows of a researcher who would be interested in travel to this small area to see if any records from the mid 1850's to about 1910 are still intact and what that would cost. In the alternative, I would like information as to how to write to these small villages/churches to see if any records remain. Thank you for your time and any assistance. Cyndi