I saw your inquiry on Ger-Volga. In tracing your ancestry, did you obtain the death certificates of any ancestors that were born in Russia? The D.C. would give you dates and place of birth of the deceased as well as the names of the parents. The D.C. can be obtained from the county or state archives. This will help you get into Russia research. There are many sources of data from Russia from 1857 back to 1766 and then we enter German research. I checked your three surnames; Bierig, Schlundt and Wagner and found there are no Pleve Family Tree Charts for them. There isn't a Bauer website, however Professor Brent Mai's website < http://cvg.cu-portland.edu > has some Bauer data. I have information on all the Russian villages from 1798 back to 1766 in my home library, but not all of the 1834 to 1857 cencus records. That is the period that best connects to the American imigrants to their Russian ancestors. Professor Brent Mai has translated and has printed copies available for both 1834 and 1857 Bauer census records. Go to < [email protected] >. In the meantime, I did a little reverse genealogy and went back to the original settlers in Russia from Germany in 1766. Wagner is a common name in the Volga but I found only one that emmigrated to Bauer. Igor Pleve's "Einwanderung in das Wolgagebiet" (OSL), Vol I Bauer family #51 shows Johan Jakob Wagner (b 1741) from Dierbach, Zwebrücken and his wife Sibilla (b. 1741), and their son Christoph, 4 months old. They arrived in Bauer on 1 Mar 1767. By 1798, both Jakob and Sibilla had died and possibly Christoph, but five sons and their families were still in Bauer. Konrad Wagner (b 1769) and family had two younger brothers in their household; Johann Daniel (b 1780 and Johann Philipp (b1782)., Jakob Wagner (b 1772) and family and Georg Wagner (b1775) and his family all are listed. The Bauer Original Settlers List (OSL) family #36, has Christoph Schlund (b.1708) from Kersary ?, Nassau and his wife Christina (b1713) and 2 sons and 2 daughters. These sons were Friedrich Jakob (b 1746) and Georg Philipp (b.1752). They arrived in Bauer on 20 Jul 1766. By 1798, only Friedrich Jakob and family were in Bauer. This family includes four sons and five daughters. The 1798 census of Bauer also includes Johann Georg Bierig (b.1757) that moved there from Dietel. His wife was Louisa Ring (b1761) and two sons and three daughters. The 1834 and 1857 census records would get you closer to connecting with your ancestors and a quicj check shows all three surnames in both census records.If you could send the names and data on your Russian born ancestors, I may be able to find more sources you could check. Keep in touch. and Good Luck... Jerry Goertzen P.S. Do you grow Thyme or is it your favorite herb?