Hi! I am new to this list. I know very little German (only a few phrases passed down from my gr-grandfather), but would like to know more about my gr-gr grandparents homeland. German immigrant, Johann Trust (b. 1826 & name pronounced and eventually changed to Trost), was a tailor & family legend has it the family members were tailors for royalty. He was born in Stoffen (sp?), Mechlinberg-Strelitz. I have not been able to find a Stoffen so believe that it must have been spelled differently or Americanized at one time; can anyone help me w/ this? Johann's parents were Mary & Jacob Trust; although he was Lutheran, somewhere in line he was of Jewish descent. In Cincinnati, I found a group of Jewish Trosts during same era, but don't know if there's a connection. Johann's wife, Wilhelmina Gransen (b. 1822), was from Mechlinberg-Schwerin. Her mother Mary (maiden name unknown); her father is unknown. Mother married a Frederick Anders. Both Mary (b. 1797) & Frederick (b.abt. 1803) Anders immigrated to US about 1850. I've had no luck in finding roots of Gransen name. Can anyone help me w/ that? All settled in Columbus, Ohio area in a town called Canal Winchester, OH (Franklin or Fairfield Counties depending on year). 2nd generation (Eli [b. 1855], John [originally Johann b. 1842], and Edward Trust/Trost [b. 1860] moved to Champaign Co., IL area. Doss, Anders 2nd generation cousins also moved to IL. There was an August and Carl Trust/Trost who lived & died in Cleveland. Danke (sp?), Diane Mahoney, Baltimore, MD