Hello. I am new to this list, and I need lots of help!!! In 1842 Mathias GERHARDS or GERHARTZ (in Germany) or GERHART (US), b. 1800, emigrated from Ditscheid, Rhein-Pfalz, Prussia with his wife, Maria SCHMITT, b. 1810, and a son, Michel. There was another Maria with them and an Eva as well. I'm not sure how the latter two were related, but one may have been Michel's wife and the other Mathias' daughter. Mathias' and Maria's dau, Catherine, was not with the group on the passenger list, but she was only 2 y.o. then, so maybe ignored. I do not find any of these folks until I find a Mathias Gerhart in a 1869 Chicago, IL directory. I never again was able to find him. And I've never found Michel, either, let alone any of the women. I believe they may have gone to Fond-du-Lac as there are records showing that other family members went there at an earlier time. Related family names are Pitzen and Härig. 1. Does anyone know anything about any of these folks? 2. What suggestions do you have as to where I should search in order to find them...especially Mathias and his (2nd) wife, Maria. I've already done the obvious things like Google and Familysearch and censuses. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Jane in AZ