My great grandfather Gustav Beyer was born in Schemmern on September 2, 1866 He emigrated to the U.S. on June 2, 1871 and settled in Detroit, Michigan. I haven't made any connections in Germany yet. His wife, Catherine Henrie (or Henry) is my current brick wall. They married ~ 1891, and she died in 1903 from typhoid pneumonia. The census records say that both of her parents came from Germany as well, but I'm afraid my great grandfather wasn t such a good reporter of names on the death certificate. I haven't done much with the Riedel line, but a cousin did a lot of work that I haven't had a chance to look at (her book on the family is on file with the LDS library). The Riedels that I know are all from Michigan as well (Huron County), and my paternal grandmother, Meta, is where the line starts for me. If any of this sounds like there may be a connection, please let me know. Thanks, Susan