This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/jhh.2ACIB/2605.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Hi, Glad to hear from you. I guess we are 2nd half cousins twice removed or something like that. I know that Andrew Ponzar (father of Frank) was the son of Wenzel Ponzar and Katherine Unk., born in Austria in 1854. Andrew's mother died and Wenzel married Mary Ellen Gremllin. They had a son John in 1870. Wenzel emmigrated to Iron Mountain Missouri in 1870 followed by Mary Ellen and the two sons in 1872. They had seven more children, one of which was my granmother, Lena Ponzar. I have most of the particulars on their children (missing a few marriage dates and maiden names). What I am really having difficulty with is finding where in Austria (or wherever) Wenzel and Mary Ellen were born and married and where Andrew and John were born. Also any other information on Andrew's mother (maiden name, date of birth and death etc). My grandmother said that her parents never talked much about Germany, but thought that her father was an orphan who was raised with a sister by some aunt's. Mary Ellen was apparently a house-keeper / nurse for Andrew before she and Wenzel married. I think I found the ship that Mary Ellen and the boy's came over in, but nothing on Wenzel. So, if you have any information on the Ponzar's in Germany (or Austria or Bohemia or wherever), I would be most appreciative. I'd certainly be willing to share any information that I have if you are interested. You can email me directly if you like. By the way, there was a 100th birthday party for my grandmother in De Soto in 1979 which was attended by a lot of family members. I wonder if maybe I met your parents or grandparents at that time. Thanks for your reply and hope to hear from you soon. Henry