Hi Listers Guess I've been lurking long enough! I have been trying for some time to get a lead on my ggrandfather's family. His name was FRIEDRICH JOHAN BECKER and all I know about him is that he was "from the Erfurt area". His mother was supposed to have been from Alsace-Lorraine. He and my ggrandmother came to the US in 1872 and went immediately to an "uncle" by the name of BLUME in Illinois. I am fairly certain this uncle was one CARL THEODOR GUSTAV BLUME, BORN 19 January 1829 in Tangermünde. Carl married AMALIA AUGUSTE GIRARD, born 21 February 1835 in Magdeburg. How Mr. Blume came to be the uncle of Mr. Becker is a complete mystery to me. Since the name GIRARD would appear to be of French origin, I am thinking that perhaps the mother of FRIEDRICH BECKER was somehow related. AMALIA and her parents, FRIEDRICH GIRARD and DORETHEA GIRARD, nee HEUDLER, arrived in the US in 1856 from Magdeburg. Were the GIRARDS Huguenots??? I really don't know. As you can see, I am somewhat lost and just searching. Anyone have any ideas? All are welcome! Roger