This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Tk.2ADE/978.1.3 Message Board Post: Wendy/Phyllis, Catherine Merkel Miller does appear to be the sister of Bernard Merkel, son of Theresa Katherine Joerger and Xavier Merkel of Grossweier, Baden, Germany. Originally, the Merkels left Germany in 1854 with six children. One boy died at sea, another boy and girl died enroute up the Mississippi between New Orleans and St. Louis, and their mother died in Tete des Morts(St. Donatus), Iowa two weeks after arriving there. Bernard went to live with his uncle in Sauk City, Wisconsin and the two previously unknown girls went to live with Xavier somewhere in Iowa. This may clear up what the two surviving girls' names were. Xavier supposedly married again and had a daughter named Melinda. Any idea on her whereabouts or Xavier's Iowa hsitory? I am interested because of the Joerger connection. Helping to update that history which will be published soon. Have somewhat extended history on Bernard.