Leonard, Albert (Bert) Cotant, born 13 Nov 1873 was probably a cousin to Emma. Bert was the youngest of 6 born to Haviland Purdy Cotant. Haviland was the youngest of many sons that came to Iowa with their parents, Benoni and Lydia Coutant. Thank you so much for the personal information, your story is going into my notebook on the Cotant family. By the way did anyone take a picture of Bert when he made that interesting trip across Iowa? Maybe the paper had an article, would that have been around 1954? He lived to see 90 years! Albert had 10 children, it would be wonderful to hear from one of his descendants. Thank you again, Carolyn Graeser -----Original Message----- From: Leonard Granger >Did Emma Coutant born May 7, 1857 have a younger brother Bert Coutant born >in about 1870, also in New Hampton, Chickasaw Co, Iowa? Bert Coutant owned >and operated bicycle shops in northern Iowa and was a long distant rider. >At age 80, he rode a bicycle from Guttenburg, Iowa to Waterloo, Black Hawk >Co. and stayed at our home before making the return trip. He had a daughter >Verna Coutant married to a shoemaker in Guttenburg, Iowa > >