Marsha, This may be of interest to you and other Hilmes searchers: FAMILY HISTORY "Johan Heinrich Hilmes was born April 3, 1814 in the kingdom of Hanover and settled in this country in 1838, on Section 18, Germantown Township, Clinton County, Illinois. This was south east of the town of Hanover, which was later renamed Germantown. He probably had few problems adjusting to his new home because most of the people in this area were from the same section of Germany, perhaps even knew each other in the old country, and most spoke low german. "The original size of his homestead is not known but in 1892 it was 89 acres. "Elizabeth Ottens was his first wife. She came from Prussia and settled in Illinois two years before John Henry. She died in 1858 after bearing at least two children; Theodore around 1851 and Anna about 1854. "One mystery still unsolved is how Elizabeth is related to Frederick Ottens who is listed as one of the original 'proprietors' of the town of Hanover. "Caroline Buettman, the second wife, was born in the kingdom of Hanover on November 23, 1829. She came to this country in 1860 and gave birth to Bernard Hilmes on November 12 of that same year. There was at least one other child Christina born about 1862. Caroline died July 15, 1876. "From all evidence, J. H. Hilmes probably had a twin brother Johan Gerhard, who was born and died on April 3, 1814. "J.H. Hilmes is listed as one of the early settlers in "History of Marion and Clinton Counties, Illinois" 1881 and is described as a farmer and stock raiser in the list of patrons for the book. "In the census of 1870 the name was misspelled 'Hilmas'. John Henry is 55 and lists his real estate value at $4,000 and the value of his personal goods as $1,000. His wife's name is written 'Catharina' and listed as 41 and a housekeeper. Theodore is age 19, Anna is age 16, Berhard (sic) is age 9 and Christnia (sic) is age 8. There is also listed a 29 year old laborer from Hanover named H. H. Rikindag. "In the census of 1880 J. Henry is a retired farmer aged 66 and Bernard Hilmes is a 19 year old laborer on the Henry Albers farm about a mile north of the family farm. Chri. Hilmes is listed as a 17 year old servant at the Waller's. Note: Bernard asked Katarina Waller to be one of the baptism sponsors for his son Bernard. Kahtarina and Klemens Waller were sponsors for Caroline, and Klemens was a sponsor for Frank Clemns Hilmes. "J. H. died May 27, 1896 but lived long enough to see his son Bernard married to Catherine Toennies on March 3, 1886 when he was 25 and she was 20 years old. "Catherine was born January 20, 1866 to Gerhard Albert Toennies and his wife Agnes nee Wiegmann. Gerhard was born September 7, 1827 and died May 27, 1896. Agnes was born November 25, 1838 and died February 24, 1882. So neither mother lived to see her child married. "Caterine had a least one sister Mary Eilerman (2/14/1868-12/20/1920) and three brothers Herman Toennies (10/16/1855-5/1/1929), George Toennies and Joseph Toennies. "Bernard and Catherine's 55 years of marriage produced 10 children before he died on April 26, 1930. Catherine lived until December 23, 1943. .....and that was just the beginning' BILL AND CHRIS KEHL, 30 Appletree Lane, Belleville, Il. 62221, (618)233-0002 St. Bernard Cem., Albers, IL Son: IN MEMORY OF BERNARD HILMES JUNE 6, 1895 JAN. 29, 1935 FATHER This is another BERNARD HILMES: I don't have a lot of information on my Hilmes relatives. I have Agnes Thersia Hilmes born May 15 1829 in Hanover Germany. She married Herman Bernard Richter on May 2 1854 in Clinton Co. IL. Her parents were Bernard Albert Hilmes and Adel Uhlen. I don't have any information on children. Let me know if anything fits. Sandy Plancich [email protected] My interest in the family lies in how they connect with the RENSING family. Bill Surnames of Interest: BUCHHOLZ anywhere -BECKMANN-CASSIDY-DeL0NJAY-DREES-MOSBACHER-NENTWIG-NEUTZLER-PONCOT-RENSIN G-STAUDER-STIEFFERMANN