In a message dated 5/21/2003 8:36:38 PM Central Standard Time, kateri8@earthlink.net writes: > What exactly are you hoping to find?>>>> > I'm hoping to find ~~~ 1) Caroline's family and where she was born. There are & were some FIERK[E]'s in Elgin, but I have no way of knowing if they're hers as all have passed on. 2) Discover if any of Phillip's family immigrated and what were their whereabouts 3) Discover where Phillip & Caroline were after Germany and before Elgin.. 4) Discover where they met and married. Thank you for your interest. Below is what I know of my BITTINGER/FIERK[E] family previous my generation. Beverly 1  BITTINGER, Kaspar b: April 22, 1849 in Eimsheim, Rhinehessen, Germany .. +SCHMITT, Katharina b: November 21, 1845 in Dolgesheim, Rhinehessen, Germany m: January 11, 1871 in Eimsheim, Hessen, Germany ......... 2  BITTINGER, Elisabetha b: January 5, 1869 in Eimsheim, Rhinehessen, Germany ......... 2  BITTINGER, Brother1 ......... 2  BITTINGER, Brother2 ......... 2  BITTINGER, Philipp b: November 3, 1871 in Eimsheim,  Rhinehessen, Germany d: June 8, 1926 in Elgin, Kane County,  Illinois ............. +FIERKE, Caroline b: November 6, 1871,  Germany m: 1892 based on census information d: July 23, 1947 in Elgin, Kane County,  Illinois ..................... 3  BITTINGER, Edward b: 1894 in Elgin, Illinois d: June 8, 1953 in Elgin, Illinois ......................... +CHAMBERLAIN, Anna b: 1884 in Germany d: June 8, 1953 in Elgin, Illinois ..................... 3  BITTINGER, Alma b: April 14, 1895 in Elgin, Kane County, Illinois d: April 17, 1959 in Elgin, Kane County, Illinois ......................... +PURKIS, Robert George b: 1892 ..................... *2nd Husband of BITTINGER, Alma: ......................... +WISSER, Eugene b: July 26, 1901 in Ribeauville, Haute Rhin, Alsace-Lorraine, France m: July 16, 1922 in Elgin, Kane County, Illinois d: August 1, 1952 in Maywood, Cook County,  Illinois ..................... 3  BITTINGER, Casper b: July 14, 1899 in Elgin, Illinois d: December 7, 1974 in Elgin, Illinois ......................... +BAUMAN, Louise b: August 5, 1905 d: July 22, 1986 in Elgin, IL ..................... 3  BITTINGER, William Philip b: June 27, 1903 in Elgin, Illinois d: April 16, 1973 in Elgin, Illinois ......................... +BREMMER, Esther b: 1907 d: October 29, 1963 ..................... 3  BITTINGER, Carl b: December 19, 1906 in Elgin, Illinois d: April 1977 in Tijuana, Mexico ..................... 3  BITTINGER, Rose b: Abt. 1909 in Elgin, Illinois ......................... +GARCIA ..................... *2nd Husband of BITTINGER, Rose: ......................... +ARCE ......... 2  BITTINGER, Elisabetha b: October 20, 1874 in Eimsheim, Rhinehessen, Germany d: November 15, 1942 in Eimsheim, Rhinehessen, Germany