Hi Stan, Koenig is not a name with which I'm familiar but I suspect that it might be an Ostfriesen name due to the time you say that your "Sam Kings" immigrated and the fact that they settled in Tazewell and Livingston Counties. If Koenig is an Ostfriesen name these two could well be cousins due to the patronymic naming traditions in effect until 1811 and beyond. Sam is not one of the common first names from Ostfriesland but many names have been changed over the years. A common given name that it could have been is Sjamme and Americanized to Sam. In this tradition the child's surname is the father's given name in possessive form. For a more precise explanation please check out http://www.ristenbatt.com/genealogy/dutch_sn.htm . You could also go to the Ostfriesen Pages and subscribe to the Ostfriesen discussion list to learn if anyone on this large, friendly list has done research on the name of Koenig. There is also a web site for Tazewell County Genealogical Society at http://www.rootsweb.com/~iltcghs/ and a mailing list at ILTAZEWE-L@rootsweb.com . I have a query list at the web site listed below. Good luck in your search. Dorothy Nanninga Sewell dsewell@alaska.net Eagle River, Alaska Ostfriesland Ancestors http://www.alaska.net/~dsewell