Casper Andres was born in Grostaubein, Kreis Hannon, Hessen, Germany (Feb. 29, 1832) and came to America around the early 1850's along with his brother Henry and sister Regina. We do not know if anyone else accompanied them. Supposedly they docked in Newark, NJ. And around 1854 Casper arrived in San Jose, IL where he met Anna Marie Gruensfelder and married in 1860 in Mason county. They had 6 children (Agnes Anna, John Lawrence, Carl Heinrich, Jacob Veslie, Lizzie K, and Philip Louis)all born in Pekin, IL. Anna Marie died (1875) as well as Carl Heinrich (1876) and both are buried next to Anna Marie's parents, John & Katherine (Weisbrodt) Gruensfelder at Green Hill cemetary just outside San Jose, IL in Logan county. I've received some help from the gracious Adolph family in Illinois who are the great-great grandchildren of John & Katherine Gruensfelder, but I've still got several "blanks" to fill in as I trace my way back into Germany (Casper's home). After Anna Marie's and ! Carl's deaths, Casper and the rest of the children (except Jacob) traveled to Kansas to homestead and arrived prior to Dec. 19, 1881(first recorded land purchase by Casper on record). Jacob (a young boy of 7 y/o) stayed behind in Illinois for a periiod of time with his Gruensfelder grandparents (no one knows why). Eventually Jacob traveled to Kansas (via Waco, NE - meets his wife, marries, has children), then settled in the same area with his father Casper prior to Nov. 23, 1900 (first recorded land purchase by Jacob on record). Casper and all his children (including Jacob) are buried at Prairie View Cemetary just southeast of Alta Vista, Kansas. My reasoning for giving all these clues and such detail is in hopes of locating descendents of Casper's brother (Henry) and his sister (Regina). We never knew what became of them, nor do we know anything of their parents or the rest of the familiy back in Germany. We do not know Casper's parent's names nor any of the other brothers! or sisters in Germany. Anyone out there related to Casper, Henry or Regina? Any suggestions or help would be very much appreciated. Respond here or contact me by email at r_jazzman@yahoo.com