A big thank you to those who have given bits of advice in my researching the German origins of Henry and William Shappard of Rose Bud. Not able to find the birth town listed on both brother's Civil War discharge papers of 1864, I started to look at the other Germans that settled around Rose Bud to see if there was some common thread in their German origins. Several of you mentioned the Schildesche/Bielefeld area in Westfalen, so I took the step to order all the Family History Library microfilm of the Schildesche, Germany Lutheran church for the 1800s. With only Henry's birthdate of July 4, 1844 and the knowledge of his parents names, Fritz Schaphard and Hanna Beckman Schaphard I went to the film of the July 1844 births. Right at the top of the page was the birth record that I had so longed to find, "Johann Heinrich Schabbehard" with Johann Friederick Schabbehard and Hanne Wilhelmine Beckman listed as parents. I have been back to the local Family History Center (Naperville, IL Mormon Church Library) and subsequently have found Henry's known siblings Anne and Elizabeth and an older brother Gottfried Dietrich Schabbehard born in 1839 living only three weeks. I also found Fritz and Hanne's 1837 marriage record which lists their birthdates and names of parents. Ah, the thrill of the chase!! My inquiry to the listers is to find out on which ship and what date did they travel to Pope County. My late uncle Howard Shappard of Metropolis left us the knowledge that Henry and William were sent ahead of the rest of the family to America to escape forced military training in 1850. The rest of the family followed with the next two years with Fritz dying at sea. Does anyone have knowledge of their Pope County German ancestors path to America? I assume it was mostly through New Orleans and then up the river. Did everyone come to St. Louis first and then move down to Pope and Massac counties? This information might help me find both the boys and parents passage. I am assuming the the boys must have traveled with friends of the family such as the Bruggers, Rixies or Obermarks??? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Phil Shappard