Hello all! I am looking for any infor mation onm y gggrandfather. His name was Adam Ripper. In the 1870 census, he was in St Clair County (East St Louis) as Jhn. Ad. Repper, along with his wife Caroline and two small sons, John Adam(Nov 1868) and Ferdinand (Jan 1870). We're trying to find info on when they were married, and where the boys were born and baptised. We believe Caroline's maiden name was Hoelscher/ Hoelser, but have no supporting fact. Would like to pinpoint that also. In 1863 Adam's first wife died in Tazewell County, after giving birth to a daughter. He left the area under *mysterious* circumstances. (We believe he was run out of town)He left his infant daughter with his brother Philip S. Ripper. In 1880 Adam was in St Louis, MO where he remained until he died. The Ripper family were Lutherans in Tazewell County, but Adam's branch in St Louis, is Catholic. It's possible, that Caroline was Catholic. We do know that Ferdinand (my ggrandfather) married a VonderHaar, which cemented the Catholic ties. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks HELP!!! lol Trisha Ripper Ripper, Hoelscher/Hoelser, VonderHaar, Luebbers, Blumfelder, Mueller, Gerst, Finder