Thanks Kathy, I had come up with some of these, but the forgot to check some of the spellings you mentioned. Seems like my Mother's family just doesn't want to be found. My great uncle, Fritz Wenberg dropped off the face of the earth after a family fight. My grandfather even hired a private dectective in the 30s or 40s to track him down with virtually nothing concrete to show for it. You have given me some good suggestions. Thanks so much. Hope you have been having a joyous holiday season. Tricia M. ----- Original Message ----- From: zavada To: ILWILL-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2002 12:37 PM Subject: Re: [ILWILL] WENBERG,BARZ,BECKER,SELINGER Hi There, You are correct-There is NO census for Will County in 1890. The indexes I referred to where those on paid ancestry.com for 1920 and 1930 census. I do have some info for you and some suggestions for locating more info on your surnames. 1930 census Joliet BARZ Ernest F.,67 b. Germ,age at 1st marr.24,naturalized 1902 wife Bertha E,63,b. Germ,naturalized 1902(would be under her husband's name-she would NOT be mentioned-entire family would have been naturalized under his name). 1902 naturalizations MAY have exact info on Germ. locations-would be at Clerk of Circuit Court,Will County Courthouse,Joliet BECKER-surname too common for me to locate specific info at this time. SELINGER 1930 census spelled two ways with a double LL and with single L Joliet SELINGER George,75,age at 1 st marr.24,naturalized 1872,b.GERMANY,parents b. same wife Eva,78,naturalized 1860,b. Germ These naturalizations probably would NOT help with foreign location. on sage page with above George SELLINGER,George 41,b.IL,etc(Son?) WENBERG 1930 Louis,74,b.Sweden,age at 1st marr. 28,naturalized 1882 Charlotte,67,wife,age at 1st marr. 20,naturalized 1882(under husband?) 1884-1892 Joliet Directories did you catch misspellings of the surnames? WENBERG-aka WEMBERG because these folks owned businesses-should check for probate records on the men and the wives. Because they are of German extraction-probates MAY include extensive,very good "proof of heirship". Probates at clerk of the circuit court,will county court house,joliet. Paper indexes by alpha surname,then alpha given name. ON microfilm. Copies from ONE probate-1st page $2.00(one side),50 cents per one side thereafter. IF they will,have them copy ONLY proof of heirship and letters of administration. Keeps cost down. Be sure to check for probate of Betha widow of Andrew shown in Jol. Directories also. entry Louis 1892 president Joliet Electric Clock Co. (If I remember right-may have been a predessor of Westclox??) SELINGER-aka selmger,herman-1884,sellinger & salinger,julius 1885-1888,schlinger,august 1892 be sure to check for a probate of Wilhelmina(Minnie) widow of August listed 1885-1887 BARZ-aka barc,august-1884,berki,ernest1884,Caroline/Catherine widow of Ernst1885-1887,bearss,charles 1884,also barg. look for probate of Caroline/Catherine widow. 1900 census should also give yr. of naturalization/immighration besides month and yr. of birth for everyone in household. NO KNOWN INDEX(at least I do not know of one) 1880 census has a soundex to it. SELINGER and maiden name of his wife should be in this. Soundex is a microfilm of surnames in 1880 census-by state. Should be able to locate all your SELINGER's by location in state of illinois then go to regular 1880 census and find them. It's Christmas Eve,have to go.. If I find anything else,later,will let you know. Good Hunting,Happy Holidays!! Kathy ==== ILWILL Mailing List ==== Will Co, IL website address is: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilwill/ Email listowner @ http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilwill/my-email.htm