For Patricia, Not much available on internet or by interlibrary loan on surname MACKENTHUN(Kankakee marr. lic. says MECKENTHEM)in Will County. Kankakee County gen web site-death index on net has a MEYERHOFF,Dorethea Maria book 3 page 402-book 3 dates 1903-1906 Mormon website has complete(with very few exceptions)1880 US census searchable. Could not locate any MACKENTHUN or variant. Did find Will County,Peotone page 388 C Mary MEYERHOFF,b.1830 Hanover,widow,mother in law Kate MEYERHOFF,her daughter,age 7 b. Hanover in Henry Bisping household BISPING Henry 35 b. hanover wife Mary 29,b. Hanover and several children. if you want to search for yourself www.familysearch.org go to search look to left click census and follow instructions. The will county clerk's office,on north chicago st.,joliet,il has an index to SOME early births starting in about 1877 BUT state did not require birth certs until much later(1916). Might I suggest, since your ancestors are of german extraction, that you search for a probate record on John in County Courthouse in Kansas where he died? German ancestors usually kept a very good account of family events that may be recorded in :letters of administration" and or what is called "proof of heirship"(at least in will county that where you find genealogy info in a probate. Also check for probate of his wife if she died after him. Good Hunting, Kathy _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail