To Barbara ??, who recently contacted Eugene M Wengert requesting '...please check for a Henry/Heirich Schmiedel, immigrating 1873, d.o.b. ~1840.': I am Bill Rietdorf, and my friends Frank Schmiedel and his wife would very much appreciate contacting you, for obvious reasons given the unusual surname you are interested in. The Frank Schmiedels are not currently on the internet, otherwise they would be sending a similar message to this one from me. Can you and would you kindly e-mail me as to how you wish to make contact with them? They have a story I think you will also find fascinating as well as heart-warming, as I and many others have. Aufwiederschreiben, Bill Rietdorf