To the list: Thank you for your interest in helping. The birth dates I have for my gr grandfather is July 1868 and for my gr grandmother is Feb 1870. I think that a key to my search may be the Grantsville area because it seems like the GANTZ family had some roots there in that they were running some kind of retail business. I have found the possible link to my Grandfather as a child in the Cecil Maryland area which was mentioned in one of the posts. My gr grandfather did have a brother, Edward, and there is an Eddy mentioned in the sibling list but no one in my family ever heard of any other siblings mentioned there. So that remains a possibility and I have noted it as such. I think the chances are remote but the possibility remains. One big issue that makes me question the Cecil, MD connection is that the Father there lists his birthplace as Delaware. William MATTOX always lists his father's birthplace as MD. But you never know with families right? I suspect that my Gr Grandfather's trade - carpentry - kept him on the move and he has been a challenge to track. I have the family tracked as follows 1900 - Allegheny County, PA - Pittsburgh 1910 - Frostburg, MD 1920 - Allegheny County, PA - Pittsburgh area 1939 - Morgantown, WV All of these events occurred after marriage. I have not been able to find a record of the marriage or anything about them prior to 1900. My mother tells me that they died while living in Gary, IN and that one of them - she thinks it was Nannie - died on 10 Dec, 1954. I am trying to find a death notice for either of them so I can order a death certificate. I am told that both parents should appear on the certificate. I jumped on this list because I am also looking for my connection to the GANTZ line too. I suspected that the GANTZ family may have had a stronger connection to the area and would love to understand it better. Based on the family name, I also suspect that there is a German immigration at some point down the line. Bill Mattox Madison, WI [email protected]