Hello everyone, In trying to get one of my many connected lines in the Manchester area finished, I've run into a frustrating puzzle. The answers may be in obits, but I'm far away in central Illinois. The puzzle begins with William Sodt (1863-"1891") who married Christina Feldkamp (1860-1900). Supposedly they were married in December of 1885. When they both died fairly young, their children were raised by Frank Koebbe in more or less the role of foster father. William & Christina Sodt are buried at Rowes Corners Cemetery. According to my info from cousin David Koss, the children I have for them are: Ben - married Thelma (maiden name unknown), lived in Jackson several decades ago. Bertha - married Martin Wackenhut, lived either at Saline or across the line in Clinton. Esther - married Lambert Gieske, lived at Manchester. Lydia - married William Kleinschmidt, lived near Manchester. George H. - married Minne (maiden name unknown), lived at Jackson. Mabel - married Clarence Voegeding, lived near Manchester. Reuben - married Ruth (Lewick?), lived at either Chelsea or Manchester. Alvin - married Margaret (maiden name unknown), lived in Ann Arbor. David didn't have birth or death dates for any of the children except Reuben, so I've done my hunting on the SSDI & the Washtenaw County death index (a fantastic resource!), & what I've found has created the puzzle...... I found a Benjamin Sodt (died Oct. 1971) & a Thelma Sodt on the SSDI whose last residence was Kalamazoo County. But Benjamin was born in 1882. I found Lydia Kleinschmidt (died 5 Dec. 1961) & William Kleinschmidt, both of Freedom Township. But Lydia was born in 1883. I couldn't find Bertha Wackenhut, but I found Martin Wackenhut (died Jan. 1966), & he was born in 1882 so I'm sure he's the right one. Esther, George H., Mabel & Reuben have been found, & their dates fall within the right time frame. Well, George H. (died July 1965) was born in October of 1885. Then there's Alvin Sodt. The only one I found (& it can't be a very common name) died Aug. 1971, last residence Ann Arbor. Also found Margaret Sodt, last residence Ann Arbor. So that fits. But Benjamin was born in 1897, which would have been 6 years after his father's death! So the puzzle is..... A) Do we have the right marriage date for William & Christina? B) Is the "1891" on William's tombstone really "1897"? I'm thinking it's possible that the top bar on th "7" may have been erased by time if it wasn't carved very deep. The lettering style might make it look like a "1" now. (It looked like a "1" many years ago when David saw it, too.) I'd love to know what the obits say for Benjamin, Lydia, Bertha & Alvin. (I imagine obits for William & Christina would be harder to find.) Does anyone have access to obits for them, or knowledge of them? This is driving me a wee bit buggy! P.S. If I owe anybody a letter, I'll get to you eventually. Due to circumstances beyond my control I'm several months behind on everything. I just thought the Sodt connections would be easy to get entered...... silly me!!! Gloria Landwer Scott