I also have a Nicholas Backes in my family, not related, but there is a letter we found in the house, which was my great-grandpa's house, probably 40 years ago. Nobody living then knew anything about it, and nobody now does either, but it says, written in pencil, no date, " Maple Lake, Wright Co, Minn, Dear Friend hew ever you are, Mrs. Mike O Loughlin asked me about a Brother of the name of Nicholas Backes. My name is Nicholaus Backes and I havend got no Sister, but two Brothers and 53 years old been born in Germany in Meckel Kreis(?) Bitbury Rgl Trier Rhein Provinz but as near as I can come to at your Parents or you must be born in Alsdorf same Kresi My Fathers name was Charl Backes. Please tell your Father to write me in Deutch. Best Regars, N Backes" Maybe something in this will help you. I would love to know if so, the search for my Backes family has kept me interested for a long time now.