This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Kopet, Copet, Sirek Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/DIB.2ACE/391 Message Board Post: Last year my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer; my dad with numerous diabetes-related issues. The stress of it all, including our 4 year old dog dying the day after my birthday of lymphomia led to my nervous breakdown earlier this year. At the end of August, I woke to a bat in my bedroom above my head, that most likely bit me and I had to go through the rabies shots. I have escaped death twice this year and it has given me a refocused concentration on my family. My dream is to locate a photograph of my great-great-great grandfather, Mathias "Mike" Kopet, who lived in Montgomery, Le Sueur County, Minnesota from about 1874 until his death in 1912. Mathias's eldest son, Thomas, was my great-great grandfather. For whatever reason, he moved out of Montgomery by 1883 and was in Wisconsin in 1890 and changed the spelling from "Kopet" to "Copet". The family link to MN was severed. Over time, I have reached some distant relatives and received photocopies of a photo of his only brother that lived past 1895, James/Wencel and his only sister Eva Kopet-Sirek. No one knows of a photograph of Mathias, but the fact that he was a "prominent" farmer in the community and lived well into the early part of the Twentieth Century makes it hard for me to believe there is not a photograph somewhere of him. Because I've learned how precious life is, I am dedicating all my "spare time" in locating a photograph of Mathias. If there is someone out there who has or knows someone that has a photograph of Mathias. I am willing to pay/reimburse someone for a copy for a realistic cost. Of course, I'd need some type of documentation, but you understand where I'm coming from. The community that uses Rootsweb is outstanding and been of incalculable help and I hope that once more, someout out there can help me again in achieving this dream! Thank you!! (Attached is a photo of Thomas Kopet/Copet)