This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/TJB.2ACI/732.753.1.3.1 Message Board Post: Mary Katrina Jax was born 30 Nov 1836 in Colverath (Kolverath) or Mannebach Germany, daughter of Anna Maria Simon and Nikolaus Jax. She was a sister to my great-great grandmother Margaretha Jax (b 19 Oct 1855), who became Mrs. Michael P. Meyer and immigrated later than your ancestors. Margaret & Michael lived for a short while in Stearns Co MN and then moved to Pierz, Morrison County, MN. Your ancestor, Maria Katharina Jax, married Anton Hassling 14 Jan 1868 in Retterath, Germany. This was Mr. Hassling's second marriage. He first was married to Margarethe Diederich, and if my assumptions are correct, she is the mother of your ancestor. They had 6 children and 5 of them have death dates in the BOOK OF RETTERATH I am using, but Maria Hassling, born 6/08/1860, appears to have survived. Mr. Hassling's first wife died 30 Oct 1867 and two months later Mr. Hassling married Maria Katharina Jax. She was 32 years old at the time and he was about 43. They had a double wedding with he! r sister, Anna Barbara Jax and Joannes Mand, on 14 Jan 1868 in Retterath. (These two immigrated and also lived in Pierz). Anton Hassling age 46, his spouse Marie, age 34 and two children arrived on the ship Thuringia on 13 June 1871. There was an unnamed 9 year old female and a two year old boy named "Joh" listed on the ship roster. By the way, Anton Hassling was born about 1825 (my calculation) possibly in the town of Brücktal, Germany, his parents were Johannes Hassling and Anna Catharina Theisen. I have more on them from this book. Please contact me directly for more good information. The name SIMONIS is a very common name in the Retterath, Germany parish. If you give me the particulars I can see if you've hit pay dirt for that name also. By the way, a distant relative has recently gone back to Germany and found Jax relatives still living in this town and there are some very helpful German researchers helping us. We must share more... Write again privately.