Cathy, Are your Niemeyers from Germany, mainly around Gottesburen, Hessen Cassel, Germany? My gggrandmother was Catharina Elisabeth Niemeyer born 27 Sep 1799 in Gottsburen. She married Johan Christoph Ludwig Lips. Her father was Johan George Niemeyer who married Anna Catharina Engel. Anna was born 7 Nov 1775 in Gottsburen. Catharina Elisabeth Niemeyer died and her son,William Ernest Lips, where my line comes through stowed away on a ship to New York. There is some talk that he had an uncle, by the last name of Tolle perhaps in St. Louis. My Lipps settled in Gonzales, Texas. Thanks, Janice