Marie, Are your COOK's from Holt as well? In the 1830's a number of German families entered the US via New Orleans and settled in MO. According to my Aunt Sue, who lives there, "All the Holt Cooks are related to us." I doubt that, but I have been trying to trace Jacob Cook born in Hannover. There is an older Jacob listed in the census who may be his father, if this sounds at all familiar I will be happy to give dates and other family names. He married an Ahrens in MO. Bob _________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail