Michael Johannes DIEPOLDER, a harness maker, was born about 14 December 1853 in Memhoelz, Bavaria, Germany, and emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1859. On 13 September 1886 Michael took a job as the acting keeper of Rock Island Lighthouse near Clayton. In the early morning hours of 16 July 1901, after his morning bath, Michael suffered heart failure and fell on the floor and died. Two days later, Michael was buried with full Masonic rites in Grove Cemetery, LaFargeville. I am hoping someone would be willing to check the Watertown Daily Times or the Thousand Islands Sun for an obituary for Michael -- being a lighthouse keeper and a Mason, I hope there was at least a mention of his death somewhere! Thanks for any help! Sincerely, Mark A. Wentling, G-G-G-grandson of M.J.Diepolder -- read about his life at Rock Island at http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~legends/welcome.html