Hi! I, like all of you, am looking for my roots in Armstrong County. I descend from Stitts, Kiers and Smiths. Thanks to many people I have my Stitt and Kier lines complete, but the SMITHs are another story. I really am not sure where my Smiths came from, but my great grandmother Sarah Matilda Stitt was born in Armstrong County, so I'm hoping this is a good place to continue my research. My grandmother, Matti Golinger 'Goldie' Smith was born in 1885 in Springdale (Allegheny Co). Her parents were Andrew Kier 'AK' Smith (b. in the 1850s?; d. aft 1919) m. Sarah Matilda Stitt (1862-1894) 1880 at 1st Presbyterian Church, Apollo. AK's parents were Edward A. Smith (Prob b. 1820s) m. Hannah Jane Kier (b. 1832, Armstrong Co). The other line with connections to Armstrong County is FRYER. Sarah Matilda's mother was Margaret Ann FRYER, b. 1/27/1824 (Armstrong Co) and d. 9/15/1903, Parks Twp, Armstrong Co. Family legend said this line of Smiths was German. I was told recently that I 'look' German, although I had (30 years ago) red hair and freckles. The family has always said I look like the Smiths. I have no idea what nationality Fryer might be. I didn't even have the name until a few months ago when a Stitt researcher sent me the Stitt line. I have been unable to find these Smiths or Fryer in the IGI, but until recently was under the impression that the IGI was a COMPLETE index of all possible files. I now know this to be not true and have begun searching census records. Hopefully, I will find them and at least be able to put an approximate birthdate on them and possibly a place of birth. My goal in my genealogy research is to take as many lines as possible back to their country of origin and maybe to learn why these ancestors emigrated. I have a good start with several lines, but the Smiths and a couple of others elude me. Any help greatly appreciated. Michael