Have you tried the spelling of Kuske or Kuska? This name appears in Poland and Prussia. Also on Ancestry are some children of a John Marquadt. If you are interested in knowing about a couple of more on that site let me know. Appolonia Marquadt born 2 Feb. 1848 Germany died in Detroit on 12 Nov. 1935. Her father was John. She was married to August BRUESKE. An August Brueske was born 2 Feb. 1848 in Germany and died 29 Feb. 1940 at Detroit. Listed as marrying Appolonia Marquadt who was born the same day in Germany. Their children: Mary Louise born 1877 Germany; Anna Rose born 1888 Wayne Co., MI; and an infant born 1892 in Detroit. Mary Louise Bruske born 26 April 1877 Germany and died in Detroit 1 Oct. 1941. She was married on 30 Nov. 1899 at St. Boniface, Detroit, Wayne Co., MI to Frank Michael Selenske. Her father is listed as August Brueske and mother as Appolonia Marquardt. Two sons of Mary Louise are: Louis A. Selenske born 10 July 1899 and died 16 Feb. 1959 in Detroit. Frances Michael Selenski born 1 Oct. 1912 and died 29 April 1985 at Northville, Wayne Co., MI You might want to check on death certificates and obits for Appolonia and Mary Louise. The Brueske/Bruske surname appears on LDS as being in Germany and Prussia. Do a search of the white pages for Selinski, Selenski, Selinske, etc. and for brueske and Bruske for Michigan. You will come up with some telephone numbers and addresses. It may be worth it to call a couple of the "older" sounding given names. There are several Detroit newspapers listed as being in our state library here but as I think you stated there were none in German. I did take note of one in Polish. My cousin was born in Lithuania and is an ethnic German. She came to America in 1955 and lived in Detroit. I will send her an e-mail and ask her about newspapers. She may know as she was a teacher of the German language. Good luck. Sandie ----- Original Message ----- From: <Spaghettitree@aol.com> To: <prussia-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 9:55 PM Subject: Re: [PRUSSIA-ROOTS] Kusc - Marquadt Elaine - You're doing a great job with your names - keeping an open mind - and that is very hard for genealogists to do, ESPECIALLY Germanic ones! Your Kusc sounds as though it may have come from Kusch or Kuscha or Kuschadk or Kuschak or Kusche or Kuschel or Kuschke - each one translating to Jacob. It would sound logical to follow your train of thought with your grandfather and great-grandfather - but I think if you chase down enough documents you will find proof. People changed names drastically sometimes, especially those unpronounceable to Americans - and sometimes they were given no choice and afraid to protest. There were no spelling rules in place until around 1875-1900 and it took another 10 or 20 years to settle in; plus many people paid no attention to the rules, as I see in e-mails all the time now! Some were illiterate, possibly able to sign a paper and that's all. Looking in the German and other ethnic newspapers is an excellent source. If you take a look at Hoffman's Polish Names, Kusch points to Kusz- and that indicates Jakusz or Kusza, "crossbow", Kusch, Kusy, Kuszaj, Kuszczak, Kuszel, Kuszewski, Kuszka, Kuszyk, Kuszynski (diacritical over n). In Bahlow's German Names, Kusch, Kusche, Kuscha, Kuschel, Kuschke, Kuschnik (East German, Slavic) are probably shortened from Jakusch, Mikusch (Nikusch), likewise Nusche, Nuschke from Janusch(ke). The 'ke' ending generally indicates an origin from the northern areas, usually the Baltic Sea and may have one of several meanings; little one, son of, kin of (whatever the first part of the name is). For Marquardt (with the second r) Bahlow says: Markward(t), North German often, also Markword(t), rarely dissimilated to Markwald; also Marquardt (frequently), patronymnic Marquardsen (Schleswig-Holstein), Hamburg, Bremen; "border guard"; Merklin (Marquard) von Niuvar 1327, Märk (Marquard) von Schellenberg 1400, Merk Glungk. Württenberg 1523. In German, the letters T, D, DT and TH all sound like D. And C, K and G all sound pretty much like K. There's more, but your eyes would glaze over. The other name, Bruchesci - may come from Old English Brooke - or Low German Brücker (from the bridge). Wonder, just wonder, if Brusch and Kusch may be connected, though very different sounds, possibly mistranscribed somewhere. Bottom line, record each and every variety of the names, since one is likely no more "correct" than the other until very modern times, but pay more attention to the sounds as they evolve over time and place - not the American sound, but the German and Polish and perhaps Czech or other Slavic sounds. And keep tracking - you're doing great! Curiosity and networking and serendipity all help. Maureen Schoenky ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRUSSIA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message