> can anyone tell me where 'Schiffelbein' was in 1892 Prussia? What do you think about the city of Schivelbein, Kreis ( County ) Belgard-Schivelbein, Pommerania, since 1945 Swidwin, Poland ? Should be the right place. Let me know what you have about your great grandmother. With some luck I can help. Dieter Schimmelpfennig Heimatkreisbearbeiter -- Der Kreis Belgard-Schivelbein in Pommern http://www.belgard.org Historische Einwohnerdatenbank / Historical Inhabitants Database http://www.belgard.org/Namen/index.htm Belgard-Schivelbein Mailingliste http://de.groups.yahoo.com/group/Kreis-Belgard

Dieter, I appreciate any help, believe me. I am piecing my entire Prussian ancestry from about 10 small photos and 3 postcards sent back to Germany by my grandmother (Bertha Elfrieda Dora Ziebell) who came over in 1904. She never spoke of her family to anyone. Here's what I've been able to piece together: Caroline___b. 1822/24 married circa 1840-42 ____Ziebell. Caroline Ziebell (my great grandmother) was widowed by 1892. She boarded the Steamship Gerg as a '68 yr old widow' alone and it arrived in Baltimore, MD May 19, 1892. Several passengers on that steamship said their last place of residence was 'Schiffelbein, Germany' and she was one of them. She next shows up in the 1900 census in the household of Jacob J. Kunz in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (only now she's spelling Ziebell as Siebel). She is last found at age 88 in 1910 census in same household. I have not found her grave. I have also been unable to find out where this household went in 1920. They disappear off the planet. Caroline Ziebell b.ca. 1822/24 stated she had had 5 children, 5 living and had been married 50 yrs before becoming widowed. I can account for three children: 1. Albert Carl Wilhelm Ziebell b. unknown married Auguste Wilhelmina Sophie Friedericke Dahn and had 5 children. They were living in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein and did not emigrate. (This is who the few postcards were mailed to). a) Bruno Max Albert Ziebell b.unknown d. 13 Dec 1944 in WWII air raid on Hamburg. No issue. b) Willie Ziebell b. unknown d. WWI period 1914-1918. No issue. c) Ella Ziebell b. 27 Mar 1885 Prussia d. 1 June 1965 Chicago, Cook Co. IL. Emigrated aboard SS Pennsylvania which left Hamburg 11 Mar 1904, arrived Port of New York 27 Mar 1904. Never married, no issue. d) Bertha Elfrieda Dora Ziebell b. 26 Apr 1886 Prussia d. 18 Nov 1964 Torrance, CA. Emigrated aboard SS Pennsylvania which left Hamburg 11 Mar 1904, arrived Port of New York 27 Mar 1904. Married and divorced. 5 kids. e) Paul Willie Albert Robert Ziebell b. 17 Sept 1887 Prussia d. 10 Mar 1954 Schleswig, Germany. Paul Ziebell never married but was said to have been mayor of a town. Addresses used for him on postcards were Gaarden, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Deutschland. 2. Bertha M. Ziebell b. Oct 1866 Prussia m.ca. 1890 Jacob J. Kunz b. Jan 1867 Wisconsin. Bertha M. Ziebell stated she emigrated in 1883.They were living in Milwaukee, WI in 1900 and 1910. He was a barber. I cannot find them in 1920 or 1930 but they were young, so they had to have been somewhere. They had 2 children by 1910: a) Arthur Kunz b. July 1891 Wisconsin b) Hilda Kunz b. Oct 1894 Wisconsin 3. David J. Ziebell b.ca. 1864 Prussia. Found living in 1910 household of Jacob J. Kunz with his mother Caroline Ziebell, widowed. Working as coachman for a private family in Milwaukee WI. Stated he emigrated in 1890. I cannot find him after the 1910 census.