David, I suspect that your Allison was a daughter to one of my ggf's brother's the dates are right, so is the state. gotta be-cuz!! Here are some notes from my second cousin who is doing research back there. Notes from Sept. 2, 2000, visit to Iowa Genealogical Society The following is a sequential listing of information pertaining to Fredrick Roth (John’s father). my ggf 1884 Polk County Document Fredrick Roth gggf Left no will or last testament, but everything passed to Lydia. Death: About 2/4/1884 (this confirms that the Fred in Woodlawn is our Fredrick) Children in Home: Fred, 17; Charles,13; Sam, 9; Harry, 7; John, 5; and James, 2. (Edward wasn’t born yet) Marriage Polk County, Book 5, P. 210 Lydia Roth, 41, married Robert S. Penniston, 30--a Railroad man--on Sept. 20, 1890. (6 years after Fred died) His 1st marriage; her 2nd. Bride born in Indiana; her parents: Thomas Wood and Martha Davisson (note no “s” on Wood) (John would have been 11 by this time. He supposedly went to live and work for the Davidson’s when he was 10 or 11.) 1900 Census Fred Roth (oldest son of Fredrick and Lydia) Fred T. Roth, 33 Maggie (wife) 27, born Oct. 1812 in Iowa James (brother) 17, born May 1883, Iowa Edward (brother) 18, born April 1887, Iowa (3 yrs. after Fred died, & 3 yrs. before Lydia married Penniston) Charles (brother) 28, born Nov. 1871, Iowa Laura Stroup 50 (Maggie’s mother) born Oct. 18, 1844, Arkansas (This raises the question: Who fathered Edward? He is listed as Edward Roth in this census. 1900 Census Sol Davidson, head of household, from russia-Poland John Roth, boarder-employee, 21 years old Others in household listed also Address: 825 3rd Street 1920 Census Lydia Penniston Working in kitchen of the “Polk County Insane Hospital” (We couldn’t find Robert Penniston in this census or the 1900 census. What happened to Robert?) 1925 Census John Roth (son of Fred and Lydia) Mae Roth - Catholic, Father born in Europe, Mother born in Bohemia John - Protestant, Father born in Germany (Protestant basically means non-Catholic) (John always reported his father being from Germany, but Samuel consistently indicated Switzerland.) 1925 Census Harry Roth (son of Fred and Lydia) Harry’s Father, Fred - born in Switzerland Value of Home $1,000 (Here, John’s brother says his father was born in Switzerland, not Germany!) 1925 census James Roth (son of Fred and Lydia) James - Father born in Switzerland James - Mother (Lydia) born in Indiana Gertrude (wife) All their kids listed Iowa Death Index Lydia Penniston Died 2/16/1930 Arrangements by Hamilton Funeral Home The following is sequential info pertaining to Samuel Roth (Fred’s brother): German Immigrant Book Samuel Roth 4/17/1864 Samual Arrived in New York from Antwerp on the Johanne Marie (ship) Samuel, 24, male, farmer, from Province of Switzerland, village (not filled in), Destination: NY Polk County Marriage Records Samuel Roth married Adeline Broteni on Oct. 22, 1877 1880 Census Samuel Roth, 40, Born Switzerland, Father born in Switzerland, Mother born in Switzerland Adeline 23, Born Switzerland, Father born in Switzerland, Mother born in Switzerland Charles 4 mo., born in Iowa, Father born in Switzerland, Mother born in Switzerland Home: 1504 Walnut 1920 Census Samuel Roth, Birth Switzerland, arrived in US 1864, Naturalized 1867, Father and Mother born in Switz. Native Tongue of Samuel and his parents: Swiss-German Adaline Roth, 62, Born Switzerland, Both parents born in Switzerland; Native Tongue of all: Swiss-German Edith, 36 Harold, 17 Frank, 15 Woodlawn Cemetry Inventory Adaline died 3/17/1949 Age 90 ***Hope this is of help to you June Buechting