Niki- Wisconsin - Very possible. We have a John Nicholas or a Nicholas John Shafer being married in LONG GROVE, ILL on Feb 03 1863 to HELENA DOLL. We have no confirmation of the married other than Bible Records. Since the ONLY Long Grove Ill that we have information on is in northern Illinois, entirely possible that he or parents from Wisconsin. Info that we have is JOHN NICHOLAS or NICHOLAS JOHN SHAFER b. Apr 27 1830 in Germany - info from tombstone, St. Patrick's Cem., Trowbridge, IL, died Nov 28 1898 - info from the same source. Family "legend" sez he was an only child - find this hard to believe - maybe an only SON or maybe the only child by one of the parents, but find it hard to believe he had no other siblings, whether by different parents or otherwise. Have yet to find a single piece of paper on him, other than funeral record indicating the funeral cost $55 and the hearse was $1.25 more. Information on Children- Their children Wilhelm (Willie) - b. Feb 12 1864 - d. Aug 28 1864 - Long Grove, IL Gotleid (Gottfried) "Fred" - b. Sep 18 1865 Neoga, IL - d. Dec 01 1871 Ashgrove Twp, Shelby Co., bd St. Patrick's Cem., Trowbridge, IL John Nicholas - b. Jul 12 1868 Neoga - d. Jun 27 1945 Effingham, IL - bd St. Pat's md Sep 26 1907 Bertha Mae Capps Anna Mary - b. Sep 16 1870 Mattoon, IL - d. Mar 02 1937 Olney, IL - md Apr 20 1897 Trowbridge to John Joseph Ohm Francis - b. Dec 01 1876 - Shelby Co., IL - probably d. Feb -01 1877 - Bd St. Pat's Mary Ann - b. Sep 12 1878 - Shelby Co., d. June 1941 Shelby Co., - md Joseph Oscar Lawrence Dec 24 1899 SHelby CO., IL Fritz - b. @ 1880 - assume died as an infant as no other information has been found Any information greatly appreciate. Merv