Dear fellow researchers, My name is Gerald (Jerry) Stern; I live in California and am retired. I have been researching my family tree for approximately 6 years. At present I have 685 leafs in my tree. They begin with Antoine (Anton-Anthony) STERN, (Stearns, Sterns) b. circa 1800 in Hessen Germany, d. Unk, and his wife Rosine STUNER b. circa 1812 in Alsace-Lorraine, d. Unk. Two of their three children were born (according to family members) in Alsace-Lorraine. First was Rosine b. 11 June 1944, d. 19 Aug 1916, m. Heinrick Kellerman on 18 Sep 1866. Second was Anton Henry, b. 11 Jan 1847, d. 21 Jan 1934, m. Mary Jane Cheek on 19 Nov 1878. The third child was John A. Stern b. 12 July 1853 in Honesdale, Wayne County, Pennsylvania. d. 12 May 1933, m. Elizabeth Faust on19 Nov 1878. They arrived in the U.S. sometime between 1847 and 1853. I have yet to find the exact event. They first appear in the 1860 census in Honesdale, Wayne County, Pennsylvania. I have followed them from Pennsylvania to Illinois. But have been unable to trace back to their beginnings. This is the beginning of my tree and of course it branches out to 680 other individuals encompassing 215 surnames. Thanks for taking the time and allowing me to introduce myself and I am hopeful that our association will be fruitful. Any assistance would be appreciated Never give up the Search!!! “Searching for the beginning“ Jerry Stern