In a message dated 1/8/2000 12:50:41 PM Eastern Standard Time, SWITZERLAND-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: << I am searching for descendents of "Messerschmidt" (knifemaker) Schneider and Caroline Gimpel, who emigrated from Emmendingen, Baden, Germany about 1849 to Geneva Switzerland. Emigrating with them were their children, Karl, William, August, Caroline Oliver (1834-1901), Louise (1837-1899), and Frederika (1842-1893). Frederika married a Mr. Campioto, or Campicta, and they had a daughter, Marguerite, who married a Mr. Brachard. The Brachard's had sons Charles, Pierre, and Parc. Karl had a son, Charles Frederick (1855-1917). Charles Frederick also had a son, Charles Louis born in 1882 who, in turn, had a son Frederick Christion, born in 1907, who married Claire and had daughters Sylvia (1958) and Catherine (1961) I would appreciate hearing from anyone who might have links to these ancestors of mine. I am "Messerschmidt" Schneider's great great granddaughter. Christina Schneider Howard Dayton, Ohio USA >> I don't know if I have a link. But I do have a Katharina Schneider as 1st wife of my gggrandfather (Johann Andreas Bienz) in Basel-Stadt, Switzerland. They were married there on 5/12/1800. I don't have a birth date or location on her and assumed it was Basel-Stadt. However, his second wife Katharina Mellert whom he married in 1817 was from Emmendingen, Baden, Germany and their marriage was recorded at both locations. It seems Johann married he or his spouses traveled between these two towns and knew people in both locations. Of course its just a stab in the dark but stranger things have been known to happen. I assume Katharina Schneider died in or prior to 1817. She left Johann with possibly 8 living Children. I doubt he could travel easily with such a brew. Which mean Katharina Mellert probably came to him, prehaps she was a friend or relative of Katharina Schneider from her home town?