I am researching my ancestor Barbara Stierli, daughter of Susanna Stierli (which tells me she is illegitimate) as stated on her marriage certificate to Johann Gottlieb Hottmann dated 5 Aug. 1856 in Sauk County, Wisconsin, USA. Barbara and Johann had a daughter Elisabeth born July 1854 in Switzerland. By this birth date I am calculating Barbara's birthdate to be about 1834. They immigrated to America in 1854 and to Wisconsin by 1856 when my great-grandfather Christian Frederich Hottmann was born. Barbara died in Dec. 1857 in Arena, Iowa County, Wisconsin. I have checked the Swiss Surname Book for villages where the Stierli name existed prior to 1800 and from 1800-1900. I have pinpointed six localities in Canton Aargau: Aristau, Boswil, Gebenstorf, Goeslikon, Muri, and Turgi and three in Canton Zurich: Birmensdorf, Kloten, and Urdorf. The LDS has microfilmed Buergerakten (citizen records???) for the surname Stierli in Aristau from 1630-1791, but this is too early for me. Where do I go from here? Johann Gottlieb Hottmann was from Grunbach, Wuerttemberg, Germany. Darcy from River Falls, Wisconsin