Hi, This is as far back as I have. I would appreciate sharing information with anyone to fill in some of the blanks along the way or possibly find out more about Joseph's ancestors or descendants. Joseph m Christian MEDDERS 07/02/1868 at the Little Brown Church in the Vale, Iowa that the song is written about. Joseph was born in England. The story goes that he sailed from Liverpool when he was 7 years old with his mother, brother Robert, sister Jane and step-father PEAS. Some believe the family originated in Wales. Joseph ran away and joined the army underage. He was a drummer boy, captured and held in the deep south. He escaped, made his way North, rejoined the Northern Army and was a guard at Abraham Lincoln's funeral in Springfield, IL. Joseph received a medal which is in the Clear Lake Museum in Clear Lake, Wisconsin. Joseph and Christine (Christian) MEADOWS (MEDDERS) had ten children, seven boys and three girls. In 1870 the family was in Chickasaw county, Iowa. In 1880 the family was in York county, Nebraska. In 1885-1900 they were in LeSeur county, Minnesota. They moved to New Haven twp, Dunn county, Wisconsin in 1901. Joseph had a farm with 20 acres from 1901-1916. My husband's lines go this way down from Joseph. I have most of the siblings names and some dates along the way if anyone would like to share and compare. Joseph m Christian MEDDERS m1868 Fred A m Mary Ellen TRYONS m1894 Hiram (Hazle) m Mary SWANEPOEL (need info on her) m1931 Alvin m Nancy WEBSTER m1954 Mark m Sharon HICKEY (that is me!) m1983 Thanks again for any additional information or ideas on where to find some. Sharon