I am really excited over this discovery as My grand father Mentle whitney named my dad Berniece but it was supposed to be Burnice and I do know that there was a Whitney Payne connection in the family but I did not know how. I know that Mentle was born in NY state also but do not know where. He was born in 1864. I feel like there is finally a crack in the wall. LoisBauman@cs.com