This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: CASSEL/WOOD/DELONG/RAITZ/LINSE Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/gFC.2ACI/1296 Message Board Post: THIS IS A TOUGH ONE, HERE WE GO: My grandfather Forest Henry WOOD was born in Colesburg, Delaware Co, Iowa on February 18, 1872 (Iowa didn't officially start keeping records until 1880). This information came from his Social Security records. HERE'S WHERE IT GETS COMPLICATED: Forest was born out of wedlock to Alice CASSEL. At a very early age he was transported up the Mississippi River to Eau Galle, Dunn Co, Wisconsin and adopted by Elisa CASSEL (sister to Alice) and her husband George or William WOOD. NOW THROW IN THE FAMILY LEGEND: Alice had been captured in an Indian raid (Lacota Sioux) and when she was rescued or "came out" she brought Forest with her. VISITS BETWEEN ALICE AND FOREST: During the 1920's Forest drove the River Road from Eau Galle, Wisconsin to Iowa to visit his mother twice but her husband Rube SMITH asked him not to return. FOREST'S MARRIAGES: Forest WOOD married Louisa DELONG (of Eau Galle) and later MAEBELLE RAITZ (of Fountain City). We've had little difficulty tracing from Forest to current generations -- we've had absolutely no success tracing back to his mother or the CASSEL family. THE TRAIL IS COLD IN IOWA AND LUKEWARM IN WISCONSIN Any suggestions? This summer I trekked through Dunn County with my parents and grandson. My father, Marvin WOOD, grew up in Eau Galle, Wisconsin until the age of 12 and had many WOOD/DELONG step brothers and sisters who lived most of their lives in Dunn County. I'm having great difficulty connecting to the CASSEL surname, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Kathy