I finally found the connection between these two families thanks to a letter I just received from Ruth Schlewitz. My first cousin twice removed, Lydia Schlewitz, married Otto Semisch. Lydia was the daughter of John Schlewitz and Minnie Schnitke. John was the son of my gg-grandfather Wilhelm. Ruth is the widow of Lydia's youngest brother, Reinhard. I didn't even know Lydia existed until the letter arrived yesterday. Ruth also gave me the names of a few other brothers and sisters that I was unaware of because they were not on the census records with John and Minnie. This is the power of blind letter writing. I wrote to several of the Schlewitzs that showed up in the Eau Claire Co phone book, and Ruth was the first to respond. -michelle ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com