In a message dated 1/28/2006 11:17:24 A.M. Mountain Standard Time, [email protected] writes: <<As I understand your post, you are hoping to find Wilhelmine in Grant County prior to her marriage in order to identify her maiden name.>> Yes, and a general query for I'm hoping to find some descendants of the other children, since I have no idea where the early kids ended up. If they are researching their line, they would recognize their ancestor's name and the names of Robert and Wilhelmine--and know that someone else in the galaxy is researching their line. So far, I believe I'm the only one doing genealogy research on the Grant County Schenks. << I find Michael, but don't readily find Robert Schenk in censuses in Wisconsin.>> Yes, Michael stayed in WI while Robert and Wilhelmine moved on to Illinois sometime 1866 and 1869. << I do find this birth index entry which may or may not be for Laura/Lena: Lina Schunk 17 Jan 1857 Milwaukee 0141 000947>> According to 1870 KS census records, Laura/Lena was born in 1859. She was probably born in Grant county, since her parents were married 6 Dec 1856, and land was bought '55 and '58.