For years I've looked curiously at this copy of a photograph, evidently from an old post card, of the Mattoon Mercantile. Written on the back was that my great grandfather Christian Weber's sister had married a Mr. Kaiser and ran that store. (Christian Weber's wife's maiden name was Anna Kaiser also, daughter of Andreas Kaiser and Magdalena Esslinger) I've not been able to find any Mr. Kaiser at Mattoon as yet, probably because it was innacurate information given to me... since it appears that Mrs. Nick Lorrig was the Kaiser ...I've also had these photos of Annie Lorrig, with no mention of who she is in relation to our family. In reading over the last will and testament of my great grandfather's brother, Peter Weber, whose estate was processed on October 25, 1954. I noticed a list of grand nieces and nephews including the names: Gustave J. Kastner, LaCrosse, Grand-nephew Margaret K. Kasbohm, Milwaukee, Grand-niece Helen K. Friske, Milwaukee, Grand-niece Anne K. Jackson, Gulport, Miss. , Grand-niece Emma K. Bentley, Milwaukee, Grand-Niece Frances K. Amann, Milwaukee, Grand-niece Paul Kaiser, Unknown location, Grand-nephew Michael J. Kaiser, died July 30, 1953 -- see note**note says that heirs are Adela, widow, 3 sons: Roland J., Norton N. and Cletus H. of Milwaukee, Wis. John Kaiser, Milwaukee, Grand-Nephew Nicholas Kaiser, Milwaukee, Grand-nephew George Kaiser, West Bend, Wis, Grand-nephew Peter Kaiser, Sand Diego, CA, Grand-nephew Ray G. Kaiser, Milwaukee, Grand-nephew Frances Melchiors, Chicago, IL, Grand-niece Estella Mooney, Okemos, Mich, Grand-niece Rose Uhlenbrauck, Lansing, Mich, Grand-niece Mary Towner, Cincinnati Ohio, Grand-niece John Lorrig, Shawano, Wis, Grand-nephew Joseph M. Fuchs, St. Louis, MO, Grand-nephew Marla S. Weiss, Robertson, Missouri, Grand-niece These names were not familiar to me. However a recent discovery led me to a website at <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~antigowis/mattoon/lorrig.html>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~antigowis/mattoon/lorrig.html Upon review the photos and information given at this website, I checked census records for the Mattoon area, and see that some of the grand-nieces mentioned were Lorrigs. Also one of the photos of a Lorrig in a horse drawn carriage in front of a retaining wall is the same wall, the same horse, the same dwelling, as a photo I have of Annie Lorrig. (I sent my photos to the webmaster of the website so he can add them if he wishes.) So now I know that the Lorrigs are the family that operated the Mercantile, that Mrs. Nick Lorrig was a Kaiser (Anna Kaiser), which is the same as my grandmother's maiden name--who married Christian Weber. However, what I don't know is who Anna Kaiser Lorrig's parents were, or exactly what the connection is to my Kaiser/Weber family. I would appreciate it if anyone who is familiar with this information, family, further history of the Mattoon area, Lorrig & related families, to please contact me so that we can compare notes and exchange information. Thanks! Patti Laessig at anaquea@dwave.net No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.14/1425 - Release Date: 5/9/2008 12:38 PM