Me again, with another ancestor picture. This is a picture of F. Alois Walter (Alois is Tom's and siblings' great-grandfather, father of Albert, their grandpa and grandfather of Eugene, their father), and his five sisters.

They are Magdalena (b.1836), Susanna (b.1841), Theresa (b.1844), Mary (b.1850) and Louisa (b.1853). Alois was born in 1838. These are not in order as the picture had no identification on it.

In 1847, Ignatz (their father) and Abundantia (their mother), along with Magdalena, Alois, Susanna and Theresa, who were all born in Sinzheim, Baden-Wurtennburg, Germany, came over on a ship called the "Boston." They landed in New York City, and travelled on to Allegheny County, in Pennslyvania. Mary and Louisa were born in Pennsylvania.

Not sure when they left PA., but it had to be between 1853, when Louisa was born and 1860, when they first showed up on the census in Washington County, OH.

Some Hucks and Rauchs were on the Boston with them, and also settled in PA and then came to OH at the same time. Abundantia was a Rauch.

Aunt Joan had this picture in her drawer and had no idea who it was. I had just discovered that Alois had five sisters, from reading Abundantia's will, and so I was so excited to find this picture.

Still working on why, when and how they settled in PA and then came to OH.

I know you younger ones won't know who we are talking about, but Tom's siblings will recognize all the names. There are only half-a-dozen names in the Churchtown area as they all intermarried. Now you know why this family is the way it is!! (We ARE awfully close to West Virginia.)

Enough history for now -- Tom is at chemo this morning. He is doing so well. This treatment he is taking now does not seem to have as bad side effects as the others, and he is feeling great.

May will be here for Thanksgiving -- can hardly wait. Don't see her often enough. We have such fun together.

'Nuff for now -- love to all of you.

Arlene