I am a retired teacher and have been researching two family lines with much frustration and many dead ends. My paternal line: Ferdinand A. Kruger (b. 1829) came from Kolleda, Germany -where he was born-to the U.S. to USA 9-22-1836, NYC where his parents settled in Columbus, Ohio. Parents Frederick (Friederich) August Kruger ( c 1791-July, 18 56-Columbus) and Christiane Rosine (Rosetta) Tummel (1805-1886). Ferdinand left Columbus for some reason and moved to Madison, IN where he married Phoebe Gaumer. They had four children there in the 1850s (inc Ferdinand) and ended up in Paducah, KY. where there were 6 more kids. That Kruger line name died but the family continued with their many strong women. William Henry Starr's wife Mahala A. Williamson Bird is my other mystery. Her Cherokee roots are simply listed as Cherokee Nation East-some records say Randolph Co., NC. I have posted Sarah Bird Starr Knowles' picture who is shown with my grandmother Margie Bradshaw Hendricks. Sarah was my gg-grandmother. I deeply appreciate the generosity of other genealogists and hope I can help as well.

I am a retired teacher and have been researching two family lines with much frustration and many dead ends. My paternal line: Ferdinand A. Kruger (b. 1829) came from Kolleda, Germany -where he was born-to the U.S. to USA 9-22-1836, NYC where his parents settled in Columbus, Ohio. Parents Frederick (Friederich) August Kruger ( c 1791-July, 18 56-Columbus) and Christiane Rosine (Rosetta) Tummel (1805-1886). Ferdinand left Columbus for some reason and moved to Madison, IN where he married Phoebe Gaumer. They had four children there in the 1850s (inc Ferdinand) and ended up in Paducah, KY. where there were 6 more kids. That Kruger line name died but the family continued with their many strong women. William Henry Starr's wife Mahala A. Williamson Bird is my other mystery. Her Cherokee roots are simply listed as Cherokee Nation East-some records say Randolph Co., NC. I have posted Sarah Bird Starr Knowles' picture who is shown with my grandmother Margie Bradshaw Hendricks. Sarah was my gg-grandmother. I deeply appreciate the generosity of other genealogists and hope I can help as well.