You are probably right on the Kaufmann family
as my uncle's book just says north Germany.
I just assumed it might be the Oldenburg area
since Greencreek, Illinois ancestors seem to
be from that area. I just haven't been able to pull
up anything on the Kaufmann's in Germany that
applies to my great grandpa Ferdinand Bernard.
As for Anna Maria "Elizabeth" Niemann, I show her
father as Herman (1780-1854) and
mother as Maria Elisabeth Seelhorst (1790-1820)?
I show Herman's father as Tobias Ruholl (1755-?) and
Herman's wife as Catherine Maria Niemann 1754-1789).
I don't know how accurate that information is.
The other thing I would like to verify is the spelling of
Niemann and of course, I would love the rest of the
history on the Niemanns/Ruholls.
You are also correct on Osterhaus. I meant to say Steinfeld.
However, that is just a guess as my Uncle wasn't specific as to
what area he was from, only that he got discharged from the
army out of Osnabruck. I just happened to see some Osterhaus
(Osterhus) listed in Steinfeld (which I learned means stone field).
Yesterday I spent some time trying to study the geography of
the area but it's a bit confusing. Am I correct in assuming that
Vechta is like our county? The other thing that was confusing
is I saw Oldenburg next to a couple different cities on the map.
Do they have city-states in Germany?
As always, thank you for any assistance you can offer.
Angela