Hi Trish,

I was running a search on Gravenstein and found your old post and hope this might be of some help. Just this morning I was looking at the 1965 Centenniel book for the Forreston Grove Presbyterian Church in Forreston, Ogle, Illinois and they had a nice photo of Christian Gravenstein, in a section noting the "religious legacy" of the church (i.e., members that went on to have a career in ministry or mission). Unfortunately, I don't have it with me at this moment, but I recall a young man with a hard edge and a bushy mustache. I can scan it later and send it to you if you would like (my own computer is in the shop at the moment).

I noted him because I am looking for relatives of a Martinus Gravenstein who I believe came to Forreston from Weener, Ostfriesland (also, Hannover), Germany - northwest corner of Germany by the border with the Netherlands. Martinus and his wife Siena came to the US and are buried in White Oak Cemetery in Forreston; unfortunately, no headstone has been found. Their granddaughter was Maike (Maggie) Alberts who was my great-grandmother (parents Beene Alberts and Eintje or Aentje Gravenstein, husband Hinderk or Henry Jacob Buss). Christian might have been an uncle or cousin. Maggie came to America about 1857 when she was seven.

If this is your family, please contact me.

Randy Buss
RandyBss@aol.com