Could his middle name be Chester? My father was Robert Chester Japhet, my mother told me that his side of the family took the name Japhet right out of the bible, she also said they had been around for a very long time. She said most of my fathers family lived in Michigan. My Mom's maiden name was Rita Coch she was of German decent. My fathers mother was Margaret Japhet from Laporte Indiana, Her husbands name was James Japhet, their other son was a prisoner of war in world war two, but he did come back his name was James Japhet. Jr, he died in Laporte In. I want to say 1968. give or take a year. At some point they all worked at the same factory. Forgive me but I was only 8 when my father passed of massive heart attack. died at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge Il. My Mom lived exactly 20 years later. He died in 1966 my Mom died in 1986, she had colon cancer and was treated at Holy Family Hospital in DesPlaines Il I have two cousins that I still talk to Kathy Kaufman from Laporte In. my older cousin who is James Jr,s daughter, and Carol Bigg her sister. We are all Japhet's, my older sister Janice Weiner, my younger sister Margaret Buckley, and myself Grace Bodycot. my older sister lives here in Bensonville Il. My younger sister lives in HarborWalk Tx. I live in Wheeling Il. I'm sorry if this doesn't help you much, but I am really fascinated by all of this.