I am looking for any information for a John or Jean Lannier/Lanier. He came to America directly from France. Date unknown. He was married to, wife unknown, maiden name either Roper or Raper, and had at least one child by the name of Mary Magdaline Lanier born in the year of 1851 or 1852 in Illinois. We beleive she was born in St. Clair County, possibly in the township of E. St. Louis. We also believe that she had a full blooded sibling as well. But we cannot find any info. if there was. The only name I can find that may possibly be a sibling is a George Virgil Lanier born in 1852 in New York. He was living in Hanibal, MO. at the time of the 1880 census. But I cannot prove or disprove any possible link to our family.

John's first wife was said to have died, date unknown but it was 1856 or sooner, and he re-married a Drucilla Hinton (maiden name) She was married at least once before to an Isham Clayton prior to marrying John.

John and Drucilla had at least two children. First known child is Mathias/ Mathew/Mathiss N. Lanier born in Nov. 1856 in Illinois died in 1929 in Texas County, MO. Second child is Victoria Drucilla Lanier. Born in Feb. 1858 in Illinois and died 1942 in Oakland, CA.

John's second wife Drucilla re-married a Benjamin Walker in 1860 in Monroe County, Illinois. So I am assuming that John had passed away sometime between 1857 and 1860.

I have not been able to locate a John Lanier in any of the census that I have been able to access. It is quite possible that he was never caught in one.

I know we had or have Lanier relations out in CA. as Victoria moved out to CA. sometime in the 1930's to be closer to a relative. Also a Lanier relation from CA. had at one time long ago made contact with my Great Grandmother and with a grandson of Mary's. This relation tried to pass on the family history, but sadly it was never written down by either of the folks he made contact with. My grandmother who was quite young at the time does remember that this person was trying to give family history, but she was to young to remember very much. Now I have no idea who this relative was or who his descendants are and trying to do a look up for our Lanier relations in CA is like looking for a needle in a haystack especially when you do not know how this relation is related.

I am hoping that someone can help me out with further information. Thank-you in advance.