My great-great grandmother was Maria Reiss. She was married to Ambros Reiss. I think they came from the Baden-Baden area of Germany. They had two children, Elizabeth who married Martin Woerner. and Frank who died as a teenager I beleive. I do not know any more about them but thought I'd give the Maria Reiss connection a try. She was born in 1834 in Germany I guess and died in St. Louis, MO in 1905. Ambros was 1836-1892 same places as Maria.
If you think there might be a connection please contact me at rbozzay@earthlink.net