Mamie Staas was my grandmother, born NY abt 1868, married Sewell Downs. Family lore says her father came from Germany abt 1850 but I find no trace of anybody so far. There is a Henry Staas in the NYC 1869 directory and I believe she had a brother, Henry. Iknow the family lived at 114 Varrick St. also 119 Varrick probably in the 1860s, 70s, 80s, 90s. Might they be listed in Trow's Directory? Any other information?