This is my husbands line, and I have gained a great deal of information since last posting here in 2000. The family immigrated to Kansas from a village near Stendal, Germany in 1884. They first stopped at Carbondale, KS and then moved to the Perry / Grantville area in Jefferson Co., KS. Below are the basics. I have more, but nothing prior to immigration. I recently found an old family tree with pictures attached. Please contact me at Tracy.Matthias@wildblue.net if this looks like your line. Thanks!

Johann Christoph 'Christopher' Matthias
b. May 7, 1824 Uenglingen, Stendal, Germany
d. Sep 18, 1888 Perry, Jefferson, Kansas

Karoline Sophie Louise Piper
b. Germany
(Most have Johann's wife listed as Dorothea Elisabeth Piper b. Aug 24, 1831, and Elisabeth is the name listed in all census. However, I have a picture of Johann with Karoline listed in the family tree of my inlaw's wedding book. Neither of these women's names are with the other famiy graves at Mt. Calvary cemetary. Any info to clear up this mistery would be appreciated.)

Johann had the following six children:
Frederick William Matthias b. Dec 29, 1855 d. Aug 17, 1913
Christoph 'Christ' Matthias b. Aug 8, 1857
Dorothea 'Dora' Elisabeth Matthias b. Nov 26, 1861 d. Jan 18, 1956
Wilhelmina 'Minnie' Matthias b. Dec. 15, 1863 d. Mar 31, 1941
Christoph August Wilhelm 'William' Matthias b. Feb 4, 1866 d. Aug 1946 (this is my husbands grandfather)
Elisabeth 'Lizzie' Matthias b. Jan 3, 1869 d. Oct 27, 1950