My roots are from Appanoose county, Iowa, and Perry & Westmoreland counties, Pennsylvania on my father's side (Hunter, Burkepile) who came from Scotland/Ireland and Germany, respectively. My mother's side (Harper, Gilmour, Taliaferro) included American pioneers from the 1700's who came from Scotland (Harper), Ireland (Gilmour), and England (Taliaferro) who spread to Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois and other states west.

My husband is descended from the Bartels family of Schaumburg-Lippe, Germany who settled in Saline County, Nebraska; and from the Tatkenhorst family from Oppenwehe in Lubbecke Germany who first settled in Bartholomew County, Indiana and then came to Lincoln County, Kansas.

I have done, and continue to do, research on all the family lines on both my and my husband's side. I have a great deal more information on the family from Lincoln County, Kansas (St. John's and St. Paul's are the church graveyards where they are buried).