I've received another source of information, this one first hand narrative of the memories of two children from the marriage of Phillip C. Gelling and Elizabeth Johnson. This narrative was written in 1983 and contains text/photos/obituaries, hand written/typed on legal size paper, 27 pages.

This narrative starts with the family of Robert Gelling and Catherine Cain so at least, with your help, I've been able to add one earlier generation, i.e., the marriage of Robert Gelling who married Jane Kelley.

Rather than my trying to correct/add the previous information I had provided, I would be happy to mail a copy to Eric and a source in the IOM. If you are interested, please send your physical address to me @ bonijo@cableone.net.

I would appreciate any further information regarding why the Gelling members left the IOM, what the way of life was, etc. Eric, you mentioned that Robert was a "miller." What does that mean? Farmer?

I have spent a month in Scandinavia visiting where my relatives originated from but this was prior to my marriage and the birth of my daughter (now 21). My goal is to return to Scandinavia and the IOM to not only allow me to experience where my family roots are but to instill in my daughter where those who came before her were raised and the struggles and sacrafices they made to emigrate from the country of birth.

Just for your information, I will be 60 years of age in 2012. There are very few of the next older generation living and most of them live in the provinces of Alberta and Sasaskewan, Canada. As is so often the case, I've waited too long to begin this search.

Bonnie Gelling