To Lorraine Colgan:
I've just seen your post of nearly two years ago:
"There were two cousins who went to IOM every year with an umpha band. When the Franco Prussian war started they decided not to return to Germany. One of these cousins was my great grandfather John, who married Margaret Fitzsimmons who was his ladlady;'s daughter. The other cousin was (I think) the grandfather of Steve Lahmers who had a dance band in the IOM".

John was also my great greandfather.

We have been looking up the family history for a while, but it was the first time that I looked up Stevie Lahmers and up popped your post.

I always that there it was two brothers who came from Germany, John and Jacob. I saw Henry on the census records and wondered how hw came into it.

My grandmother was John's daughter Margaret.

I am in touch with some of my great-uncle Dougie's family and have talked to Stevie's son Harry, but he doesn't know much about the family history.
I sent him a copy of the family tree (drawn up by Dougie's son and updated by one of his grandsons), but haven't had a reply from Harry.

My understanding is that Stevie was John's grandson - his father was William Henry.

I've mislaid my copy of the family tree for the moment and I'd be interested to know how you fit into the family.