Here are a few old family letters with mention of prior generations' names and locations.
[B]efore I forget I must give you the names of our Great-grand-parents, and Uncle Peter [Zimmerman] wanted me to be sure and tell you that our grand-mother's father who was John Nilles, was with Napoleon on the Island Helena he was one of the Guards. Uncle Peter says our Ancestors were originally french, and both our great-grand-fathers fought in the [F]rench army. Here are the names on our mother's father's side. There were three generations of Peter Zimmerman, her grand-mother was before marriage to Peter Zimmerman Katherine Bierer. Mother's mother was Angela Nilles and she was the daughter of John Nilles and Katherine Zanarlie. Uncle Peter says that Angela was quite a common name among the Prussian people.
I don't know a thing about our Dad's people, excepting that he had an older brother named John and two Sisters[. W]e had a photo of Uncle John's family, they had four sons and one daughter, the daughter became a nun. They were educated people because they wrote better english letters than we did living here in an english speaking country. Our Dad always said he had no relatives in this country, and he never wanted to be taken for a [F]rench [C]anadian. I have often been sorry that we didn't learn more about our relatives.
Letter from ANNE (Brisbois) McDONALD, 1933
(born 1878, married Ronald McDonald, sister of Nicholas M. Brisbois)
I am sorry, but have looked through everything but cannot find any baby picture of Nic's guess it wasn't done very much when we were babies, and of course snap shots were unheard of those days. I finally got the names from Uncle Peter [Zimmerman], he had them all written down some time ago, but Aunt Josephine mislaid them, and they couldn't be found. Uncle Peter is very deaf, and it is only in the very best of light that he can see enough to write. I think he has aged a lot this last year. I am sending them to you just as he wrote them. I think he writes very well for so old a man. I have a copy for myself, I see he has given his grand-mother's name as Katherine Reid instead of Katherine Bierer [could be Biener or Biirer] as he did before, so called him over the phone and asked him about it. I talked to Aunt Josephine, and she asked him about it. He said Katherine Ried was his great-grand-mother, he is sure where she was born. As to our Father's relatives, I can find only one photo of our Uncle John Brisbois and family and that was taken in Luxembourg by Charles Bernhorff, as far as I can make out it doesn't give any street or number, out side of the telephone number which is No. 65.
I wish we could learn more of our ancestors on our Father's side. On this photograph there are our Uncle, Aunt, one daughter and 5 sons. I remember Pa telling us that his brother had a job as a depot agent, or something in that line[. H]is father's name was also Peter Brisbois; our cousin, Uncle John's only daughter, became a nun. If Briz does write and hears from them, wish you would let me know.
Second letter from ANNE (Brisbois) McDONALD, 1933
(born 1878, married Ronald McDonald, sister of Nicholas M. Brisbois)
[married to Josephine Miller, brother of Anne Zimmerman, and uncle to Nicholas M. Brisbois (1880-1964, son of Peter Brisbois & Anne Zimmerman), uncle also to Ann (Brisbois) McDonald (daughter of Peter Brisbois & Anne Zimmerman), see previous letter]
My father was
Peter Zimmerman born in Nittel.
85 years old.
My Father's Father was
Peter Zimmerman 85 years old.
Born in Nittel.
My Great-Grand-Mother Katherine Reid
Born in Nittel. 90 years old.
Kneir [?] Saarburg Rhein Germany.
My Mother's Father was Johann [?] Nilles.
Born in Hellendorf. Was 81 years old.
My Grand-Mother was Katherine Zanerlie.
Born in Orthholz. 91 years old.
Kneir Saarburg Rhein Preussen Germany.
My mother was 50 years old.
Her name was Angela Nilles.
How nice of you to remember my birthday. It was good to hear from you, I thank you.
We had a lovely time, the gang were all here, Helen Mae provided the lunch and Letty baked and decorated a luscious cake.
Joe and Diane had written a poem about me and sang it to the tune of "If You Know Mother Like I Do, Oh What A Gal" Then Duke put the cake on the table near me and they all circled around and sang Happy Birthday.
I recall that there was a Jacob [Jake] Brisbois in the family. I am not sure but think he was a bit older than Joe. He and Joe were working in a logging camp in Northern Wisconsin one winter. Jake got desperately ill and before they could get help he died of a ruptured appendix. I know no details. Suppose any documents were with Anne and goodness knows what became of them at her death.
The families here are all well and busy.
Betty is having a big problem. They had four terrific hail storms this summer - unheard of down there. Her whole house was badly damaged, roof, paint inside and out and one big window. She has been dealing with the insurance companies and hoped work would start this week. Wish I could be with her.
Love to you and yours,
[signed] Helen [m. Joseph Nicholas Brisbois]
Hope my birthday report didn't bore you.