John,

I haven't had any problems or difficulties in dealing with any genealogy sites. So I can't really give you any advice on how to (or not to) proceed to protect yourself and your computer.
I was in Hamlin County this past August and discovered when I went to the Records Office that you are not allowed to look at the Birth/Death records unless you are a registered genealogist with the State of South Dakota. Since I didn't know this prior to getting to the Records Office, I was unable to look at any of the death certificates of our Schieffelbein/Schlender relatives. I had hoped the death certificates might state who their parents were. It was very, very disappointing. I was able to go out to the cemetery where many of our relatives are buried. It took me a while to figure out that the writing on some of the older stones was in German! I did get a photo of Wilhemine Schieffelbein's headstone. I believe that Wilhemine is Louise, Earnest, Bertha, William and Frank's mother.

One interesting note I did find in the Library in Hamlin County. There is another family of Schieffeblein's who moved to Hamlin around 1887. I found a bio on them and they are not our immediate family. Possibly a relative - but if so, I'm not able to tie them together. According to the bio, this other Schieffelbien family had lived in Wisconsin for a number of years before making the decision to move to South Dakota.

I have not seen the info on Schivelbein or Schivelbein castle. I haven't done much work on the family outside of the US.

Can you refresh my memory on how we might be related? My great-great grandfather was William Schieffelbein.

Good to hear from you. There don't seem to be many who are researching the Schieffelbein family!

Marla