If I had known Ms Buck was my 7th cousin, 3 times removed, in High School, when I had to read The Good Earth, I am sure I would have milked it for extra credit!  We are supposed to be related through our MRCA, Christian Gerber (1592-1650), the 5 times great grandfather of my 2 times great grandmother, Mary Ann Allen (1836-xxx), the furthest documented ancestor I have in the Allen Lineage.  (I have some work to do, that is really not very far back compared to the rest of my tree!!!  And, I have not found Grandmother Mary Ann’s death record either!).  I could have asked for double extra credit for knowing what the S stood for: Sydenstriker, Pearl’s maiden name!