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Remembering Paul Burton Curry
In honor of Memorial Day, I have chosen to profile an ancestor from my tree who died in the line of duty in World War II. Paul Burton Curry (1922-1945) was born in Ellettsville, Indiana. He graduated from high school in 1940 and entered the University of Indiana as a pre-med student. He entered the…
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My Granduncle: Twentieth Century Scottish Stoic
My granduncle, James Williamson (1912-1981), was diagnosed with epilepsy at a young age. Earlier, I wrote at length about how this neurological disorder impacted his professional and personal aspirations. I also contemplated how today’s advances in medical and genetic science might have benefitted him. What I did not discuss in that essay is how James…
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FaceTiming from the Cemetery
A Cross-Generational Virtual Adventure… Continue reading FaceTiming from the Cemetery →
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It Takes a Village
They had no children of their own, but these three sisters mentored countless children. 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 19-“A Question the Records Can’t Answer” Prompt: Outside of letters and diaries, most of the records we use in genealogy don’t tell us the “why” and “how” of our ancestors’ lives. We can read the…
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Theme and Variations
I… Continue reading Theme and Variations →
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Catering to the College Crowd
Feeding thousands of hungry college students was all in a day’s work for my great-grand uncle.… Continue reading Catering to the College Crowd →
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War and Peace
What would it be like to have lived your entire life without your country ever being involved in war?… Continue reading War and Peace →
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Deceptive Cadences
It may not give one bragging rights, but it’s still thrilling to find out you’re related to someone famous. … Continue reading Deceptive Cadences →
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Addition by Substraction
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 14-A Brick Wall Revisited Prompt: Sometimes it takes a set of fresh eyes to solve a problem. Has that happened with you in your genealogy? (Of course, there are other ways to interpret this theme. Any bricklayers in the family?) I have extended the generations of my family tree…
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Mad About Plaid
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 13-A Family Pattern Prompt: There are so many ways this theme could go! Naming patterns, behavior, migration, following an occupation for several generations, even sewing! Before I ever embarked on genealogy research, I knew that I was of Scottish heritage and wanted to know what plaid pattern, or “tartan,”…
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Winds of Time
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 12-An Address With a Story. Prompt: So many stories are tied to a place. (For me, it would be my Grandma’s house.) What is a place that has special meaning for your family? When I think of my paternal grandparents, especially my grandmother, I think of their home. I…
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When a Wound Led to a Wedding
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 11-A Turning Point Prompt: In storytelling, there’s the pivotal moment – something happens and nothing is the same afterward. Think of a turning point in the life of an ancestor. It could be going to college, going to war (or not), or making an unpopular choice. You could also…
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Houses Divided
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 10- Changed My Thinking Prompt: Genealogy is all about discovery. What is something you’ve found about an ancestor that changed your way of thinking about them? Perhaps genealogy has led you to think about bigger issues differently. Approaching this assignment, I thought about what might have been bigger issues…
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Bothered and Bewildered
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 9 – Conflicting Clues Prompt: The theme for Week 9 is “Conflicting Clues.” Sources don’t always agree, and it’s up to us as genealogists to sort out what is correct. This week, explore an ancestor whose records pointed in different directions. How did you sort it out? It’s been…
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He Shall Feed [and Follow] His Flock
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 8 – A Big Decision Prompt: The theme for Week 8 is “A Big Decision.” Life is filled with choices – some easy, some life-changing. Think about a big decision an ancestor had to make. Maybe it was choosing between staying in their home or moving across the ocean.…
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Bringing Home the Bacon
Discovering the jobs held by my ancestors. 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 7 – What the Census Suggests Prompt: Census records are part of the foundation of genealogy research. This week, what is something surprising that you’ve found in the census? Is there something that helped break down a brick wall or give insight…
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Behind the Lens
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 6 – Favorite Photo Prompt: Asking a genealogist to pick their favorite photo is like asking a parent to pick their favorite kid. Don’t stress on picking your absolute favorite – just choose one and tell the story of the people and place in the photo. Don’t forget about…
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What’s in a Name?
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 5 – A Breakthrough Moment Prompt: Every genealogist has at least one moment when something finally clicks. It could be breaking down a brick wall, discovering a long sought-after record, or seeing an ancestor in a new light. This is a good week to write about this discovery. I…
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There’s No Place Like a New Home
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 4 – Theory in Progress Prompt: There are times when you aren’t quite sure what is right in your research. This is a good week to explore a theory that you have about someone in your family tree. Feel free to post your links and stories in the comments.…
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”Join the Merchant Marines, See the World.”
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 3 – What This Story Means to Me Prompt: Some people don’t understand the appeal of genealogy. They think it’s only names and dates. What they don’t realize is that those names and dates lead to stories. This week, consider a story in your family history that means a…
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Regionalist Records
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 2 – A Record Records That Adds Add Color Prompt: Our ancestors were more than names and dates. This week, tell about a record that added color or context to an ancestor’s life. What did it tell you about that person that made them feel more “alive”? Or maybe…
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Spiritual Pioneers
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 1 – An Ancestor Ancestors I Admire Prompt: Many people begin their family history journey in order to feel more connected to their ancestors. Who is someone in your family tree you admire? It could be a parent, grandparent, or someone further back in the tree. How Robert Beattie Cathcart…
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For King and Country
The Seaforth Highlanders must have been something to see, waging battle in their traditional Scottish kilts accompanied by the skirl of bagpipes. A cousin fought for and lost his life in this Scottish division of the British army. Thanks to recently becoming acquainted with a living cousin, I now have a more vivid picture of…
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Mining My Archival Photo Collection
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 3: Favorite Photo PROMPT: The theme for Week 3 is “Favorite Photo.” Tell the story of a favorite photo: Who is in it, when and where it was taken, and why it was taken. This has always been a favorite photo of mine. I previously wrote a blog post…
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Sketching the Scene
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 4: Witness to History PROMPT: What historical events did your ancestor witness or live through? Don’t forget that local history is just as important as world history! My husband’s “Grandpa Joe” not only lived through and personally witnessed a lot of major historical events of the twentieth century,…
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Sunflower State Settlers
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 2: Origins PROMPT: Genealogists often get the question, “Where is your family from?” With this week’s theme, you could explore an immigrant ancestor, but you could also think about the origin of other aspects of your family. Who was the first person in your family to settle in a…
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Burning Questions
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 1: Family Lore PROMPT: Many of us have heard stories from our grandparents about incredible feats our ancestors did or a famous person we’re related to. What’s a tale that has been passed down in your family? Did it end up being true or did it turn out…
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Lost in Transcription
“How’s your shorthand?” prospective employers and temp agencies would ask. Oh, mine was lightning fast back in the day. I wonder if my stenography notebooks are still around somewhere…hmm. I even participated in numerous shorthand competitions, receiving sizable monetary prizes as well as scholarship offers from a Tulsa business school and from Northeastern State University.…
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On This Day: Birth of Elizabeth Ann Williamson Laney
Elizabeth Ann Williamson Laney was born 15 July 1915, in Pittsburg, Kansas; she died 9 June 2005 in Joplin, Missouri. If you are a member of Ancestry.com, perhaps you have seen one the of the site’s newest features, allowing one to “colorize” old photos. I was skeptical about whether literally one click of my mouse…
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Inmate No. 33501
I published the following post in February 2021. I’m reposting today in honor of National Moonshine Day. 🌽🥃 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 7 – Unusual Source Prompt: Not all of our genealogy discoveries come in the “regular” sources like vital records and the census. What is a discovery that you’ve made using an…
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Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk!
My maternal grandmother was a huge University of Kansas basketball fan. Like me, my grandmother grew up playing basketball in school. While I’m sure that had something to do with her passion for KU Basketball, my mother tells me that her mother became more interested in KU basketball when the family moved from Iola, Kansas,…
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The Color Purple
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 30: Health PROMPT: Week 30’s theme is “Health.” A person’s health has such an impact on everything in his or her life. Do you know of any health related events in an ancestor’s life? What about an ancestor who worked in medicine or health care? My granduncle James…
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State Your Name
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 31: Favorite Name People sometime ridicule celebrities for the “unusual” names they choose for their children. Clearly, they haven’t looked at some ancestral names, like “Strange Powers” or “Preserved Fish.” Who’s name in your family tree makes you smile? (Of course, you can interpret this theme however you’d…
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The Way You Wear Your Hat
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 29: Fashion PROMPT: It’s fun to look at old photos and think, “How did they wear that?!” Corsets, bustles, wool suits, and ridiculously large hats seem so impractical (not to mention heavy!) Any fashion mavens in your family tree? What about an ancestor who had their own sense…
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A Shovel on Steroids
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 28: Transportation PROMPT: As the daughter of a service station owner, I grew up around cars and developed an appreciation for them. Whether it’s planes, trains, or automobiles (or canal boats, or steamships, or… ), think about transportation and how it affected an ancestor. Did canals open up…
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Go From Your Country
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 27: Free PROMPT: Week 27’s theme is “Free.” You could focus on an ancestor seeking freedom, a free-for-all, your favorite free resource, or take it “free form” and write about whatever you want to write about! (Of course, that’s true any week!) My previous post detailed the religious…
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Religious Animals
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 26: Conflict PROMPT: Conflict seems to be part of the human experience. How did it affect your ancestors? It could be through war, legal conflicts, or bad relationships. You could also think about having to resolve conflicting evidence in your research. It could be argued that in the…
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Solidarity
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 25: Groups PROMPT: Humans are generally social creatures; that is, we tend to form or join groups. These groups could be familial or they could be by choice. Think about church groups, fraternal organizations, schools, jobs/trades, sports teams, or clubs that an ancestor belonged to. I am a…
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That’s Entertainment!
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 23: Bridge PROMPT: A bridge connects two things that are separated, whether it’s land or people (maybe even time?). You could take the theme literally and write about an ancestor who worked on bridges or had to cross them regularly. How about someone who worked or lived on…
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Father’s Day
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 24: Father’s Day PROMPT: In the US, Father’s Day is this coming Sunday (June 20), so what better time to have the theme of “Father’s Day”? In an attempt to create a quick post in order to get back on track with the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks…
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The Fighting Falcons
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 22: Military PROMPT: What is something you’ve learned about one of your military ancestors? I recently discovered information about a family member who died in combat in Germany in World War II. I knew that this new (to me) information would be material most appropriate for this post.…
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Midwest Pilgrimage
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 21: At the Cemetery PROMPT: Cemeteries are such special places; I feel drawn even to those where I don’t have any ancestors buried. Which cemetery is special in your family’s history? Do you have a story about “visiting” a special relative? Once again, this post did not meet…
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Gone Fishin’!
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 20: Cousin Bait PROMPT: “Cousin bait” is a term used to describe the ways we try to attract the attention of others researching our families. It could be things like blogging, having a public online tree, or leaving comments on a FindAGrave memorial. Have you successfully set cousin…
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Milk of Sisterly Kindness
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 19: Mother’s Day Prompt: Sunday was Mother’s Day in the US. This week, let’s take a look at the mothers you’re researching. (They do make up half of your family tree, after all!) I guess you could call this a mother-daughter-daughter story. My husband’s great-grandmother Tziporah “Sarah”/”Sela” Fox/Fuchs…
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Maine Attraction
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 17: Favorite Place Prompt: So many records that we use (and memories that we have) are tied to a place. What is a favorite place to research? What is a favorite ancestral home? Feel free to interpret this theme in your own way! While this assignment was “due”…
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Taking Cellfies
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 18: Crime and Punishment PROMPT: Our ancestors were human, so it tends to reason that someone in the family tree found themselves on the wrong side of the law. The upside for us is that they often created more records than the law-abiding ancestors! Yes, Your Honor, I…
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“A Dinna Ken”
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 16: DNA PROMPT: DNA. It’s amazing how three letters could so completely change the field of genealogy. What’s a discovery you’ve made with DNA? What about a brick wall that DNA might help break down? My father and I have each done DNA testing. I have to be…
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“Sometime I’ll Dance It One Time”
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 15: Brick Wall PROMPT: Brick Walls—we all have them. This would be a good week to write down what you know about your brick wall problem. (Sometimes just writing about it can help!) You could write about an ancestor who used to be a brick wall. Or get…
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The Great Plains
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 14: Great Week 14 should be great… because that’s the theme! It could be someone many generations back (like a great-great-great-great-great-grandfather), an ancestor who did something “great,” or someone who was great in some other way. (And remember — there is no “wrong” way to interpret a theme.…
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The Harmonious Hardings
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 13 PROMPT: Any musicians in the family? How about someone who loved music and dancing? What about someone who makes you think of a song? I am a professional musician. My parents are both musicians. But even before that, members of my mother’s paternal line–the Hardings—were professional musicians…
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Living with Loss
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 12: Loss PROMPT: Loss is universal. There are many ways to explore this theme, whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a livelihood, freedom. You could take a research-based angle on it and talk about the loss of records where your ancestors lived. There is a lot…
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The Real Thing
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 11: Fortune PROMPT: Week 11’s theme is “Fortune.” Merriam-Webster gives several definitions for fortune: A large sum of money; prosperity attained partly through luck; or destiny, fate. Be creative with this week’s prompt! The topic of “fortune” brought to mind a business owned and operated by family. I…
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John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 10: Name’s the Same PROMPT: Is there a name that keeps popping up in your family tree? Have you had to sort out multiple people with the same name? A mention of “Uncle Dave and Aunt Rose” in any conversation between my spouse and his sisters never fails…
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Double the Pleasure!
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 9: Multiples PROMPT: Any twins in the family? What about triplets? Or maybe you have an ancestor like my 3rd-great grandmother who was married multiple times. How about an ancestor who held down multiple jobs? A set of twins was born into my mother’s maternal family, the Cathcarts.…
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Twenty-Two Horsepower
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, Week 8: Power PROMPT: “Power.” Does that mean physical strength, political power, power in the family, electrical power? Yes. 😉 It’s a vague theme on purpose 🙂 It’s whatever the theme sparks in you. Once Henry Ford successfully installed an assembly line for the mass production of automobiles in December…
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On This Day: Woody’s Anthem
Eighty-one years ago today, Woody Guthrie composed what some might call an alternate “National Anthem.” Woody composed “This Land is Your Land” at the Hanover House hotel at 6th Avenue and 43rd Street in New York City, shortly after moving there from his native Oklahoma. I’ve always been a big fan of Woody Guthrie and…
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Inmate No. 33501
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 7 – Unusual Source Prompt: Not all of our genealogy discoveries come in the “regular” sources like vital records and the census. What is a discovery that you’ve made using an unusual source? One of the most unusual sources that I have used thus far in my genealogical research…
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Valentines
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 6 – Valentines PROMPT: Do you have any Valentines from any of your ancestors? Or maybe you have an ancestor named Valentine. (I remember when I was little being surprised to learn that Valentine was a “boy’s name.”) How about an ancestor that you wish you could exchange valentines…
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Food for Thought
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 5 – In the Kitchen Prompt: So many memories revolve around meals and cooking together. Do you have an ancestor who was a good cook (or maybe a notoriously bad cook!) What about a favorite recipe — where did it come from or who always cooked it? If that…
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My Favorite Photo
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 4: Favorite Photo PROMPT: Tell the story of a favorite photo — who is in it, when and where was it taken, and why was it taken. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a sepia-toned Victorian era photo. It could be a photo you took last week! (We…
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Good Books
Last week, the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C., was the site of the Inaugural ceremony for the incoming President and Vice President. Those leaders of the Executive branch then in turn swore in new members of the Legislative branch. When taking an oath, it is traditional to swear upon a Bible, though in…
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Designated by Denomination
Renwick Cargill Smith (1840-1903) 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 3: Namesake PROMPT: Are you named for one of your ancestors? Do you have an ancestor who was named for someone else (either in the family or a well-known person?) Renwick Cargill Smith came by his name because of his Scottish ancestors’ religious faith.…
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Lin-Manuel Miranda Forgot Someone.
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 2: Family Legend Prompt: Is there a tale that’s been passed down in your family? Have you proven (or maybe disproven) it? Perhaps you have an ancestor who was legendary (or should have been.) Long before Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier ever came to the shores…
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Beginnings
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge: Week 1 PROMPT: Who inspired your first search? Who is at the beginning of one of your ancestral lines? Who are you beginning to research this year? The genesis of my interest in researching my family tree was my daughter who would invariably ask me prior to every St.…
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Challenge Accepted!
Every year about this time one sees advice for keeping one’s New Year’s Resolutions. Invariably, these pieces all contain a variation of something along the lines of, “Don’t be vague. Make your goals specific. ‘I want to do more of [fill in the blank] in the coming year,’ is not nearly as helpful as, ‘I…
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Memorial Day 2020
While members of my immediate family have served in the military, only distant members of my family–none of whom I ever met–have died in service to their country. For that, I am extremely fortunate. Knowing that, I endeavor every Memorial Day to highlight an individual in my family tree who did make this ultimate sacrifice.…
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On This Day: Birth of Clifford Lee Harding and Aubrey Nichole Laney
Clifford Harding was born October 17, 1942, in Iola, Kansas, and resides in Lawrence, Kansas. Aubrey Laney was born October 17, 1991, in Plano, Texas, and resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Clifford is my uncle. Aubrey is my niece. My Uncle Clifford and my mother, his older sister, Sandra Joyce Harding (b. 1938), grew up in…
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On This Day: Birth of Jean Linton
Jean Linton was born October 15, 1921, in Denison, Kansas. She currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jean Linton is my 1st Cousin 1X removed. Jean Linton and her younger sister Frances Linton (born in 1924 and also still living) were the children of William Roy Linton (1881-1964) and Vida Cathcart (1890-1994)—my great aunt. Jean left…
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On This Date: Marriage of John Wesley Laney and Cordelia Paris
John W. Laney and Cordelia Paris were married on October 15, 1877, in Greene County, Missouri. John and Cordelia Paris Laney were my great great-grandparents. John Wesley Laney’s father, John Laney (1817-1894)–my 3X great-grandfather–and his brother, George Marion Laney (1829-1893), had relocated to Greene County, Missouri, from Greene County, Tennessee in 1848. Cordelia’s father, John…
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On This Date: Death of Rachel Agnes “Aggie” Curry
Rachel Agnes Curry was born July 9, 1875, in Bloomington, Indiana; she died October 14, 1957, in Oskaloosa, Kansas. Rachel Agnes Curry was my great-grandmother. Agnes Curry and her family moved from her birthplace in Indiana to Jefferson County, Kansas, when she was five years old. She was one of six children of James Faris…
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On This Day: Birth of Robert Beattie Cathcart
Robert Beattie Cathcart was born on October 2, 1820, in Rocky Creek, South Carolina. He was my great great grandfather. Robert Beattie Cathcart was one of nine children born to John Cathcart (1789-1864) and Mary Harper (1789-1873), who were each born and raised in County Antrim, Ireland. The couple and their two small children immigrated…
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On This Day: Birth of Omar Weldon Laney
Omar Laney was born October 1, 1911, in Joplin, Missouri. He was my paternal grandfather. Omar Laney was the only child of Ernest Arthur Laney and Norma Ethel Lewis, both natives of Missouri. He attended Joplin High School, where he was a member of the ROTC. He was married for a few years to Juanita…
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On This Day: Marriage of David Williamson and Anna Young
David Williamson and Anna Young were married on September 26, 1872, in Perthshire, Scotland David and Anna Young Williamson were my great great grandparents. David Williamson was born June 27, 1846, in Crawford, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was one of seven children. He and at least one of his brothers were coal miners. His brother William…
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On This Day: Birth of Matilda Small Russell
Matilda Small Russell was born September 13, 1846, in Bloomington, Indiana. She was my great great grandmother. Matilda Russell, like many members of the maternal line of my family, was a descendant of Scottish Covenanters. For several centuries, this sect of Scottish Presbyterians fought for the right to uphold their own church government and practices…
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On This Day: Birth of John “Jack” McKeney Taylor, Jr.
Born September 10, 1854, in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Jack Taylor was my great great grandfather. Jack Taylor was born on this day in 1854 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. His parents, John McKeney Taylor, Sr. and Jane White Taylor, had married in their twenties and emigrated from Ireland in 1835. Both John Taylor, Jr., and his…
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Intergenerational Solidarity
Ernest Arthur Laney (1889-1958) was my father’s paternal grandfather. He was a miner in the lead and zinc mines that at one time dotted the landscapes of Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. One generation further removed on my father’s maternal side, his great grandfather, David Williamson (1846-1908) was also a miner. David Williamson, along with numerous…
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On This Day: Birth of Jennie “Jen” Nell Taylor
Born August 30, 1886, in Kansas City, Kansas Jennie Taylor Harding was my great grandmother. Jennie Taylor Harding was one of nine children born to John McKeney Taylor, Sr., born in Massachusetts, and Meta Christina Asmussen Taylor who was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Meta immigrated to Kansas with her family around 1870. On January 1,…
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On This Day: Birth of Reginald Harding
Born August 29, 1886, in England Reginald Harding was my great grandfather. Reginald Harding and his siblings and parents emigrated from England to Kansas when Reginald was about three years old. The Harding family’s arrival in Junction City, Kansas, made quite the big splash, even warranting a write-up in the social pages. Reginald Harding grew…
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Gestation through the Generations
Twenty-two years ago last night I was standing in my kitchen when I felt a deluge of warm water plunge all at once down my inner thighs, instantly soaking my clothes and creating a sizable puddle on the kitchen floor. My water had broken. My obstetrician had examined me only a few days earlier, boldly…
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The Farmer and the Cowman–and the Government–Should Be Friends
My maternal grandfather, Clifford Lorraine Harding, was born on this day in 1909 in Junction City, Kansas. He was a successful farmer in Northeastern Kansas. I fondly remember visiting my grandparents at their home in Lawrence, and I particularly enjoyed going there in the summertime. While my granddad had a large commercial farm outside of…
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A Place for Storytelling
I was born in Winchester, Kansas, and grew up in Cherokee County, Oklahoma—the capitol of the Cherokee Indian Nation—where I learned a lot about the history of the Cherokee (Tsalagi) people. One particularly fascinating tribal leader, Chief Sequoyah, created a system for writing the oral Cherokee language (Tsalagi Gawonihisdi.) The resulting “syllabary” of eighty-six characters…
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Remembering Paul Burton Curry
In honor of Memorial Day, I have chosen to profile an ancestor from my tree who died in the line of duty in World War II. Paul Burton Curry (1922-1945) was born in Ellettsville, Indiana. He graduated from high school in 1940 and entered the University of Indiana as a pre-med student. He entered the…
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My Granduncle: Twentieth Century Scottish Stoic
My granduncle, James Williamson (1912-1981), was diagnosed with epilepsy at a young age. Earlier, I wrote at length about how this neurological disorder impacted his professional and personal aspirations. I also contemplated how today’s advances in medical and genetic science might have benefitted him. What I did not discuss in that essay is how James…
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FaceTiming from the Cemetery
A Cross-Generational Virtual Adventure… Continue reading FaceTiming from the Cemetery →
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It Takes a Village
They had no children of their own, but these three sisters mentored countless children. 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 19-“A Question the Records Can’t Answer” Prompt: Outside of letters and diaries, most of the records we use in genealogy don’t tell us the “why” and “how” of our ancestors’ lives. We can read the…
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Theme and Variations
I… Continue reading Theme and Variations →
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Catering to the College Crowd
Feeding thousands of hungry college students was all in a day’s work for my great-grand uncle.… Continue reading Catering to the College Crowd →
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War and Peace
What would it be like to have lived your entire life without your country ever being involved in war?… Continue reading War and Peace →
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Deceptive Cadences
It may not give one bragging rights, but it’s still thrilling to find out you’re related to someone famous. … Continue reading Deceptive Cadences →
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Addition by Substraction
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 14-A Brick Wall Revisited Prompt: Sometimes it takes a set of fresh eyes to solve a problem. Has that happened with you in your genealogy? (Of course, there are other ways to interpret this theme. Any bricklayers in the family?) I have extended the generations of my family tree…
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Mad About Plaid
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 13-A Family Pattern Prompt: There are so many ways this theme could go! Naming patterns, behavior, migration, following an occupation for several generations, even sewing! Before I ever embarked on genealogy research, I knew that I was of Scottish heritage and wanted to know what plaid pattern, or “tartan,”…
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Winds of Time
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 12-An Address With a Story. Prompt: So many stories are tied to a place. (For me, it would be my Grandma’s house.) What is a place that has special meaning for your family? When I think of my paternal grandparents, especially my grandmother, I think of their home. I…
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When a Wound Led to a Wedding
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 11-A Turning Point Prompt: In storytelling, there’s the pivotal moment – something happens and nothing is the same afterward. Think of a turning point in the life of an ancestor. It could be going to college, going to war (or not), or making an unpopular choice. You could also…
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Houses Divided
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 10- Changed My Thinking Prompt: Genealogy is all about discovery. What is something you’ve found about an ancestor that changed your way of thinking about them? Perhaps genealogy has led you to think about bigger issues differently. Approaching this assignment, I thought about what might have been bigger issues…
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Bothered and Bewildered
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 9 – Conflicting Clues Prompt: The theme for Week 9 is “Conflicting Clues.” Sources don’t always agree, and it’s up to us as genealogists to sort out what is correct. This week, explore an ancestor whose records pointed in different directions. How did you sort it out? It’s been…
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He Shall Feed [and Follow] His Flock
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 8 – A Big Decision Prompt: The theme for Week 8 is “A Big Decision.” Life is filled with choices – some easy, some life-changing. Think about a big decision an ancestor had to make. Maybe it was choosing between staying in their home or moving across the ocean.…
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Bringing Home the Bacon
Discovering the jobs held by my ancestors. 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 7 – What the Census Suggests Prompt: Census records are part of the foundation of genealogy research. This week, what is something surprising that you’ve found in the census? Is there something that helped break down a brick wall or give insight…
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Behind the Lens
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 6 – Favorite Photo Prompt: Asking a genealogist to pick their favorite photo is like asking a parent to pick their favorite kid. Don’t stress on picking your absolute favorite – just choose one and tell the story of the people and place in the photo. Don’t forget about…
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What’s in a Name?
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 5 – A Breakthrough Moment Prompt: Every genealogist has at least one moment when something finally clicks. It could be breaking down a brick wall, discovering a long sought-after record, or seeing an ancestor in a new light. This is a good week to write about this discovery. I…
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There’s No Place Like a New Home
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 4 – Theory in Progress Prompt: There are times when you aren’t quite sure what is right in your research. This is a good week to explore a theory that you have about someone in your family tree. Feel free to post your links and stories in the comments.…
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”Join the Merchant Marines, See the World.”
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 3 – What This Story Means to Me Prompt: Some people don’t understand the appeal of genealogy. They think it’s only names and dates. What they don’t realize is that those names and dates lead to stories. This week, consider a story in your family history that means a…
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Regionalist Records
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 2 – A Record Records That Adds Add Color Prompt: Our ancestors were more than names and dates. This week, tell about a record that added color or context to an ancestor’s life. What did it tell you about that person that made them feel more “alive”? Or maybe…
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Spiritual Pioneers
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 1 – An Ancestor Ancestors I Admire Prompt: Many people begin their family history journey in order to feel more connected to their ancestors. Who is someone in your family tree you admire? It could be a parent, grandparent, or someone further back in the tree. How Robert Beattie Cathcart…
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For King and Country
The Seaforth Highlanders must have been something to see, waging battle in their traditional Scottish kilts accompanied by the skirl of bagpipes. A cousin fought for and lost his life in this Scottish division of the British army. Thanks to recently becoming acquainted with a living cousin, I now have a more vivid picture of…
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Mining My Archival Photo Collection
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 3: Favorite Photo PROMPT: The theme for Week 3 is “Favorite Photo.” Tell the story of a favorite photo: Who is in it, when and where it was taken, and why it was taken. This has always been a favorite photo of mine. I previously wrote a blog post…
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Sketching the Scene
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 4: Witness to History PROMPT: What historical events did your ancestor witness or live through? Don’t forget that local history is just as important as world history! My husband’s “Grandpa Joe” not only lived through and personally witnessed a lot of major historical events of the twentieth century,…
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Sunflower State Settlers
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 2: Origins PROMPT: Genealogists often get the question, “Where is your family from?” With this week’s theme, you could explore an immigrant ancestor, but you could also think about the origin of other aspects of your family. Who was the first person in your family to settle in a…
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Burning Questions
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 1: Family Lore PROMPT: Many of us have heard stories from our grandparents about incredible feats our ancestors did or a famous person we’re related to. What’s a tale that has been passed down in your family? Did it end up being true or did it turn out…
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Lost in Transcription
“How’s your shorthand?” prospective employers and temp agencies would ask. Oh, mine was lightning fast back in the day. I wonder if my stenography notebooks are still around somewhere…hmm. I even participated in numerous shorthand competitions, receiving sizable monetary prizes as well as scholarship offers from a Tulsa business school and from Northeastern State University.…
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On This Day: Birth of Elizabeth Ann Williamson Laney
Elizabeth Ann Williamson Laney was born 15 July 1915, in Pittsburg, Kansas; she died 9 June 2005 in Joplin, Missouri. If you are a member of Ancestry.com, perhaps you have seen one the of the site’s newest features, allowing one to “colorize” old photos. I was skeptical about whether literally one click of my mouse…
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Inmate No. 33501
I published the following post in February 2021. I’m reposting today in honor of National Moonshine Day. 🌽🥃 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 7 – Unusual Source Prompt: Not all of our genealogy discoveries come in the “regular” sources like vital records and the census. What is a discovery that you’ve made using an…
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Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk!
My maternal grandmother was a huge University of Kansas basketball fan. Like me, my grandmother grew up playing basketball in school. While I’m sure that had something to do with her passion for KU Basketball, my mother tells me that her mother became more interested in KU basketball when the family moved from Iola, Kansas,…
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The Color Purple
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 30: Health PROMPT: Week 30’s theme is “Health.” A person’s health has such an impact on everything in his or her life. Do you know of any health related events in an ancestor’s life? What about an ancestor who worked in medicine or health care? My granduncle James…
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State Your Name
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 31: Favorite Name People sometime ridicule celebrities for the “unusual” names they choose for their children. Clearly, they haven’t looked at some ancestral names, like “Strange Powers” or “Preserved Fish.” Who’s name in your family tree makes you smile? (Of course, you can interpret this theme however you’d…
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The Way You Wear Your Hat
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 29: Fashion PROMPT: It’s fun to look at old photos and think, “How did they wear that?!” Corsets, bustles, wool suits, and ridiculously large hats seem so impractical (not to mention heavy!) Any fashion mavens in your family tree? What about an ancestor who had their own sense…
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A Shovel on Steroids
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 28: Transportation PROMPT: As the daughter of a service station owner, I grew up around cars and developed an appreciation for them. Whether it’s planes, trains, or automobiles (or canal boats, or steamships, or… ), think about transportation and how it affected an ancestor. Did canals open up…
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Go From Your Country
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 27: Free PROMPT: Week 27’s theme is “Free.” You could focus on an ancestor seeking freedom, a free-for-all, your favorite free resource, or take it “free form” and write about whatever you want to write about! (Of course, that’s true any week!) My previous post detailed the religious…
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Religious Animals
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 26: Conflict PROMPT: Conflict seems to be part of the human experience. How did it affect your ancestors? It could be through war, legal conflicts, or bad relationships. You could also think about having to resolve conflicting evidence in your research. It could be argued that in the…
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Solidarity
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 25: Groups PROMPT: Humans are generally social creatures; that is, we tend to form or join groups. These groups could be familial or they could be by choice. Think about church groups, fraternal organizations, schools, jobs/trades, sports teams, or clubs that an ancestor belonged to. I am a…
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That’s Entertainment!
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 23: Bridge PROMPT: A bridge connects two things that are separated, whether it’s land or people (maybe even time?). You could take the theme literally and write about an ancestor who worked on bridges or had to cross them regularly. How about someone who worked or lived on…
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Father’s Day
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 24: Father’s Day PROMPT: In the US, Father’s Day is this coming Sunday (June 20), so what better time to have the theme of “Father’s Day”? In an attempt to create a quick post in order to get back on track with the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks…
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The Fighting Falcons
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 22: Military PROMPT: What is something you’ve learned about one of your military ancestors? I recently discovered information about a family member who died in combat in Germany in World War II. I knew that this new (to me) information would be material most appropriate for this post.…
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Midwest Pilgrimage
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 21: At the Cemetery PROMPT: Cemeteries are such special places; I feel drawn even to those where I don’t have any ancestors buried. Which cemetery is special in your family’s history? Do you have a story about “visiting” a special relative? Once again, this post did not meet…
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Gone Fishin’!
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 20: Cousin Bait PROMPT: “Cousin bait” is a term used to describe the ways we try to attract the attention of others researching our families. It could be things like blogging, having a public online tree, or leaving comments on a FindAGrave memorial. Have you successfully set cousin…
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Milk of Sisterly Kindness
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 19: Mother’s Day Prompt: Sunday was Mother’s Day in the US. This week, let’s take a look at the mothers you’re researching. (They do make up half of your family tree, after all!) I guess you could call this a mother-daughter-daughter story. My husband’s great-grandmother Tziporah “Sarah”/”Sela” Fox/Fuchs…
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Maine Attraction
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 17: Favorite Place Prompt: So many records that we use (and memories that we have) are tied to a place. What is a favorite place to research? What is a favorite ancestral home? Feel free to interpret this theme in your own way! While this assignment was “due”…
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Taking Cellfies
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 18: Crime and Punishment PROMPT: Our ancestors were human, so it tends to reason that someone in the family tree found themselves on the wrong side of the law. The upside for us is that they often created more records than the law-abiding ancestors! Yes, Your Honor, I…
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“A Dinna Ken”
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 16: DNA PROMPT: DNA. It’s amazing how three letters could so completely change the field of genealogy. What’s a discovery you’ve made with DNA? What about a brick wall that DNA might help break down? My father and I have each done DNA testing. I have to be…
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“Sometime I’ll Dance It One Time”
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 15: Brick Wall PROMPT: Brick Walls—we all have them. This would be a good week to write down what you know about your brick wall problem. (Sometimes just writing about it can help!) You could write about an ancestor who used to be a brick wall. Or get…
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The Great Plains
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 14: Great Week 14 should be great… because that’s the theme! It could be someone many generations back (like a great-great-great-great-great-grandfather), an ancestor who did something “great,” or someone who was great in some other way. (And remember — there is no “wrong” way to interpret a theme.…
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The Harmonious Hardings
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 13 PROMPT: Any musicians in the family? How about someone who loved music and dancing? What about someone who makes you think of a song? I am a professional musician. My parents are both musicians. But even before that, members of my mother’s paternal line–the Hardings—were professional musicians…
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Living with Loss
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 12: Loss PROMPT: Loss is universal. There are many ways to explore this theme, whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a livelihood, freedom. You could take a research-based angle on it and talk about the loss of records where your ancestors lived. There is a lot…
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The Real Thing
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 11: Fortune PROMPT: Week 11’s theme is “Fortune.” Merriam-Webster gives several definitions for fortune: A large sum of money; prosperity attained partly through luck; or destiny, fate. Be creative with this week’s prompt! The topic of “fortune” brought to mind a business owned and operated by family. I…
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John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 10: Name’s the Same PROMPT: Is there a name that keeps popping up in your family tree? Have you had to sort out multiple people with the same name? A mention of “Uncle Dave and Aunt Rose” in any conversation between my spouse and his sisters never fails…
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Double the Pleasure!
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 9: Multiples PROMPT: Any twins in the family? What about triplets? Or maybe you have an ancestor like my 3rd-great grandmother who was married multiple times. How about an ancestor who held down multiple jobs? A set of twins was born into my mother’s maternal family, the Cathcarts.…
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Twenty-Two Horsepower
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, Week 8: Power PROMPT: “Power.” Does that mean physical strength, political power, power in the family, electrical power? Yes. 😉 It’s a vague theme on purpose 🙂 It’s whatever the theme sparks in you. Once Henry Ford successfully installed an assembly line for the mass production of automobiles in December…
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On This Day: Woody’s Anthem
Eighty-one years ago today, Woody Guthrie composed what some might call an alternate “National Anthem.” Woody composed “This Land is Your Land” at the Hanover House hotel at 6th Avenue and 43rd Street in New York City, shortly after moving there from his native Oklahoma. I’ve always been a big fan of Woody Guthrie and…
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Inmate No. 33501
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 7 – Unusual Source Prompt: Not all of our genealogy discoveries come in the “regular” sources like vital records and the census. What is a discovery that you’ve made using an unusual source? One of the most unusual sources that I have used thus far in my genealogical research…
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Valentines
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 6 – Valentines PROMPT: Do you have any Valentines from any of your ancestors? Or maybe you have an ancestor named Valentine. (I remember when I was little being surprised to learn that Valentine was a “boy’s name.”) How about an ancestor that you wish you could exchange valentines…
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Food for Thought
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 5 – In the Kitchen Prompt: So many memories revolve around meals and cooking together. Do you have an ancestor who was a good cook (or maybe a notoriously bad cook!) What about a favorite recipe — where did it come from or who always cooked it? If that…
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My Favorite Photo
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 4: Favorite Photo PROMPT: Tell the story of a favorite photo — who is in it, when and where was it taken, and why was it taken. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a sepia-toned Victorian era photo. It could be a photo you took last week! (We…
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Good Books
Last week, the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C., was the site of the Inaugural ceremony for the incoming President and Vice President. Those leaders of the Executive branch then in turn swore in new members of the Legislative branch. When taking an oath, it is traditional to swear upon a Bible, though in…
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Designated by Denomination
Renwick Cargill Smith (1840-1903) 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 3: Namesake PROMPT: Are you named for one of your ancestors? Do you have an ancestor who was named for someone else (either in the family or a well-known person?) Renwick Cargill Smith came by his name because of his Scottish ancestors’ religious faith.…
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Lin-Manuel Miranda Forgot Someone.
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 2: Family Legend Prompt: Is there a tale that’s been passed down in your family? Have you proven (or maybe disproven) it? Perhaps you have an ancestor who was legendary (or should have been.) Long before Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier ever came to the shores…
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Beginnings
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge: Week 1 PROMPT: Who inspired your first search? Who is at the beginning of one of your ancestral lines? Who are you beginning to research this year? The genesis of my interest in researching my family tree was my daughter who would invariably ask me prior to every St.…
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Challenge Accepted!
Every year about this time one sees advice for keeping one’s New Year’s Resolutions. Invariably, these pieces all contain a variation of something along the lines of, “Don’t be vague. Make your goals specific. ‘I want to do more of [fill in the blank] in the coming year,’ is not nearly as helpful as, ‘I…
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Memorial Day 2020
While members of my immediate family have served in the military, only distant members of my family–none of whom I ever met–have died in service to their country. For that, I am extremely fortunate. Knowing that, I endeavor every Memorial Day to highlight an individual in my family tree who did make this ultimate sacrifice.…
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On This Day: Birth of Clifford Lee Harding and Aubrey Nichole Laney
Clifford Harding was born October 17, 1942, in Iola, Kansas, and resides in Lawrence, Kansas. Aubrey Laney was born October 17, 1991, in Plano, Texas, and resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Clifford is my uncle. Aubrey is my niece. My Uncle Clifford and my mother, his older sister, Sandra Joyce Harding (b. 1938), grew up in…
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On This Day: Birth of Jean Linton
Jean Linton was born October 15, 1921, in Denison, Kansas. She currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jean Linton is my 1st Cousin 1X removed. Jean Linton and her younger sister Frances Linton (born in 1924 and also still living) were the children of William Roy Linton (1881-1964) and Vida Cathcart (1890-1994)—my great aunt. Jean left…
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On This Date: Marriage of John Wesley Laney and Cordelia Paris
John W. Laney and Cordelia Paris were married on October 15, 1877, in Greene County, Missouri. John and Cordelia Paris Laney were my great great-grandparents. John Wesley Laney’s father, John Laney (1817-1894)–my 3X great-grandfather–and his brother, George Marion Laney (1829-1893), had relocated to Greene County, Missouri, from Greene County, Tennessee in 1848. Cordelia’s father, John…
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On This Date: Death of Rachel Agnes “Aggie” Curry
Rachel Agnes Curry was born July 9, 1875, in Bloomington, Indiana; she died October 14, 1957, in Oskaloosa, Kansas. Rachel Agnes Curry was my great-grandmother. Agnes Curry and her family moved from her birthplace in Indiana to Jefferson County, Kansas, when she was five years old. She was one of six children of James Faris…
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On This Day: Birth of Robert Beattie Cathcart
Robert Beattie Cathcart was born on October 2, 1820, in Rocky Creek, South Carolina. He was my great great grandfather. Robert Beattie Cathcart was one of nine children born to John Cathcart (1789-1864) and Mary Harper (1789-1873), who were each born and raised in County Antrim, Ireland. The couple and their two small children immigrated…
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On This Day: Birth of Omar Weldon Laney
Omar Laney was born October 1, 1911, in Joplin, Missouri. He was my paternal grandfather. Omar Laney was the only child of Ernest Arthur Laney and Norma Ethel Lewis, both natives of Missouri. He attended Joplin High School, where he was a member of the ROTC. He was married for a few years to Juanita…
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On This Day: Marriage of David Williamson and Anna Young
David Williamson and Anna Young were married on September 26, 1872, in Perthshire, Scotland David and Anna Young Williamson were my great great grandparents. David Williamson was born June 27, 1846, in Crawford, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was one of seven children. He and at least one of his brothers were coal miners. His brother William…
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On This Day: Birth of Matilda Small Russell
Matilda Small Russell was born September 13, 1846, in Bloomington, Indiana. She was my great great grandmother. Matilda Russell, like many members of the maternal line of my family, was a descendant of Scottish Covenanters. For several centuries, this sect of Scottish Presbyterians fought for the right to uphold their own church government and practices…
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On This Day: Birth of John “Jack” McKeney Taylor, Jr.
Born September 10, 1854, in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Jack Taylor was my great great grandfather. Jack Taylor was born on this day in 1854 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. His parents, John McKeney Taylor, Sr. and Jane White Taylor, had married in their twenties and emigrated from Ireland in 1835. Both John Taylor, Jr., and his…
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Intergenerational Solidarity
Ernest Arthur Laney (1889-1958) was my father’s paternal grandfather. He was a miner in the lead and zinc mines that at one time dotted the landscapes of Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. One generation further removed on my father’s maternal side, his great grandfather, David Williamson (1846-1908) was also a miner. David Williamson, along with numerous…
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On This Day: Birth of Jennie “Jen” Nell Taylor
Born August 30, 1886, in Kansas City, Kansas Jennie Taylor Harding was my great grandmother. Jennie Taylor Harding was one of nine children born to John McKeney Taylor, Sr., born in Massachusetts, and Meta Christina Asmussen Taylor who was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Meta immigrated to Kansas with her family around 1870. On January 1,…
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On This Day: Birth of Reginald Harding
Born August 29, 1886, in England Reginald Harding was my great grandfather. Reginald Harding and his siblings and parents emigrated from England to Kansas when Reginald was about three years old. The Harding family’s arrival in Junction City, Kansas, made quite the big splash, even warranting a write-up in the social pages. Reginald Harding grew…
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Gestation through the Generations
Twenty-two years ago last night I was standing in my kitchen when I felt a deluge of warm water plunge all at once down my inner thighs, instantly soaking my clothes and creating a sizable puddle on the kitchen floor. My water had broken. My obstetrician had examined me only a few days earlier, boldly…
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The Farmer and the Cowman–and the Government–Should Be Friends
My maternal grandfather, Clifford Lorraine Harding, was born on this day in 1909 in Junction City, Kansas. He was a successful farmer in Northeastern Kansas. I fondly remember visiting my grandparents at their home in Lawrence, and I particularly enjoyed going there in the summertime. While my granddad had a large commercial farm outside of…
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A Place for Storytelling
I was born in Winchester, Kansas, and grew up in Cherokee County, Oklahoma—the capitol of the Cherokee Indian Nation—where I learned a lot about the history of the Cherokee (Tsalagi) people. One particularly fascinating tribal leader, Chief Sequoyah, created a system for writing the oral Cherokee language (Tsalagi Gawonihisdi.) The resulting “syllabary” of eighty-six characters…
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