Henry VonPhul – Ancestor Profile

Henry VonPhul – Ancestor Profile

Henry was born on September 23, 1810, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He ventured into the world of business alongside his friend John W. Baker, relocating to Cincinnati around 1842. Together, they founded the Baker & VonPhul gas lamp company, marking the start of a successful entrepreneurial journey. In matters of the heart, Henry found love twice. He first married Esther Powell on March 29, 1843, in Hamilton County, Ohio. Together, they raised a family of eight children: George B., Sarah M.,…

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Uncle Warder, Pioneer Farmer of Decatur County

Uncle Warder, Pioneer Farmer of Decatur County

In a small, rural community of southeastern Indiana lived a pioneer farmer – William Warder Hamilton. “Warder” migrated to Decatur County from Kentucky in the fall of 1842, where he purchased a hundred-acre farm in Clinton Township. Uncle Warder, as the local citizens lovingly referred to him, was a consummate businessman and farmer throughout his life. When he died in 1907 at the ripe old age of eighty-five, he still owned the first land he bought in 1842, and he…

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Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary!

I am a firm believer in fate. Things happen for a reason, and there is no good explanation. Last night, fate stepped in and felt like the tale of Melvin and Emma needed to be told. When I have free time, I like to search online for discarded family heirlooms. There’s a myriad of reasons why these keepsakes are looking for new homes. Some seem to beg me to be their steward through this life. While I collect many different…

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Treasuring Discarded Heirlooms

Treasuring Discarded Heirlooms

As with many other family history lovers, I have taken it upon myself to rescue heirlooms of other people. They have been discarded for one reason or another, and I don’t want those memories to die. I have been collecting an array of items for several years, and I wanted to share some of my newest treasures. After recording the video, I scoped out the second Bible. I found the entries for births and marriages. Like the other Bible, it…

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A Year of Stories

A Year of Stories

I love the idea of Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. I’m morphing it into my own version, and I plan to expand it a bit. My goal is to create a profile and short story for one ancestor from each branch of my tree and my husband’s each week. I’m starting with the paternal grandfathers. Here’s the one I created for my grandpa this week: For this one I even found a newspaper article at NewspaperArchive.com to…

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Can’t Find the Gravestones You’re Looking for at the Cemetery?

Can’t Find the Gravestones You’re Looking for at the Cemetery?

Living in the country in Indiana, I loved that there was a small church and old cemetery next to our property. I was ecstatic when we moved to southern Georgia to find another country church and cemetery just across from our house. To help myself become acquainted with the “neighbors,” I methodically made my way row by row through the cemetery double-checking that each gravestone had a picture on Find a Grave, and then mapping its GPS location within the…

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The Family History Library

The Family History Library

Good fortune smiled on me recently when I got to visit Provo for a work retreat. Knowing I had to make the most of my two-day trip, I planned a quick getaway to the Family History Library in Salt Lake. I have been working on a research project for a friend of mine, and several of the marriage records I needed were not available on the FamilySearch website. To access the 8-10 images I desperately needed for my research, I…

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Sharing Lost Family History

Sharing Lost Family History

A Family History Frustration The little darling in this picture appears not to be too thrilled with having to pose for the camera! Unfortunately, there are no names or dates indicated on the front or back of this photo. I understand that frustration all too well, even when researching my own family history. However, when there are no names to trace, I still love to take in all the small details of old photos: the artifact-rich backdrops and lavish clothing…

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Lost Photos

Lost Photos

Wandering through antique shops and malls, I inevitably come across vintage photos. My heart saddens immediately for the family that has lost these visual legacies. Years ago I started collecting some of these old photographs, and while I was organizing some of my photograph memorabilia, I had a brainstorm. Why not share them on my website? My hope is someone will find an ancestor in one of these photographs. This little darling did not have a name on it, but…

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