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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Amysette E. Bennett

Amysette E. Bennett

A few days ago on my walk, this stone caught my eye. It was unique, and upon further inspection, I was fascinated with the name, Amysette. I have encountered many names, but this was a first. Amysette was young when she passed away, only 32 years old. Of course, I had to investigate! Based on her tombstone, Amysette was born on November 20, 1846. The 1870 census indicates she was born in Indiana to Joel and Rachael Bennett. She married…

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The Cemetery

The Cemetery

A poem I wrote while thinking about my nightly cemetery walks at South Park… The Cemetery The hard, uneven asphalt worms its way through the grass. There are stones: shiny, lichen covered, broken, towering, hidden. It’s silent and peaceful, but bustling at the same time. What are the stories behind the names? Some forgotten, some adorned with artificial remembrance. For many, branches and leaves have sprouted. A root system established. For some, however, the roots have withered. Who will remember…

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Cemetery Quests

Cemetery Quests

Even at a very young age, my kids knew I had an obsession with visiting cemeteries. I find the history on tombstones fascinating, even if I don’t know the deceased. My favorites are the very old, intricate, and even a bit different ones. The past few weeks I’ve gone out to capture the forgotten. Here are a few of my favorites…

AncestryDNA

AncestryDNA

I have been wanting to do Ancestry’s DNA test for awhile now. I’m not sure why I was hesitant. I do love a good family history story. Around Thanksgiving, I decided to get an early Christmas present for me (and Steve). Not even a month later I received the results for both of us. It was amazing! Ethnicities you didn’t know about, ones that were missing that you thought for sure would be there. And then the probable relative matches….

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Obituaries of the Past

Obituaries of the Past

I know this will sound terrible, but I love a good obituary. Journalists just don’t write the way they did 100 years ago. Writers were excellent at their craft, and I can truly visualize as if I am in that time. I found this today, and I was giddy with excitement. It’s the obituary for one of my Von Phul ancestors. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2686384/henry_von_phul_obituary/

Photo “Mining”

Photo “Mining”

I am blessed to have an abundance of very old family pictures. The dilemma is always how to store, showcase, and protect those visual heirlooms. My husband knows I’m a bit family tree crazy, and the other day he mentioned an app he thought I could benefit from using. It’s called Photomyne. Well, I’m a bit hooked now. The app is amazing! I can “scan”, which is basically taking a photo, and save it to a photo album. It will…

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Organization

Organization

Over the past few months, I’ve spent a significant amount of time researching the branches and roots of my family tree and my husband’s tree. The paper trail is a beast, and I’m trying to decide the best way to tame it. I have used binders, file boxes, and digital only. What works best? One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to figure out what works best for me and my research. One tool that helps the visual learner in…

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