Keeping the spirit of our ancestors alive through stories, photos, and historical study.
Our Families and People
Albert Alvedo Phillips Aldahl Alice Rosalie Fehlhaber Amelia A Brace Aschbrenner Barbara Mary Meyer Barebo Engebretson Torset Bennett Nils Christianson Bertha Auguste Henriette Kluender Bertha H Stemson Caroline Hilson Charlotte Johnson Christian Bennett Christianson Christianson Estes Fawcett Floyd Boyce Phillips Frank Palmer Miller Frederick A Helmut Aschbrenner Frieda H Lemke George Leifheite Miller Gertrude Lovin Boyce Guy Allison Phillips Harry Allen Lawrence Fawcett Helen Lucina Baldwin James W Huleress Fawcett Jane Elizabeth Cornell John Thomas Estes Krueger Lars Olson Aldahl Leona Catherine Miller Lona Iona Fawcett Lucretia Brownell Marathon County Wisconsin Margaret Olga Aldahl Mary Jane Frost Miller Oliver Selam Boyce Philander Baldwin Phillips Selma Cornelia Aschbrenner Thomas Leland Estes Timothy Johnson WWI Zelpha Lou McCall
Happy Birthday Stephen Bacon
Stephen Bacon (1677-1766) Stephen Bacon was born on 21 Aug 1677 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts,…
Happy Birthday Hope Borden
Hope Borden (1747-<1810) Hope Borden was born on 28 Oct 1747 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode…
The Phillips Family Book is ready!
Hooray! After months and months of effort, the Phillips book has finally been published. Though…
Happy Birthday Jorand Christiansdtr Rukke
Jorand Christiansdtr Rukke (1841-1906) Jorand Christiansdtr Rukke was born on 08 Apr 1838 in Nes,…
Happy Birthday Hannah Miner
Hannah Miner (1671-~1708) Birth Hannah Miner was born on 21 Apr 1671 as the third…
22 August 1918 Wonder Where You Are
Can you imagine not knowing where your son was or whether he was safe? Gertrude…
Plum Pudding
February 12th is National Plum Pudding Day! Happy National Plum Pudding Day! Plum pudding with…
Sally’s Photos – Page #09 – Friends and Animals
Friends and Animals The ninth page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos…
Sally’s Photos – Page #08 – Trees and Friends and Friends in Trees
Trees and Friends and Friends in Trees The eighth page of Sally’s photo album featured…
Happy Birthday Joanna Friedericke Streich
Joanna Friedericke Streich (1824-1906) Joanna Friedericke Streich was born on 08 Nov 1824 in Dobberphul,…
Happy Birthday Betty Hall
Betty Hall (1768-1848) Betty Hall was born on 05 Jul 1768 in Uxbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts,…
Suffrage – Mother’s Legacy
This is the sixth installment of the series on the 19th amendment. Thus far, we’ve…
John Estes
John Estes (1800-1859) John Estes was born about 1800 in Kentucky as the second child…
Happy Birthday Jonathan Rockwell, Jr.
Jonathan Rockwell, Jr. (1711-1784) Birth This is the 305th anniversary of the birth of Jonathan…
Sally’s Photos – Page #07 – Loved Ones and Friends
Loved Ones and Friends The seven page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of…
Vaccines and No Nothings
Nearly every week, a mystery is solved or some interesting twig (or nut) appears somewhere…
Happy Birthday Sabra Billings
Sabra Billings (1751->1840) Sabra Billings was born 265 years ago and lived in a volatile…
Sally’s Photos – Page #40 – Scenes and People
Scenes and People The 40th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos…
Margaret Fitz Randolph
Margaret Fitz Randolph (1744-1833) Margaret Fitz Randolph was born on 01 May 1744 in Essex,…
Happy Birthday Taylor Webster
Taylor Webster (1748/49-1802) Taylor Webster was born on 18 Jan 1748/49 in Essex, New Jersey….
Happy Birthday Lona Iona Fawcett
Lona Iona Fawcett (1902-1973) Lona Iona Fawcett was born on 28 Jun 1902 in Sac…
Sally’s Photos – Page #29 – Coolidge Comes to Town
Coolidge comes to town The 29th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of…
28 July 1918 Sunday at Camp Stuart
Sunday at Camp Stuart might not have been very exciting. There was probably a great…
Sally’s Photos – Page #10 – Picnic and Party
Picnic and Party The tenth page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos…
Clueless – Who are these people?
This photo fell out of a box one day. It has no label other than…
Wilhelmina Mathwich
Wilhelmina Mathwich (1817-1899) Wilhelmina Mathwich was born in 1817 in Hansfelde, Posen, Prussia. There are…
The importance of mentors
In observance of Thank Your Mentor Day, I am writing about the importance of having…
Happy Birthday Frieda Lemke
This week we remember Frieda Lemke who was born 135 years ago today. Henriette Clara…
Happy Birthday Roseanna Fuller
Roseanna Fuller (1759-1844) Roseanna Fuller was born on 16 May 1759 in Amenia, Dutchess, New…
Knut Olson Aldalen
Knut Olson Aldalen (1787-1851) Knut Olson Aldalen was born in 1787 at the Aldahl farm…
Sally’s Photos – Page #11 – Curtis and Yale Friends
Curtis & Yale Friends The eleventh page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of…
3-13 July 1919 Finally a Ride Home
Though the actual fighting stopped in November 1918, it took another six months of negotiations…
15 December 1918 A Letter From Roy
Roy, the oldest of the Phillips brothers, penned a letter to his brother Floyd who…
Sally’s Photos – Page #23 – Camp and Damsels in Distress
Camp and Damsels in Distress The 23rd page of Sally’s photo album continues to show…
Bringing family history to life in storybooks
Happy Birthday George Brownell
George Brownell (1711-1800) George Brownell was born on 21 Jun 1711 in Little Compton, Newport,…
Consumption
Last week, as I recovered from Thanksgiving and started thinking about Christmas, I was able…
Stengrim Halvorsen
Stengrim Halvorsen (1799-1870) Halvorsen or Halverson? It depended on who was keeping the records at…
Happy Birthday Carl F Fehlhaber
Carl F. Fehlhaber (1845-1922) Carl F. Fehlhaber was born on 11 Feb 1845 in Posen,…
Happy Birthday Thomas Holmes
Thomas Holmes (1744-1776) This birthday post was originally published in April 2016. Later, while working…
Happy Birthday Robert Fitz Randolph (1712-~1803)
Robert Fitz Randolph (1712-~1803) Birth Robert Fitz Randolph was born on 19 Jul 1712 in…
10 November 1918 Letter from Albert
Some letters are more entertaining than others. This one is a gem. Albert Harold Phillips…
Setting Liquor Rates
The Court set the rate for liquors, diets, and lodging When searching for some Virginia…
Happy Birthday Barebo Engebretsdtr Torset
Barebo Engebretsdtr Torset (1848-1940) Barebo Engebretsdtr Torset was born on 09 Mar 1848 in Endredokken,…
The Aschbrenner Family book is finished!
It is an exciting day when the mailman brings me a box containing books that…
23 October 1918 Inquisitive Letter from Uncle Clarence
Floyd’s uncle Clarence Arthur Phillips wrote to Floyd who was still in France. Clarence was…
Happy Birthday Mary Loverin
Mary Loverin (1792-1884) With the help of a family bible, an application for an 1812…
The Aldahl Family book is now available!
My latest book, “The Aldahl Family,” is now available. Nearly all my time in 2020…
Happy Baptism Anniversary Samuel Camfield
Samuel Camfield (1645-1690) Baptism Samuel Camfield was born about Oct 1645 in New Haven, New…
Whitewater Wines and Garvin Heights Vineyards
The weather was gorgeous and it seemed like a bad idea to waste a Saturday…
Happy Birthday Sarah Everett
Sarah Everett (1644-1677) Sarah Everett was born on 12 Apr 1644 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts,…
SocialICE is nice… ice or no ice
2013. SocialICE. Last night we attended our seventh annual SocialICE. This is the eighth year…
The Christianson book is ready
I am very excited to announce that my book “The Christianson Family” is now available….
Sally’s Photos – Page #43 – DC and a Trip Home
DC and a Trip Home The 43rd page of Sally’s photo album featured pictures taken…
Elvira Mary Palmer (1837-1855)
Elvira Mary Palmer was born on 06 Aug 1837 in New York as the first…
Happy Birthday Norman Krueger
Norman Arthur August Krueger (1904-1980) Norman Arthur August Krueger was born on 22 Nov 1904…
Happy Birthday Gottfried Friederick Draeger
Gottfried Friederick Draeger (1821-1899) Gottfried Friederick Draeger was born on 12 Jan 1821 in Dobberphul,…
An Icy Family Legacy
A guest post by Joel. leg·a·cy/ˈleɡəsē/ nounnoun: legacy; plural noun: legacies the long-lasting impact of…
Farris Will Not Swing for A While
There was a man named John Farris… Nearly every week, a mystery is solved or…
Sally’s Photos – Page #31 – Eau Claire Dells and Parade
Eau Claire Dells and parade The 31st page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection…
22 October 1918 Another Letter from Florence
Florence Estelle Manning, the fiance of Floyd’s brother Arthur Guy Phillips, wrote another friendly letter…
Happy Birthday Abraham Bennett Sr.
Abraham Bennett Sr. (1715-1777) Abraham Bennett Sr. was born on 06 Jun 1715 in Fairfield,…
Sally’s Photos – Page #27 – Live Y’ers
Live Y’ers The 27th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken…
Happy Birthday Katherine Hartshorne
Katherine Hartshorne (1682-1759) Katherine Hartshorne was born on 02 May 1682 in Middletown, Monmouth, New…
Ruminating on Coverture
My time for family history was limited this week and will likely be non-existent next…
Happy Birthday Carl Lemke
Johann Carl Friedrich Lemke (1845-????) Johann Carl Friedrich Lemke was born on 22 May 1845…
Happy Birthday Zilpha Hodges
Zilpha Hodges (1807-1884) Zilpha Hodges was born on 18 Jan 1807 in Franklin, Virginia, as…
Read my new storybook, “Bang! And Coralee’s Broken Arm”
Coralee is almost ten—smart, curious, and always ready for fun. When her parents leave for…
Happy Birthday Joanna Lyon
Joanna Lyon (1690-1765) Joanna Lyon was born on 26 May 1690 in Milton, Norfolk, Massachusetts…
Four Daughters (pre) Class Reunion
As our class reunion approached, a wise friend who now resides far away decided that…
Happy Birthday Jerusha Bennett
Jerusha Bennett (circa 1811 – 1849) Happy Birthday Jerusha! We know you had a birthday…
Happy Birthday Joshua Wolcott
Joshua Wolcott (1708-1753) Birth Joshua Wolcott was born on 15 Jun 1708 in Wethersfield, Hartford,…
Happy Birthday Halvor Stemson
Halvor Stemson (1835-1927) Halvor Stemson was born on 14 Feb 1835 in Nes i Hallingdal,…
5 January 1919 News from a Friend
Peace talks were just beginning in Paris and people back home were thinking about Floyd…
Collaboration beer dinner
Collaboration Beer Dinner Forager, Surly, Fulton and Toppling Goliath I just attended my first collaboration…
Happy Birthday Ludwig Stolp
Ludwig Stolp (1824-1894) Ludwig Stolp was born on 13 Mar 1824 in Rehe, Nassau, Germany,…
Meyer Book is ready!
The Meyer Family book is now available.
Marta Knudsdtr Horvei (1789- )
Marta Knudsdtr Horvei was born in about July 1789 on the Horvei farm in Voss,…
Sally’s Photos – Page #47 – People and Indian School
People and Indian School The 47th and final page of Sally’s photo album featured many…
4 August 1918 A Day of Rest At Sea
Like in 2019, August 4th in 1918 was a Sunday. It was a day of…
Happy Birthday Thomas Leland Estes
Thomas Leland Estes (1896-1968) Thomas Leland Estes was born on 28 Mar 1896 in Castana,…
Hill City Wineries (…drinking in South Dakota)
On a recent vacation to the Black Hills of South Dakota, we discovered that besides…
Happy Birthday George Lyon
George Lyon (1662-1694) George Lyon was born on 16 Dec 1662 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts,…
Philip – Still Loved and Never Forgotten
Philip David Krueger (16 Oct 1990 – 24 Jul 1992) 24 July 2017. This is…
Happy Birthday Catherine Leifheite
Catherine Leifheite (1796-1872) Catherine Leifheite was born on 29 Dec 1796 in Rensselaer, New York….
Showbiz & Scandals: The Forgotten Life of Virginia Best
Who was Virginia Best? I was struggling last week with one of the descendants of…
Christianson Family Reunion circa 1940
Most of the people in this picture have been identified. There is just one question…
Boat Rides for Thomas Leland Estes
To the War and Back Nearly every week, a mystery is solved or some interesting…
Is there curling in their DNA?
No athletic ability passed down to me I have never given much thought to athletics in…
Ingerid Torleivsdtr Imré
Ingerid Torleivsdtr Imré (1796-1887) Ingerid Torleivsdtr Imré was born about Mar 1796 in Hemsedal, Buskerud,…
Happy Birthday John M Meador
John M Meador (1734-1824) Birth John M. Meador was born on 14 Jul 1734 in…
Happy Birthday Rebecca Hallett
Rebecca Hallett (1675-1730) Rebecca Hallett was born on 31 Aug 1675 in Astoria, Queens, New…
Sally’s Photos – Page #03 – Old Folks, Relatives, Soldiers, and the Clover Dairy Farm
Old Folks, Relatives, Soldiers, and the Clover Dairy Farm “Meditating” “First Lesson” “Prairie Schooner” “Old…
Austin Wedding
This wedding portrait of a young couple was taken at Austin Photo Studios in Austin,…
Happy Birthday John Johnson
John Johnson (1698-<1756) John Johnson was born on 26 Aug 1698 in Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut,…
Sally’s Photos – Page #41 – The Lodge
The Lodge The 41st page of Sally’s photo album contained photos of Sally at a…
174 tastes of beer on deck!
This is how much beer they normally pour. The Program for the 2016 Rochester Craft…
Sally’s Photos – Page #02 – Transportation, Scenery, Extended Family, and School
Transportation, Scenery, Extended Family, and School The second page of Sally’s photo album featured a…
Sally’s Photos – Page #39 – Washington and Niagara Falls
Washington and Niagara Falls The 39th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of…
Happy Birthday Edward Morris III
Edward Morris (1688-1769) Edward Morris was born on 09 Nov 1688 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts…
