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 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 Norman Arthur August Krueger Oliver Selam Boyce Philander Baldwin Phillips Selma Cornelia Aschbrenner Thomas Leland Estes Timothy Johnson WWI Zelpha Lou McCall
174 tastes of beer on deck!
This is how much beer they normally pour. The Program for the 2016 Rochester Craft…
Happy Birthday Bennett Nils Christianson
Bennett Nils Christianson (1902-2000) This week of each year is always a little tough. For so…
Happy Birthday Ragnild Bjornsdtr Skolt
Ragnild Bjornsdtr Skolt (1809-1900) Ragnild Bjornsdtr Skolt was born on 04 Jul 1809 in Skolt,…
Asle Embrickson Torset (1775-1852)
Asle Embrickson Torset was born in 1775 in Hemsedal, Buskerud, Norway (Nørde Torset) as the…
Margaret Fitz Randolph
Margaret Fitz Randolph (1744-1833) Margaret Fitz Randolph was born on 01 May 1744 in Essex,…
Happy Birthday Roseanna Fuller
Roseanna Fuller (1759-1844) Roseanna Fuller was born on 16 May 1759 in Amenia, Dutchess, New…
Sally’s Photos – Page #13 – Farm and Falls
Farm and Falls The thirteenth page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos…
More AI and a Place I’d Like to Visit
This past week was a continuation of the study of the probate for William McCall’s…
Happy Birthday Catherine Leifheite
Catherine Leifheite (1796-1872) Catherine Leifheite was born on 29 Dec 1796 in Rensselaer, New York….
Happy Birthday Nathaniel Collins
Nathaniel Collins (1641/42-1684) We haven’t been this far back in time for a while. It…
Happy Birthday Josiah Fuller
Josiah Fuller (1729/30-1797) It has been verified that Josiah Fuller is in our family tree,…
Happy Birthday Genet Boyes
Genet Boyes (1754-1845) Genet Boyes was born on 25 Aug 1754 in Londonderry, Rockingham, New…
Happy Birthday Frederick A Helmut Aschbrenner
Frederick A Helmut Aschbrenner (1874-1968) Frederick A Helmut Aschbrenner was born on 03 Aug 1874…
Sally’s Photos – Page #09 – Friends and Animals
Friends and Animals The ninth page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos…
Happy Birthday Thomas Holmes
Thomas Holmes (1710/11-1796) Oh Wow! Studying Thomas for this birthday post has certainly unlocked another…
15 September 1918 Communing with Floyd
Gertrude spent time thinking about her faraway son, Floyd. He was missing the Sandwich Fair,…
30 July 1918 Last Day at Camp Stuart
Tuesday had Floyd and his comrades up early. The guys still didn’t know exactly what…
An Icy Family Legacy
A guest post by Joel. leg·a·cy/ˈleɡəsē/ nounnoun: legacy; plural noun: legacies the long-lasting impact of…
12 October 1918 Albert to Floyd
Albert Phillips wrote a long overdue but very lengthy letter to his brother Floyd, who…
Happy Birthday Jacob B Meyer
Jacob B. Meyer (1836-1887) Jacob B. Meyer was born on 22 Feb 1836 in Hettingen,…
Going back 102 years to 18 October 1915
Most days of most lives are “ordinary.” But our ordinary is likely very different than…
Happy Birthday Leona Catherine Miller
Leona Catherine Miller (1899-1976) Leona Catherine Miller was born on 26 Aug 1899 in rural…
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 #14 – Camp Wakanda and More
Camp Wakanda and more The 14th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of…
Happy Birthday Alice Rosalie Fehlhaber
Alice Rosalie Fehlhaber (1880-1970) Alice Rosalie Fehlhaber was born on 10 September 1880 in the…
Happy Birthday Lona Iona Fawcett
Lona Iona Fawcett (1902-1973) Lona Iona Fawcett was born on 28 Jun 1902 in Sac…
Happy Birthday John Thomas Estes
John Thomas Estes (1856-1947) Birth and Youth John Thomas Estes was born on 07 May…
Happy Birthday Floyd Boyce Phillips
Floyd Boyce Phillips (1891-1971) Floyd Boyce Phillips was born on 07 Dec 1891 in Aurora,…
Happy Birthday Sally
Selma Cornelia Aschbrenner (1904-1983) Happy Birthday Sally! Selma Cornelia Aschbrenner was born on 07 May…
Happy Birthday Carl Lemke
Johann Carl Friedrich Lemke (1845-????) Johann Carl Friedrich Lemke was born on 22 May 1845…
The Christianson book is ready
I am very excited to announce that my book “The Christianson Family” is now available….
Whitewater Wines and Garvin Heights Vineyards
The weather was gorgeous and it seemed like a bad idea to waste a Saturday…
Glory Days – The Pride That Baffles My Modern Mind
With the holidays behind me, I’ve been slowly getting back to working on my McCall…
Baby Portrait
Who is this child? The photograph was part of a collection of photos originally owned…
A Quick Trip to Iowa
State Historical Society of Iowa Nearly every week, a mystery is solved or some interesting…
Happy Birthday Taylor Webster
Taylor Webster (1748/49-1802) Taylor Webster was born on 18 Jan 1748/49 in Essex, New Jersey….
Happy Birthday Abraham Bennett Sr.
Abraham Bennett Sr. (1715-1777) Abraham Bennett Sr. was born on 06 Jun 1715 in Fairfield,…
We’re getting thirsty – 2017 Rochester Craft Beer Expo is coming soon
Rochester Craft Beer Expo – 2017 We are just a couple weeks away from the…
Sally’s Photos – Page #44 – Wisconsin, Arlington, and Atlantic City
Wisconsin, Arlington, and Atlantic City The 44th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection…
Happy Birthday Silence Hickock
Silence Hickock (1713-1795) Silence Hickock was born on 19 Sep 1713 in Waterbury, New Haven,…
Sally’s Photos – Page #24 – Hollywood and Family
Hollywood and Family The 24th page of Sally’s photo album featured photos that were sent…
The Estes Family book is now available!
Words cannot express how thrilled I am to announce that my book, “The Estes Family,”…
Happy Birthday Bernard Meyer
Bernard Meyer was born on 26 Apr 1809 in Germany. His name has been spelled…
Archilles James Linville
Archilles James Linville (1825->1900) Archilles James Linville was born in Mar 1825 in Virginia. He…
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…
20 January 1919 A Letter from Arthur
Still excited from his wedding on Wednesday, 8 January 1919, Arthur wrote a lengthy and…
16 May 1919 In a Shell Hole
A rare photograph from Friday, 16 May 1919, shows Floyd posing with a colleague named…
11 August 1918 Subs and Destroyers
In his last journal entry for many months, Floyd gives a summary of what happened…
10 November 1918 Letter from Albert
Some letters are more entertaining than others. This one is a gem. Albert Harold Phillips…
Wilhelmina Mathwich
Wilhelmina Mathwich (1817-1899) Wilhelmina Mathwich was born in 1817 in Hansfelde, Posen, Prussia. There are…
Sally’s Photos – Page #17 – Farm, Home, and Service
Farm, Home, and Service The 17th page of Sally’s photo album featured a random collection…
Happy Birthday Jerusha Bennett
Jerusha Bennett (circa 1811 – 1849) Happy Birthday Jerusha! We know you had a birthday…
Happy Birthday Charlotte Johnson
Charlotte Johnson (1820-1904) Charlotte Johnson was born on 14 Sep 1820 in Genesee, New York,…
Ole Knutson Aldahl
Ole Knutson Aldahl (1814-1890) Ole Knutson Aldahl was born in 1814 (probably), but we don’t…
The Aldahl Family book is now available!
My latest book, “The Aldahl Family,” is now available. Nearly all my time in 2020…
7 December 1918 A Birthday Abroad
The War was over and Floyd was back in Illinois, right? WRONG! He celebrated his…
Happy Birthday Samual Christopher McCall
Samual Christopher McCall (1833-1922) Samual Christopher McCall was born on 18 Jan 1833 in Franklin…
18 August 1918 From Charles in Canada
Floyd’s youngest brother, Charles, then age 20, was working on the farm in Canada when…
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 Joseph Frost
Joseph Frost (1783-1857) Joseph Frost was born on 04 Jul 1783 in Ashburnham, Worcester, Massachusetts,…
Happy Birthday John Borden
John Borden (1729-1801) Two hundred and eighty-seven years ago, John Borden was born on 12…
5 August 1918 A Row at Dinner
After several days on the boat, life was probably getting a bit monotonous. Floyd reported…
Happy Birthday Norman Krueger
Norman Arthur August Krueger (1904-1980) Norman Arthur August Krueger was born on 22 Nov 1904…
Happy Birthday Betty Hall
Betty Hall (1768-1848) Betty Hall was born on 05 Jul 1768 in Uxbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts,…
Birgit Tolleivsdatter Uppsata
Birgit Tolleivsdatter Uppsata was born on 29 Sep 1760 in Ål, Buskerud, Norway. Uppsala has…
Happy Birthday Gottfried Friederick Draeger
Gottfried Friederick Draeger (1821-1899) Gottfried Friederick Draeger was born on 12 Jan 1821 in Dobberphul,…
Farm Baby
This toddler is outside on the farm. The photograph was part of a collection of…
DIY Beer Tasting
What to do with all that beer? A couple months ago, during an extended weekend…
Happy Birthday Barbara Mary Meyer
Barbara Mary Meyer (1881-1972) Barbara Mary Meyer was born on 09 Jun 1881 in Mendota,…
18 July 1919 Honorable Discharge
We have come to the end of the WWI journey for Floyd Boyce Phillips. After…
Class of 1948
This gal was a 1948 graduate. Her senior portrait was taken by Anderson in Austin,…
Consumption
Last week, as I recovered from Thanksgiving and started thinking about Christmas, I was able…
Thanks Taylor Webster
It’s official! I have become approved as a member of the Daughters of the American…
5 January 1919 News from a Friend
Peace talks were just beginning in Paris and people back home were thinking about Floyd…
Happy Birthday Adam Boyce
Adam Boyce (1787-1874) Birth Adam Boyce was born on 25 Jul 1787 in Londonderry, Rockingham,…
Marta Knudsdtr Horvei (1789- )
Marta Knudsdtr Horvei was born in about July 1789 on the Horvei farm in Voss,…
Kristi Knudsdr
Kristi Knudsdr (1807-1884) Knudsdr, Knudsdtr, and Knudsdatter are three ways that her name was written….
Thomas C. O’Donnell
Thomas C. O’Donnell (1810-1894) I think the O’Donnell family might be fascinating. But, because of…
Clueless – Who are these people?
This photo fell out of a box one day. It has no label other than…
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…
Happy Birthday Philander Baldwin
Philander Baldwin (1809-1876) Arrival at Watertown Two hundred and seven years ago today, 16 April…
Happy Birthday Carl Friedrich Fehlhaber (1803-1885)
Carl Friedrich Fehlhaber (1803-1885) Birth and Marriage Happy birthday to Carl Friedrich Fehlhaber who was…
Showbiz & Scandals: The Forgotten Life of Virginia Best
Who was Virginia Best? I was struggling last week with one of the descendants of…
Knut Olson Aldalen
Knut Olson Aldalen (1787-1851) Knut Olson Aldalen was born in 1787 at the Aldahl farm…
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…
Ready, set, go! (FamilyPast.Expert is open for business)
It’s official! 2016 is here and with it comes the official opening of Family Past…
Man in Margaret Aldahl Christianson photo album
Who is this man? UnidentifiedMan-03
Happy Birthday Hannah Tolman
Hannah Tolman (1642-1729) Hannah Tolman was born on 27 Jul 1642 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts…
Zelpha Lou McCall
Zelpha Lou McCall (1866-1900) Zelpha Lou McCall was born in July 1866 in Callaway County,…
Sally’s Photos – Page #41 – The Lodge
The Lodge The 41st page of Sally’s photo album contained photos of Sally at a…
Happy Baptism Anniversary Samuel Camfield
Samuel Camfield (1645-1690) Baptism Samuel Camfield was born about Oct 1645 in New Haven, New…
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…
Happy Birthday Christian Bennett Christianson
Christian Bennett Christianson (1874-1961) Christian Bennett Christianson was born on 28 Sep 1874 in Udolpho…
Happy Birthday John M Meador
John M Meador (1734-1824) Birth John M. Meador was born on 14 Jul 1734 in…
Going back 347 years to 15 November 1670
Most days of most lives are “ordinary.” But, our ordinary is likely very different than…
Four Daughters (pre) Class Reunion
As our class reunion approached, a wise friend who now resides far away decided that…
It’s almost time – Rochester Craft Beer Expo!
Rochester Craft Beer Expo – 2016 We are only a few weeks away from the…
Happy Birthday George Lyon
George Lyon (1662-1694) George Lyon was born on 16 Dec 1662 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts,…
25 March 1919 A Letter from Arthur that actually got put in the mail
Remember that letter that Arthur wrote to his brother Floyd back in late January? The…
Happy Birthday Mary Loker
Mary Loker (1680-1767) Mary Loker was born on 03 Aug 1680 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts,…