As genealogists, we eagerly seek photographs of our ancestors. But photographs are more than mere snapshots; they are time capsules, capturing fleeting moments and preserving them for future generations. These visual records are more than faces and places, but stories, emotions, and a tangible link to those who came before us. A Cherished Photo: Frank & Anna’s 1895 Wedding Children of German immigrants, my great grandparents, Frank Kaechle (1868-1911) and Anna Adam (1867-1936), were united in matrimony on 17 July 1895 at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan. They captured that moment in a photograph, cherished and lovingly...
In November 2013, I experienced a milestone in my genealogical journey: my first leap “across the pond.” Now, a decade later, the thrill of that discovery still lingers vividly in my mind. Seeing a document that connected me to my family’s origins, in their own homeland, was not just incredible—it was a profound moment of revelation and connection. Sarah (Eastwood) Merrill (1848-1923) was my 2nd great grandmother. Her death certificate stated she was born 9 September 1848 in “Leeds – Oldham,” England. Her father, James Eastwood, and mother, Sarah Ann Hall, were also shown as born in England. Insights...
My grandmother, Hazel, holding her baby sister Beulah, who got me interested in genealogy Do you have family lore or legends passed down through generations? My genealogical journey began with a fascinating tale: a link to Pocahontas. This story, proudly shared in newspapers for almost a century, sparked curiosity in my great aunt Beulah. Twenty-five years ago, she ignited my passion for genealogy. A 1927 Newspaper Clipping In 1998, Beulah introduced me to genealogy and shared her digital research files. Among these was a 1927 obituary transcript for James Madison Randolph, first cousin of Josiah Randolph Coppenbarger (1844–1934)—Beulah’s maternal grandfather...
As I continue to share family stories for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, this week’s theme is “Favorite Photo.” Sadly, while looking for this photo I realized I have misplaced hundreds of scanned family photos! I am trying not to panic, but it’s a great reminder to share your photos while you can! Thankfully, I can rescan these photos from a relative, but it will take many hours of work. Grandmother Evelyn (Dickson) Kaechle This is the only photo we have of my grandmother as a little girl. When Evelyn was less than 8 months old, her mother...
Family history is about more than dates and places; it’s about the stories we remember or discover. And sharing these stories is a wonderful way to remember our ancestors. Amy Johnson Crow has started another year of challenges for each of us to tell the stories of “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.” Each week also has an optional theme, with the theme for this first week of 2020 being “fresh start.” A Fresh Start for the Peters Family In 1859, my 3x great grandparents, Joachim and Henriette (Bünger) Peters, and their six children immigrated from present-day Germany to the United...
This post is based on Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” challenge. This week’s theme is: VALENTINE. On Valentine’s Day 1896, Louisa (Heuszel) Werther gave birth to her 11th child, a son. She and her husband, Emil Werther, named their son Walter Valentine Werther. [Emil’s sister, Guntherine (Werther) Peters, was my great, great grandmother.] Here are three images from his life: …
This post is based on Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” challenge. This week’s theme is: FAVORITE NAME. Jesse Lank Griffin (1834-1903) and Sarah Holmes (1834-1928) had at least eight children. Most of them had “normal” names: William, Richard, John, Martha, Nancy, Sally, Stephen. But, they also had one daughter with a fairly unusual name: Tennessee, whose nickname was Tennie. Tennessee was born on 20 July 1869 in Arkansas, but both of her parents were born in Tennessee. She married Dotson “Dot” Bratton and had at least three children. She died on 3 October 1918 and was buried...
This post is based on Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” challenge. This week’s them is: CENSUS. UPDATE 30 Dec 2023: I am no longer sure this is my Sally Eastwood. More work needs to be done! I recently located my 3rd great grandmother and two of her children—including my 2nd great grandmother—on the 1851 England census. The document is difficult to read as it is faded and stained. It is also difficult to read because of the word written on the line with her: pauper. After reading she was a pauper, I tried to imagine Sarah’s life...
This post is based on Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.” This week’s theme is: INVITE TO DINNER. My great, great grandmother, Sallie (Dickson) Ward, was born 27 November 1860 in Perry County, Tennessee, with the Civil War just months from starting. She lived until 21 August 1960, about 3 months short of her 100th birthday. Over almost 100 years, she saw and experienced an incredible amount of change, both in the world and in her family. What an experience it would be if I could invite “Grandma Sallie” to dinner. Among many others, here are five topics...
This post is based on Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” challenge. This week’s theme is: FAVORITE PHOTO. My grandmother, Evelyn, the youngest of five children, was born 10 October 1915. Sadly, when she was only 8 1/2 months old, her mother died. Although Evelyn’s father raised the four eldest children, Evelyn was raised by her maternal grandmother, Sallie (Dickson) Ward. Evelyn grew up near family, including her father and siblings, in Perry County, Tennessee. This is one of my favorite photos as it is the only known childhood photo of my grandmother, Evelyn (Dickson) Kaechle (1915-2004). Wearing...