By Eilene Lyon Since I seem to be on a roll with the Ransom family, I thought I’d follow up with a bit about one of Robert Ransom’s sons. He and Emma had four surviving sons: James Henry, William Randolph, Arthur Lemmon, and Albert Frederick (“Fred”). The first two were named for fathers and brothers.... Continue Reading →
Relative
A Poem By Eilene Lyon If relativity is true, Why can't I find you? It should be a simple matter of bending the space/time continuum. Then we could be in the Same place at the same time. But would it be your time -- or mine? Feature image: Unidentified young man from Cutting... Continue Reading →
Paying Respect
By Eilene Lyon As with my other genealogy trips, when I went to Blackford and Jay counties in Indiana last year, I visited several cemeteries to pay respects to my ancestors and other relatives. For me, that means more than just placing some flowers, saying a silent thanks (or maybe out loud, talking to myself... Continue Reading →
Where It Ends: Independence
Week 27: #52 Ancestors – Independence By Eilene Lyon In my story about Emma Jenkins, I detailed some of the events leading to the downfall of my great-great-grandfather, Robert Ransom. The more I discover about the Ransom family, the more I find a humongous, convoluted soap opera. I'm not sure if these people were crazy,... Continue Reading →
The Drought Diaries: Insects
By Eilene Lyon Mosquitoes July 10, 2017 Today was my turn to walk the dogs. The Sarah-Palin-bugs (“Drill, baby, drill!”) were out in full force. By the time I got home, the back of my legs looked like West Texas. I almost wanted to jump in the ditch with the dogs. Despite essentially no rain... Continue Reading →
A Lovable Louse
Week 26: #52 Ancestors – Black Sheep By Eilene Lyon A Model Citizen If there’s a blacker sheep on my family tree than William Clark Ransom, I’ve not come across him/her. William Clark Ransom (1828 – 1917) was born into humble circumstances in Ohio, and grew up on a modest farm in eastern Indiana. He... Continue Reading →
Crossing Wyoming
By Eilene Lyon We’re rolling westward on Interstate 80 in southern Wyoming, on our way to do breeding bird surveys along a proposed transmission line route. The rising sun is adding fire to the stratus clouds hanging low in the sky. Our Ford Super Duty truck passes plains and low hills draped in sagebrush and... Continue Reading →
Is He or Isn’t He?
Week 25: #52 Ancestors – Same Name By Eilene Lyon One of the most problematic lines on my tree is the Orme family. My 3rd-great-grandmother was Christiana Orme, married to Martin R. Smith. Her parents were Nicholas Davis Orme and Penelope Permellee Pell. The Orme, Smith, and Pell families all have ties to Lewis County,... Continue Reading →
Read ‘Em and Reap
By Eilene Lyon You might think that should read “Read ‘Em and Weep” and you’d be right. That’s almost what I felt like doing after harvesting my peas this week. Honestly, I love all kinds of peas: those lovely emerald orbs, the edible snow pea pods… But my favorite, especially for growing myself, are the... Continue Reading →