Week 39: #52 Ancestors – Road Trip By Eilene Lyon The Putterer’s great-grandmother, Mary Frances (Stephens) Gee, was orphaned at a young age. She was the eighth of nine children of Granville Allen Stephens Sr. and Sarah Poor. (Sarah was a descendant of Revolutionary War patriot, Amos Poor.) Mary Frances had seven brothers and only... Continue Reading →
It’s Complicated!
Week 36: #52 Ancestors – Exploration By Eilene Lyon On any given day, I can go on a major expedition—without leaving my desk. Family history is like that. You might be tempted to call it a “rabbit hole,” and it does involve many diverting side trips, but it is goal-oriented. Unlike building a pedigree, as... Continue Reading →
A Warm Congregation
Week 31: #52 Ancestors – Help By Eilene Lyon It has been a while since we had a story from my Grandpa Smith’s memoirs. He doesn’t mention the year this took place, but based on his Life Summary, I believe it was 1941. Below, I’ll share a bit about my research into the church and... Continue Reading →
Emma Does Her Duty
Week 34: #52 Ancestors – Timeline By Eilene Lyon The Putterer’s great-great-grandfather, Henry Bower, passed away March 24, 1916 in LaMoille, Bureau County, Illinois, at the ripe old age of 92. His wife, Hannah Mueller (Miller) predeceased him at age 78 in January 1908. They were the parents of seven children, of whom, six married.... Continue Reading →
Agness & Mabel
Week 26: #52 Ancestors – Identity, Part 2 By Eilene Lyon William C. Anderson’s First Wife Recently, I established that Eliza Frey was NOT a wife of William C. Anderson Jr., my 4th great-grandfather. I knew about a marriage record for William Anderson and Agness Grier in 1806 in Belmont County, Ohio.1 As William tended... Continue Reading →
Killing Eliza Frey
Week 26: #52 Ancestors – Identity, Part 1 By Eilene Lyon Ancestry has 463 family trees (or more) that include my 4th great-grandfather, William Clark Anderson Jr. Over 70 of those trees include a spouse named some variation of Eliza/beth Frey or Frew. A few have just the last name(s). William married and had 8–10... Continue Reading →
Hangin’ on the Line
By Eilene Lyon Under our west-facing deck, I have strung some colored lights. The patio below is furnished as an outdoor living room with loveseat, coffee table and two rocking, swivel chairs. The fence lizards love lounging on my furniture, therefore I initially credited them with the mess of poop all over the cushions. But... Continue Reading →
Fort Wayne Stenographer
Found Photo Project #3 By Eilene Lyon I purchased this unusual image from the local antiques store in 2019. It does not have any personal identification on it, but based on a number of clues, I do believe I have identified the subject. Hopefully the photograph will be on its way to a family member... Continue Reading →
The Virginians
Week 25: #52 Ancestors – Broken Branch By Eilene Lyon Family branches become detached from trees for a variety of reasons. In many cases, a member decides to migrate from the ancestral home, either within a country or to a place far away. The migrant may remain in contact with the stay-at-home relatives, but their... Continue Reading →