By Eilene Lyon Though I spent years of my childhood in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, I had never been to Harpers Ferry before our September biking trip. Knowing a small bit of its history (particularly John Brown’s Raid), I planned for a day off and an extra night spent there before our last day of... Continue Reading →
The C&O Canal Towpath
By Eilene Lyon Many Cumberland restaurants are closed on Sundays, but we found a place to get a burger that even had some live music out on the sidewalk. I took a stroll along the Potomac River later in the evening. A gaggle of Canada geese grazed on the grass near the towpath. Across the... Continue Reading →
Brothers In Arms
By Eilene Lyon Veteran’s Day 2025 The two youngest sons in the Henry Zane Jenkins and Abigail G. Bedford family served in—and survived—the US Civil War. Their home state of Indiana held vast numbers of Southern sympathizers, immigrants from Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas. It was often called “the Dixie of the North.” But... Continue Reading →
Drafted and Disabled
By Eilene Lyon Last month I shared some background on my Arbogast ancestors who migrated to Ohio from Alsace, France. Of the Arbogast children who traveled with their parents to America, my 3rd great-grandfather was John C. Arbogast Jr. He was 12 when he landed in Tuscarawas County in 1840. He still lived with his... Continue Reading →
Frémont’s Missouri Misstep
By Eilene Lyon August 30, 2022 On this date in 1861, Major General John C. Frémont, commander of the Department of the West, issued a proclamation declaring martial law in the State of Missouri, and that those in open rebellion against the Union would forfeit their personal property, including enslaved persons, who would be emancipated.... Continue Reading →
Sacramento Sights
By Eilene Lyon I recently spent a week in Sacramento at the National Genealogical Society conference, where I gave a well-received presentation, “Immortal Words: Keep your family history alive with a lively blog.” This was my second visit to the city in recent years, but on this occasion I had a little more time for... Continue Reading →
The Carey Album
Week 40: #52 Ancestors – Preservation By Eilene Lyon A blessing of this blog is that cousins find stories here about their ancestors and reach out to me. Suzanne is one, and we have enjoyed a couple visits here in Durango. Recently she brought her Carey family photo album for me to scan and hopefully... Continue Reading →
Honoring Their Service
By Eilene Lyon Today I am just going to share photos of a few veterans from my family tree. I've written about the service of some; others remain to be done. Feature image: Poppies from my garden this summer. (E. Lyon 2021)
No Mountain Too High
Hulda Hearn Shanks (1832-1885) By Eilene Lyon “She holds that true companionship between man and woman necessitates the possession and the exercise by both of equal rights, privileges and franchises, believing, as she does, that in nothing else is the civilization of any people apparent as in the closer and ever closer approximation of woman’s... Continue Reading →