A Smörgåsbord of Stories
Christmas memories and traditions are different for each of us. For me, my favorite part of Christmas is decorating the tree with my grandmother’s crocheted snowflakes. Mary Mae Lydick Norenberg My Grandma Mae was born May 1, 1910 to Susan Roy and Horace “H.S” … read more
When writing about family history, I LOVE to include photos. Old pictures help me visualize my ancestors’ stories and bring names/dates to life. Last week, I wrote about the Thanksgiving Day marriage of Milton and Lottie (Senate) Rector. One of the best things that I … read more
Happy Thanksgiving! Every day provides opportunities to be grateful. I am so thankful for resources and options, for experiences and miracles, for family and friends, and for stories of my amazing ancestors. Currently in my genealogy database, there are over 7000 family members. That … read more
When I started searching for my great, great grandmother, Caroline “Lena” Hesse, (1863-1914), I made a rookie mistake. I assumed that her parents were the adults listed on the 1870 census and on her marriage record. However, the first sentence of her Pioneer Mother biography … read more
Caroline (car-oh-LEE-na) Hesse (1863-1914), was a Dakota Territory Pioneer Mother. In 1932, her biography was written and included in the Pioneer Mothers Project. Last week we examined that one-page profile and learned a little bit of her life. Who was Caroline “Lena” Hesse? Who were … read more
The North Dakota Federation of Women’s Clubs instituted the Pioneer Mothers Project in 1929. They sought to collect biographical sketches of women who, prior to November 1889, lived in the area of Dakota Territory and who were married at that time. The State Historical Society … read more
Horace Sawyer “H.S.” Lydick (1880-1956) lived a colorful life. Newspapers devoted column-inches to his exploits, like the tale of the Two-bitted Injunction. Today’s story is not a fanciful fable. This account relies not on rumor, but on solid photographic evidence. Market Hunting Last week, … read more
My Great Uncle Clint Lydick (1931-2021) loved, LOVED to tell stories. Uncle Clint would have celebrated his 91st birthday this month. So, in honor of him, I begin a new sub-category called Stories my Uncle Clint Told Back in 2007, Uncle Clint typed up … read more
Fabulous memories are made when we experience something out of the ordinary. Car Camping, 1964. Here’s a story written by my brother-in-law, Tom: By the time Dave was born (Jim was almost eight then), the rest of us were getting old … read more
This past weekend, lots of cousins gathered at the beautiful Locust Hill Farm in Virginia for the biennial reunion of the Willis, Gordon, Garnett and Allied Families. Members are descendants and relatives of Capt. Isaac Willis (1774-1867) of Locust Grove and his wife, Anne Garnett … read more