A Smörgåsbord of Stories
It’s my day, so I’m writing about myself. Buckle up as we go back to 2014 for one of my favorite, genealogy-trip stories. Adair County, Kentucky My family has lived in Adair County, Kentucky since the early 1800s. Naturally, I wanted to visit their … read more
Patrick and I entertained several couples for a backyard barbeque last week. We had a wonderful evening: good food, great friends, lots of laughs and plenty of yard games. The next day, one of our guests tested positive for COVID-19. According to the current Centers … read more
For 35 years, I sought to discover Gentzkow family history. Because it is a very unusual name, it is simple to lookup. I used to say that every Gentzkow in any phone book was one of my cousins. With Internet searching, cousins were found in … read more
Cornelia “Conny” Schneider Diederichs is an avid family researcher in Germany. She loves the hobby so much that she hunts for clues for our Gentzkow family even though it is part of her husband’s lineage. On a cold, rainy day in March of 2016, Conny … read more
Every journey needs a first step. In family history, start by talking to all living ancestors and writing down what they say. Travel back in time through their old photos and listen to the stories that spill out. Tour cemeteries and former neighborhoods where memories … read more
Mary Mae “Mae” Lydick and Otto Norenberg stood outside the Telephone Office downtown Cass Lake on April 10, 1932. Look at the reflection in the window; you’ll see the Telephone Office sign. Inside this building is where Mae worked as a telephone operator. … read more
Franklin Hesse, son of Magdalena Frees and John Hesse, was born August 11, 1861 in Neenah, Wisconsin. In Frank’s obituary: “He grew to manhood and received a common school education in Neenah, except for a few years in Ohio.” A few years in Ohio … read more
In Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this series, we uncovered and identified the parents of Franklin Hesse (Dakota Territorial Homesteader) as John and Magdalena Hesse. Before we take a closer look at Franklin’s father, John Hesse, let me remind you that … read more
In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, we uncovered and identified the parents of Franklin Hesse (Dakota Territorial Homesteader) as John and Magdalena Hesse. Let’s take a closer look at Franklin’s mother, Magdalena. Genealogy Question: What is Franklin Hesse’s mother’s given … read more
Last week, I posed the question Who are the parents of Franklin Hesse (Dakota territorial homesteader)? The headline announced the shocking truth. This was my family Here is a quick synopsis of the story: According to … read more