In genealogy, every once in awhile you run into something strange. Sarah E Peck of Lincoln, Nebraska’s entry in the 1910 US Census (above) is one of those things. It’s not unusual to see blanks in census forms, especially in the age column of an entry (though it can be frustrating!) It is, however, oddContinue reading “Census Weirdness: The Case of Sarah E Peck”
Category Archives: Stories
My Ancestor was Wounded at Gettysburg
My great-great grandfather, Newell Elijah Gile, was wounded at Gettysburg. I had heard rumors for some time about this wound. Only after doing some research into my own Battle of Gettysburg genealogy, however, was I able to verify it. It seems fitting to honor his sacrifice and service on this the anniversary of the battle,Continue reading “My Ancestor was Wounded at Gettysburg”
Finding Ancestors Overseas: Cynthia Borgman’s Death in China
As someone who began her simple life in a large, bilingual family–the child of Dutch immigrants to Iowa–Cynthia Clara Borgman’s adulthood might seem an easily predictable vision of a typical, early-nineteenth-century Midwestern life. It wasn’t. Cynthia traveled far and died young (in her 20s) in Amoy, China while serving as a missionary for the DutchContinue reading “Finding Ancestors Overseas: Cynthia Borgman’s Death in China”
My Ancestor’s Struggles with the Civil War Pension Office
As I write our series of tips about how to do Civil War genealogy, I think regularly about my own ancestors in the Civil War. My great great grandfather, Newell Elijah Gile, comes to my mind very often. He fought hard to receive an adequate pension for wounds he received during the conflict. I imagineContinue reading “My Ancestor’s Struggles with the Civil War Pension Office”
Healing Through Stories
I have ancestors on both sides of my family tree who fought against each other in the American Civil War. My Dad’s family was from the South, my mom’s family was from the North. My ancestors fought against each other in this gruesome, brutal war. Stories about wars often paint one side as heroes andContinue reading “Healing Through Stories”
When Your Family History Connects with History
First flight, 120 feet in 12 seconds, 10:35 a.m.; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Source: Library of Congress On this day in 1903, the Wright brothers successfully flew an airplane for the first time in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The following year, after repairing their airplane, they conducted flight tests in Huffman Prairie, just outside theirContinue reading “When Your Family History Connects with History”
Reflections on Mothers Day
Thinking back on this last Mothers Day, I remember the mothers who came before me. The mother in this picture is my grandmother, Margaret (DeWitt) Gile. The tiny baby is my mother. Being a mother now myself I realize how difficult it really is. I only have one kid right now and she is soContinue reading “Reflections on Mothers Day”
The Cliffords, Part 2: Family Scandal
This is a continuation of my account on the Clifford family. For more information, see Part 1. In 1878, Sophia Clifford sold the land that she and Lewis had bought in Iowa. Apparently her sons (Fred was 20 and Charles was 15) wanted to seek more opportunities out west rather than stay and work theContinue reading “The Cliffords, Part 2: Family Scandal”
The Cliffords, Part 1: Brick Wall Immigrants
Featured Image: Hamburger Hafen (Port of Hamburg) by Adolph Friedrich Vollmer, 1840. Ah, yes. Clifford. Kliefoth. The family that made me want to study German Genealogy in college. And I studied for four years and still didn’t find them. But they will be found. Someday. They originated in Germany as Kliefoth (pronounced like “klee-fote”), andContinue reading “The Cliffords, Part 1: Brick Wall Immigrants”
Research Summary: Andrew
Featured image: John Wesley Andrew sitting on his porch in Geneva, Nebraska Surname summary: I have decided to devote my research time each month to one direct line surname that exists in my five-generation pedigree. My surname for the month of November was Andrew. This is one of the few lines on my grandmother’s sideContinue reading “Research Summary: Andrew”