On May 20, 1861, the state of Arkansas seceded from the union and became part of the Confederate States of America. Not all Arkansans agreed with this action and a secret anti-war society was formed in several northern Arkansas counties – including Searcy County, where my grandmother’s family settled for several generations – to protest … Continue reading The Civil War . . . it’s complicated →

Kittie May Ellis was my first cousin three times removed. She is one of those names on the genealogy chart that I always considered “of no genealogical significance,” meaning she (like myself) never married and had no children and would therefore never have anyone in future generations give her a second thought. She caught my … Continue reading Kittie May →

A google search of “naming practices” or “naming conventions” will return thousands of articles explaining how our ancestors named their children, and many will carry a “not all parents followed these conventions” disclaimer. I know this because I have been trying for years - without success - to figure out how my great-grandparents came up … Continue reading What’s in a name, anyway? →

Today would have been my mother’s 80th birthday, and it seems fitting that I start my family history blog with one of my most cherished memories of her. High View Cemetery, Ione, Oregon Several years ago I went for a drive with my parents and brother and ended up in Ione, Oregon, where my mother … Continue reading High View Cemetery and my mother’s birthday →