Engineers, physicists, inventors. scientists, professors, educators. If I had a nickel for every time that I came across one in my family tree, it would not pay for the storage fees for this blog. But I might have a roll of nickels. Max Edwin Femmer, my 4th cousin, 1x removed, was a member of the engineering team at IBM that revolutionized data… More →
Month: September 2015
Remembering Lurah
The untimely and tragic death of my paternal great grandmother, Lula Betty (Boren) Trantham, robbed six young children of their mother and a husband of his loving wife. After helping a neighboring and ailing family in need, Lula Betty contracted the illness herself and died on her 33rd birthday. Although Texas would become her final resting place, her heritage was firmly rooted in Mississippi, where she left behind… More →
A-Tisket A-Tasket
The Baskets of Monroe Johnson most likely never appeared on any bestseller list. This unassuming 33-page booklet, which I found in the gift shop of the Warren County Historical Society, probably would have been overlooked by a lesser being but not I. In terms of baskets, my knowledge is limited to the Easter and laundry varieties. But as husbands of distant cousins go, I am quite the expert.… More →
Opalescent
The stars in the night sky are shimmering a bit brighter these days now that my grand aunt Opal (Trantham) Shelton has taken her rightful place among them. Born August 8, 1933 to Lutiness Alonzo and Mattie (Buys) Trantham, Opal was one of eleven children and my paternal grandfather’s half sister. Opportunity and distance prevented me from ever meeting her. But, it is clear… More →
School on the Hill
Admittedly, I’ve been neglecting the blog the last few days. Fear not! I have more to share. Most folks pick up a refrigerator magnet, coffee mug or keychain as a souvenir. Not me. I returned home with stacks of photocopied old deeds, marriage licenses and family genealogies which I am still organizing. In the meantime, this post is pure nostalgia. My father and I… More →
An Independent Woman Emerges
My week-long stay in Warren County, Missouri has ended. I traveled there hoping to find information about my 3rd great grandparents, the Düwels or Duewels, who appeared in the census of 1870 but not 1880. Their daughter, Friederieke, was the mother of my paternal great grandfather, Henry Duesenberg. Using church records, deeds and estate documents, I’ve been able to piece together the final chapters of their lives after… More →
New Franklin, Ben Franklin and Baseball
My trip to Warren County, Missouri this week included a detour to New Franklin, Missouri. Twenty-five years or more have passed since I last stepped foot in this quaint little town that is the birthplace of my paternal grandmother. Sadly, the Ben Franklin five and dime store has closed for good. The last time I was in New Franklin my… More →
Warren County Fair-to-Middling
Day 2 of my trip to Warren County, Missouri is coming to a close. This is an important place for me genealogically speaking as one quarter of my Kenfolk via my paternal grandmother passed through these parts. Having exhausted every resource available online, I had high hopes coming here in person I’d be able to overcome some of the research… More →
Martin Trantham Whosit?
I can’t make this stuff up. I’ve stumbled upon yet another “Martin Trantham“. Well, it’s more like I stubbed my big toe on him. One of my dad’s DNA matches on Ancestry.com (who by default is also my match) happens to be very knowledgeable about genetics. By profession, she’s a medical doctor and my “go to” person when I have questions about… More →
Helen of Troy (Missouri)
Some of my most favorite “discovered” distant cousins are the unassuming ones who lived extraordinary lives. When I find myself thinking: “I could never have done that”, I know that I’ve found another one. Helen Luelf, my 3rd cousin, 2x removed, is an inspiring leaf hanging proudly from the Winter branch of my family tree. She was the 7th of 14 children born to Herman… More →