September 2026
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Shot in the Face at Shiloh: The Story of Edward Colman (1828-1898)
Some family stories leap off the page. This is one of them. My first cousin, four times removed, Edward Colman, was born in 1828, the son of Dr. Anson Colman and Catherine (Rochester) Colman. Edward was also the nephew of my 3X great grandmother, Caroline (Colman) Maynard. There is another interesting piece of history tucked… Continue reading
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When Mother and Daughter Became Sisters-in-Law
Sometimes my genealogy research requires a pencil, a piece of paper, and a second cup of coffee to untangle. This is one of those stories. My 3X great grandmother, Sarah (Gross) Carter (1836-1912), and her daughter, Nancy Carter were, of course, mother and daughter. But after the death of Sarah’s first husband during the Civil… Continue reading
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A Boy Named George: Slavery in My Manley Family
Genealogy has a way of taking us places we never expected to go. I’ve spent years researching my Manley ancestors, tracing them from the early Massachusetts colonies through their migrations to New York and eventually, Lenawee County, Michigan. Along the way I’ve uncovered the details that bring a family history to life – where they… Continue reading
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The Eyes Ulysses S. Grant Fell In Love With
Ulysses S. Grant is usually remembered as the commanding general who helped win the Civil War and later became the 18th President of the United States. But there’s a much softer piece of Grant history. When Grant met Julia Dent, the woman who would become his wife, he apparently knew he’d found his person. Julia… Continue reading
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Cause of Death: Visitation of God
While digging through old church records for my Guerin ancestors in Morristown, New Jersey, I came across an entry that made me pause. “Robert Todd, found dead in the road. Verdict of Jury, came to his death by visitation of God.” Apparently “Visitation of God” was once used in coroner’s verdicts for a death believed… Continue reading
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Historical Photo of the Day: The Gurins of North McKenzie Street
In genealogy research, one of the side benefits is discovering that a place I’ve seen in an old family photograph still exists. My 2X great grandmother, Melissa (Walker, Fuller) Gurin (1849-1920) came to Adrian, Michigan, after the death of her first husband, Dr. George Fuller. She arrived from Erie County, Ohio with her widowed mother,… Continue reading
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Nineteen Years Old and Far From Home: The Short Life of James N. Jordan
In the fall of 1862, eighteen-year old James N. Jordan of Tecumseh, Michigan, enlisted in Company B of the 7th Michigan Cavalry. His older brother, William Cairns Jordan, was already serving with Company I of the 18th Michigan Infantry. Two sons from the same Tecumseh family had gone off to war. James would never come… Continue reading
