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Historical Photo of the Day: The Huckster’s Wagon Robert Emmett Hunt (1850 – 1927)
It’s rare that you come across a vintage photograph that so unquestionably identifies the subject. This is a photo of Emmett Hunt who, according to the 1880 Federal census for Seneca County, Ohio, was a ‘huxter’. A ‘huxter’ or ‘huckster’ was a traveling salesman who sold small items such as drink, foodstuffs and other easily… Continue reading
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Soldier Boys at Twelve: The Civil War Story of My Seekell Cousins
Some family stories are discovered one record at a time. Others practically leap off the page and demand to be told. That was the case when I stumbled across the story of my distant cousins, twin brothers Charles Leslie Seekell (1849-1925) and James Wesley Seekell (1849-1914). In 1861 when most twelve-year old boys are still… Continue reading
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Johnny Cakes and Little House Memories
My lifelong love of reading was sparked by one of my very first books, ‘Little House in the Big Woods’ by Laura Ingalls Wilder. When I first read it in the 1970s, I was instantly captivated by Laura’s world. What was an ordinary day like for a girl in the 1870s? What did she wear?… Continue reading
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The Day I Churned Back Time
There are some kitchen projects that begin with careful planning and then there are ones that begin with simple curiosity. Mine began with a carton of heavy cream, a food processor and the thought, ‘I wonder if this really works? Can I really make butter? Twelve minutes later, I wasn’t just looking at a bowl… Continue reading
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If You Love History, Don’t Miss These Two Podcasts
When I’m not listening to audio books during my daily commute, you’ll usually find me tuned into a history podcast. Over the year I’ve sampled quite a few, but I’ve narrowed my regular listening down to two that I always look forward to new releases. Both are meticulously researched, engagingly presented and have introduced me… Continue reading
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The Jiggle That Built America: A Brief History of Jell-O and the Famous 1970s Poke Cake
As a child growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, Jell-O often appeared on our dinner table in the form of dessert. Although there are genuine horror stories during that time period (and photos to prove it’s existence which I will not post here as, quite frankly, they make me quesy) about lime Jell-O with… Continue reading
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Who Will Remember Them? The Fight to Save Lake Ridge Cemetery
Lake Ridge Cemetery in Macon, Lenawee County, Michigan is facing an emergency. As a descendent of many of those buried in this cemetery, including my 4X great grandmother, Sarah (Morfey, Maynard) Kenward (1783-1856) who came to America from England in 1831 with her second husband and their blended family, I am invested in the outcome… Continue reading
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The Handy Family of Tecumseh: It’s Complicated
For the sake of genealogy research I am very fortunate that many of my paternal lines after the mid-1800s resided in Lenawee County, Michigan, the county adjacent to where I live. Logistically, I am easily able to visit the local libraries, historical museums, and cemeteries to gather information and build family stories. Where it gets… Continue reading
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Lottie Packard: Twice Widowed, Mother of Ten, and a Birth Certificate That Raised More Questions Than it Answered
When I first came across Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Packard (1870-1952), she wasn’t my ancestor. She wasn’t even related to me by blood or marriage. In fact, I almost skipped past her entirely. Then I started reading the records. One document lead to another until the outline of an extraordinary life slowly emerged – a young wife,… Continue reading
Tiny Acorns & Mighty Oaks 