dna

September 24, 2026

An Italian Name, An Irish DNA Story

When my husband, bearing a very Italian surname, took a DNA test a few years ago we anticipated he’d be overwhelmingly Italian. His paternal grandfather, Florindo Lanciano (1904-1971) had all the hallmarks of his Italian heritage – the lifelong nickname of ‘Rocky’, darker skin tone, black hair, and an-all Italian line stretching back decades, all… Continue reading

my in-laws family history

county mayo, dna, england, ireland, irish, italian, italy, jones, lanciano, philadelphia, woolen mill
July 25, 2026

You Can’t Outrun the Manley Nose

As part of my ancestry investigations I often browse eBay for vintage family-specific treasures using keywords such as surnames and locations. Sometimes I have the incredible luck of discovering a photo for a distant ancestor such as this one for Melinda “Minnie” Manly (1833-1916) who, according to Ancestry.com, is my “1X cousin, 5 generations removed”.… Continue reading

paternal history

dna, manley, tecumseh michigan

“The creation of a thousand forests is one acorn.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Welcome! My name is Lisa, and I’m a family historian, storyteller, and unapologetic history nerd with a deep love for discovering the ordinary people, places, and stories that came before us.

What began as curiosity about my own ancestors has grown into a passion for researching, preserving, and sharing the stories, photographs, documents, and places that connect generations across time. Along the way, I’ve discovered that some of the best stories aren’t necessarily found on my family tree. Sometimes they’re hiding in an old newspaper, a forgotten recipe, a historic place – or some random bit of history I simply can’t resist sharing.

I believe every ancestor – whether they left behind a diary or only a name on a census record – deserves to be remembered. My hope is that this site not only preserves my family’s history for future generations, but also celebrates the fascinating, surprising, and sometimes wonderfully everyday stories of the past.

Because history is everywhere. You just have to be curious enough to look.

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dna

An Italian Name, An Irish DNA Story

You Can’t Outrun the Manley Nose