monroe county new york

August 28, 2026

A Family Obituary, a Famous Inventor, and One Very Unexpected Connection

If you’ve ever wondered how much trouble two parents could cause a genealogist nearly 200 years later, allow me to introduce twin brothers, Leman and Lyman Smith. Same (very common) surname, nearly identical first names living in the same place at the same time. One of the twins, Leman Smith (1806-1888) is my 4X great… Continue reading

a little history you didn’t ask for, paternal history

dodge, monroe county new york, morse code, smith
August 21, 2026

Between the Lines: Miriam (Dewing) Manly’s Story

When Adin Manly, my 4X great grand uncle, recorded the story of leaving Massachusetts for the wilds of upstate New York in February 1817, he described the journey in practical terms: he and his new wife, Miriam, were married on January 17 and a month later they set out with a group and three yoke… Continue reading

memoir, paternal history

manley, manly, monroe county new york, pioneer

“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.

Explore my TikTok Videos

monroe county new york

A Family Obituary, a Famous Inventor, and One Very Unexpected Connection

Between the Lines: Miriam (Dewing) Manly’s Story