ossians wells indiana

August 10, 2026

She Answered His Matrimonial Ad – And Married His Brother

Around the turn of the 20th century, courtship and marriage in rural communities were primarily dictated by geographic proximity and localized social circles. The experience of my maternal great-grandmother aligns precisely with this historical pattern. Mary ‘Mollie’ Glenn (Powers, Luttrell) Ryan was born May 9, 1885 in Ossian, Wells County, Indiana. When she was 21… Continue reading

maternal history

ossians wells indiana, powers, ryan

“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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ossians wells indiana

She Answered His Matrimonial Ad – And Married His Brother