When we think about people who settled along the trails westward, we often think about the hardships that they encountered.  We may wonder if they were traveling west and simply gave up and decided to settle in that location or if the location was their original destination. However, we often don’t consider the business they did catering to . . . or in some cases taking advantage of . . . people

  When you are clearing out a house, you might be inclined to just dump old papers that don’t look like they have been touched for decades.  However, before you just dump that box, bag, or drawer of old receipts, newspaper clippings and other papers, take a look at them.  You might be surprised what general history, local history, and family history they hold.  You might even find yourself fascinated by them.   Preserving Everything

Today, marriages come in many forms from the brief ceremony at the justice of the peace to elaborate events that go well beyond the ceremony.  In the case of my grandmothers, one was married by the probate judge and the other by a member of the clergy.  Both came away with a husband and a beautiful record of their marriage. Courtship and a wedding     Courtship Originally named Eleanor, my Grandma McCracken hated that

In earlier years of our country, the call to serve the country often was given to groups of men in various locations.  Thus, it was not uncommon for neighbors and even family members to serve together.  In this case, two brothers served in the same company.   The Brothers It was September 9, 1861 when William M. Matteer and his younger brother Francis Marien Matteer, brothers of my great-great grandmother Louisiana (Matteer) McCracken, enlisted in

It isn’t unusual for a grandfather to be absent from their grandchildren’s lives.  But, it is rare for a special man to step into his shoes and be adored by his step-grandchildren.   Special Memories After Andrew Johnson McCracken died at age 53 of a heart attack, Andrew and Rosa (Ellis) McCracken’s grandchildren were left without a grandfather.  Although Andrew and Rosa’s youngest child, Ray Eugene McCracken, was only 10 years old, they already had