A large portion of my ancestors were farmers and many had very limited formal education.  However, I had a very early ancestor who apparently farmed, but also graduated Princeton and became and early American Presbyterian preacher.   Francis Peppard’s History Francis Peppard is most likely my fifth great grandfather on my dad’s side through his all male ancestors.  If you recall, this has been shown by DNA, but determining the exact family line to

Religious views are one of  many attributes, views, skills, etc. of your ancestors that are passed down through the generations or flow through your DNA.  They may be tied to your ethnic background, but not always.  This article explores the different religions that influence me today.   Dad’s Family Known religions of my dad’s family. The Chart In the above chart, my dad is at the center, with his parents in the next row, their

If you have a bunch of old McCracken-Ellis family photos and you don’t have a clue who half the people are, take them to the esteemed Pearl (McCracken) Linke.  As her 100th birthday approaches, she remembers so many of the family and can still readily identify them for you.   Pearl with brothers Neil and Marvin Childhood Pearl May McCracken, my dad’s first cousin, was born in Farlington, Crawford, Kansas on September 16, 1925 to

Gaining statehood in 1861, Kansas was the 34th state admitted to the Union.  Six years earlier Bourbon County had been formed as a part of Kansas Territory.  In the 75 years that passed between the formation of the county and my mother’s birth, 19 of her direct ancestors lived in the county and all but two are buried there with 12 of them buried in the same cemetery.  But, where did they come from and

Names are interesting.  Some sound really good when you hear them.  Others, make you wonder what the parents were thinking.  And, others stick with you simply because they are unique or interesting.  Such is the case with the man who is the subject of this article.   The Name The man of interest is Marmaduke Horseman.  Either name on its own might be interesting, but combined it really stuck with me.  The name Horseman most