The Distinguished Susannah Johnson
Ellis

The Distinguished Susannah Johnson

Susannah Johnson's 1819 will is quite lengthy and quite interesting, detailing every dress and providing for several slaves.  Where did she get all of these...
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Overcoming Challenges
McCracken Peelle Pellett Stackhouse Thomas

Overcoming Challenges

  The thing that I most admire about my ancestors isn't if they are wealthy or famous.  It isn't even if they built a town...
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2025: My Research In Review
DNA Ellis McCracken Thomson

2025: My Research In Review

This article explores the current status of research for the three family lines that I most actively researched in  2025 and a look back at...
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The Mystery Music Man
Peelle

The Mystery Music Man

Who is this young man and what is the musical instrument that he is holding?   The Photo The original photo is a tin type...
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Grandma’s Rocker
Pellett Thomas

Grandma’s Rocker

My Grandma Dessie May (Thomas) Pellett’s rocking chair is likely my oldest piece of furniture.  If the conclusion by grok (AI) is accurate, it is...
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The Signature
Conner Helm Jury Kutzner McCracken Pellett Thomas Thomson Van Allen

The Signature

What does a signature have to say about you?   I started saving signatures of relatives several years ago.  This article explores the signatures of some...
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Chicken And Noodles
Pellett

Chicken And Noodles

My Grandma Dessie May (Thomas) Pellett had rules around which of her daughters, even as adults, could cook which items.  One of the items that...
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Hiattville: A Rural Town
Jury McCracken Peelle Thomas

Hiattville: A Rural Town

  Today, we think of urban centers as cities and sometimes refer specifically to downtown or most heavily populated portions of the city as urban...
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Fire After Fire
Jury McCracken Peelle Uncategorized

Fire After Fire

Small towns in America have always struggled to survive.  One of their greatest nemesis is fire.  Hiattville was no exception. Matter of fact, Hiattville had...
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The Deadly Voyage
Stackhouse

The Deadly Voyage

In 1698, Thomas and Grace Pearson decided to move their family to America.  It was a decision that would turn deadly.   Extwistle Hall. By...
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Buried in the cemetery or not?
Ellis

Buried in the cemetery or not?

The cemetery records for Brown Township in Ripley County, Indiana indicate that several members of the Ellis family are buried across the road from the...
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The Last Letter
McCracken

The Last Letter

My Uncle Howard, who was serving in Italy during WWII, wrote a letter home on April 15, 1945.  The family would never hear from him...
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Sleigh Accident
Pellett

Sleigh Accident

Eunity "Euna" was only 23 when she died. A life cut far too short.   Early Life Eunity was born in 1862 in Logan County,...
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South Dakota’s Grand Old Man of Aviation
Ellis

South Dakota’s Grand Old Man of Aviation

    How many people, besides Orville and Wilbur Wright, do you suppose have flown a plane and carried passengers with basically no instruction?  How...
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The 1762 Princeton Graduate
Peppard

The 1762 Princeton Graduate

  A large portion of my ancestors were farmers and many had very limited formal education.  However, I had a very early ancestor who apparently...
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