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My Vermilyea Cousin in Fairbanks, Alaska

Lucia and I flew to Alaska last month! It was an amazing trip and we hope to return.  We encourage anyone who has not been to consider it.  It is as advertised - majestically beautiful and naturally wilder than any place in the lower 48. …

Distant Cousins with Familiar Names, Part I

This summer, I fortuitously connected with two distant cousins who share unusual surnames from my family tree: Tabele Wührlin The Tabele family is a branch in my father's tree; the Wührlin family is a branch in my mother's.  This…

Probate Discovery: Mrs. Caroline S. King (1860-1932)

Now that Shuping and I summer in Minnesota, I was hoping to take advantage of our proximity to local genealogical records. Last week was my first chance to do so.  We made a day trip north to Grand Rapids, Minnesota and obtained the probate…

Squatters in Ross County, Ohio

I've neglected my blog for two months.  But I have a good excuse.  We've been busy working on our new lake cabin and getting it furnished.  A very productive and fun time, actually, but I'm ready to dive back in now. Irish-American Robert…
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New Article Published

I have a new publication out! The Summer 2021 issue of the Minnesota Genealogist includes an article about my great-grandaunt Maren Olsdatter Bønsmoen (1860-1907). Click this link to spawn a pdf copy which may be downloaded:   MGS Summer…

1887 Family Reunion Corroborates King-Hopkins Link

I'll be driving to Minnesota in a couple weeks to enjoy our lake cabin.  On the way, I'm going to spend two days in the Akron, Ohio area conducting research on my King, Dunlap, and Hopkins ancestry.  Another genealogy road trip! Hypothetical…

Wyoming Valley, Not Wyoming County

Last month, I reported finding new information about my King ancestry in an 1899 history of Leavenworth, Kansas.((Portrait and biographical record of Leavenworth, Douglas and Franklin counties, Kansas, rev. ed. (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co.,…

House Fires in Jones Family History

The Jonnes/Jones family history includes at least three fires of significant import, all of which are tragic losses of heirlooms and ancestral records.  The three fires affected three separate generations: my great-grandparents, 2nd great-grandparents…

Grandma Was Right (Again!)

My grandmother Helen King Vermilyea (1909-1994) - aka Mrs. Helen Bonn - always said that we were related to Stephen Hopkins, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. She was right!  At least that's what a new genealogical source…

My 1961 Norwegian Penpal

My Mother's memorabilia boxes are revealing all kinds of cool stuff.  I knew my Mother was a nostalgic person, but it's just amazing that she apparently kept every letter and card ever received!  She truly treasured each and every relationship. Amidst…