I’ve not met many Southerners whose family has been down here for a while, not get around to sharing that there is a family story of a Native American in the family tree, usually a great-grandmother one or more times over (only story more common is the 3 brothers who immigrated or moved to America). … Continue reading The Lore of Native Americans in the Southern Family Tree
Family History
Getting to Know a Community from the Past
1827 Map of Florida showing Barrow's Ferry (upper middle section on river) As some of you may know, a good number of my ancestors helped settle the upper banks of the Yellow River in what is now Okaloosa County, Florida. First known as Barrow’s Ferry, believed to be a name taken from one of my … Continue reading Getting to Know a Community from the Past
Herbs & Home Remedies in the Florida Panhandle
It was not so long ago that the process of health care was considerably more centered within the family and the local, surrounding community. Our ancestors did not get in the wagon, harness the horses and ride 10 or 20 miles to what was the local doctor and sometimes they couldn’t wait until he could … Continue reading Herbs & Home Remedies in the Florida Panhandle
Preserving Your Old Photos (and other Genealogy Records)
Last month we explored the joys of old photographs and postcards as a way to enhance your genealogy efforts. There are three very critical aspects of this process: 1) scanning them correctly, 2) storing them properly, and 3) creating multiple digital back-ups. We talked about the second and third steps some last month. Three digital … Continue reading Preserving Your Old Photos (and other Genealogy Records)
Photographs and Postcards: Windows into the Past
While I love doing research and identifying and documenting ancestors, I can get really excited when I discover a photograph of an ancestor or a postcard or photograph of a significant institution or building in their lives. There is something about looking at that image and imagining talking to them or watching them stroll up … Continue reading Photographs and Postcards: Windows into the Past
The Black and White of Oak Grove, Okaloosa Co, FL
This blog has proven hard to write. I am busy with both personal and family responsibilities and projects but I think also because it is painful to dig into activities of the past that don’t show off a place you feel attached to in the best light. But I am not sure how we as … Continue reading The Black and White of Oak Grove, Okaloosa Co, FL
Using Newspapers in Researching Ancestors During the Civil War
Most of us who research our ancestors in the Civil War beyond finding the name in an index and making a note of the service and with what regiment, are familiar with some of the basic options for adding more detail to our ancestor’s service. But just in case I have some folks just getting … Continue reading Using Newspapers in Researching Ancestors During the Civil War
Too Many Johns in the Tree Branches: Sorting Out Same Name/Different People Problems in Genealogical Research
If you’ve been doing genealogy/family history for a while and have managed to move back at least two generations, filling in all of the children in each generation, you’ve discovered what I would consider the bane of any dedicated family historian: the repetition of given names leading to way too many folks with the same … Continue reading Too Many Johns in the Tree Branches: Sorting Out Same Name/Different People Problems in Genealogical Research
Those Pesky, Elusive Females in Your Ancestry
I personally can’t think of a pastime, hobby or career choice that would be more rewarding than genealogy but as a long-time family historian, and a Southerner inclined to a bit of nitpicking, I do have my complaints. If I could wave a magic wand, I would install good record-keeping, all the way back to … Continue reading Those Pesky, Elusive Females in Your Ancestry
Putting Detail to Your Ancestor’s Service in the Civil War
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season of peace, joy, family, giving and eating. We celebrate Christmas in our household and it was full of talking, laughing, eating and playing. My Mom is helping me plan and design a memorial, quilted wall-hanging for my 7 direct ancestors and I will add one of my … Continue reading Putting Detail to Your Ancestor’s Service in the Civil War
Northwest Florida History & Genealogy 