Family History

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Planes, Shuffleboard, and Hats: The Elegant Lydia Schmidt McNamara (1876-1961)

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Planes, Shuffleboard, and Hats: The Elegant Lydia Schmidt McNamara (1876-1961)

Lydia Schmidt McNamara (1876-1961) was an elegant woman with a fondness for hats, planes, and jewelry. There is photographic evidence that she fancied shuffleboard as well.

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Pneumonia in Detroit: Franciszka "Frances" Grzeskowiak (1886-1905)

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Pneumonia in Detroit: Franciszka "Frances" Grzeskowiak (1886-1905)

Pneumonia was one of the leading causes of U.S. deaths in the early 1900s. It took the life of my 2nd great aunt, Francisczka “Frances” Grzeskowiak (1886-1905). This is her story.

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Blind Man Marries Wife, Sight Unseen: Padraig Hanley (abt. 1810) - 4th Great Grandfather

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Blind Man Marries Wife, Sight Unseen: Padraig Hanley (abt. 1810) - 4th Great Grandfather

Blind from a mining accident in Ireland, Padraig Hanley (abt. 1810) was my 4th great grandfather. This is his story.

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Helen Borowski Nizol (1900-1935): Mother Dies, Leaves Young Children, Just as Her Own Mother Did

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Helen Borowski Nizol (1900-1935): Mother Dies, Leaves Young Children, Just as Her Own Mother Did

Helen Borowski Nizol left 4 young sons when she died at age 34. Her own mother died when she was only 10. This is her story.

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The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#79) - Blarney Romany Caravans, Ireland 1971

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The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#79) - Blarney Romany Caravans, Ireland 1971

In 1971 my grandparents took a trip to Ireland. Blarney was one of their many stops in County Cork and adjoining areas. I just love this photo of a horse drawn Blarney Romany Caravan they saw along the way.

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The Halvangis Family at Evergreen Cemetery in Detroit, MI.

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The Halvangis Family at Evergreen Cemetery in Detroit, MI.

Several of my Halvangis family are buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Detroit, MI. Here are some videos I took of my recent trip there.

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My 3rd Great Grandfather, Denis Uonhi (also Green and O'Sullivan), of Ballydonegan, County Cork, Ireland (b. 1810)

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My 3rd Great Grandfather, Denis Uonhi (also Green and O'Sullivan), of Ballydonegan, County Cork, Ireland (b. 1810)

Born around 1810 Denis Uonhi (also Green and O'Sullivan) is my 3rd great grandfather. He made his family home in beautiful Ballydonegan, County Cork, Ireland. This is his story.

My 3rd Great Grandfather and "Prominent and Representative" Citizen of Cambria County, PA, James Costlow (1822-1904)

My 3rd Great Grandfather and "Prominent and Representative" Citizen of Cambria County, PA, James Costlow (1822-1904)

James Costlow (1822-1904) is one of the more prominent figures in my family tree. In fact, he was written about in in the Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. This is his story.

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Chicago Boy Becomes Broadcasting Legend: Quin Augustus Ryan (1898-1978)

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Chicago Boy Becomes Broadcasting Legend: Quin Augustus Ryan (1898-1978)

Quin A. Ryan (1898-1978) is the most famous relative I’ve written about so far. He was a Chicago native and broadcasting legend. He is also my 2nd cousin 2x removed. Here is his story.

Mystery 16 Month Marriage of Porter Dean Sears (1906-1935) Ends in Divorce Due to "Repeated and Extreme Cruelty"

Mystery 16 Month Marriage of Porter Dean Sears (1906-1935) Ends in Divorce Due to "Repeated and Extreme Cruelty"

Porter Dean Sears (1906-1935), my 2nd great uncle, married Elnora Florence Cannon on July 9th, 1928. Sixteen months later they were divorced. “Repeated and Extreme Cruelty” was the reason cited (by Porter). This is his story.

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A Boy's Life Cut Short: Michael Anthony Karr (1954-1964)

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A Boy's Life Cut Short: Michael Anthony Karr (1954-1964)

There is little, if anything, more tragic in life than the death of a child. This is the story Michael Karr (1954-1964) and his life that was cut tragically short in 1964.

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A Boy Without a Dad and the Family He Made: Arthur Bryan Myers Sears (1900-1964)

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A Boy Without a Dad and the Family He Made: Arthur Bryan Myers Sears (1900-1964)

This is my great grandfather, Arthur Bryan Sears (1900-1964), probably around age one. As far as I can tell he was fatherless for his first several years. This is his story.

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The Vallance Babies of Johnstown, PA

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The Vallance Babies of Johnstown, PA

George and Laverne Rhoads Vallance (1899-1962) had four stillborn babies (one set of twins) between 1922 and 1924 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. These were their only children. Here are their stories.

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When Friends Become Family: The Elissavitis Siblings of Kokkari

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When Friends Become Family: The Elissavitis Siblings of Kokkari

The deep friendship between the Elissavitis and Halvangis families that began in Kokkari in Samos, Greece spanned two countries and many decades. Here is the story of how from friends they became family.

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From Samos, Greece to Detroit By Way of The Themistocles: Constantinos "Gust" Halvangis (1886-1928)

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From Samos, Greece to Detroit By Way of The Themistocles: Constantinos "Gust" Halvangis (1886-1928)

The story of my 2nd great uncle, what little I know, from Samos, Greece to Detroit. He travelled on The Themistocles in 1915. Can you help me find the rest of his story?

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A War Ends and a Mother Dies as a Life Begins: Thomas Bernard Costlow (1865-1943)

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A War Ends and a Mother Dies as a Life Begins: Thomas Bernard Costlow (1865-1943)

"Uncle Tom Costlow" was born in turbulent times. He was born the day before the U.S. Civil War ended. His mother died two weeks later. This is his story.

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Making Kuchen, Bread, and Wickelklöße With a Smile: Martha Zenner Muenzel (1868-1960)

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Making Kuchen, Bread, and Wickelklöße With a Smile: Martha Zenner Muenzel (1868-1960)

By all accounts Martha Zenner Muenzel (1868-1960) was a wonderful German cook. Some of her specialities were Kucken and Wickelklöße. She was likely my 1st cousin 4x removed. The is her story.   

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Three Year Old Franciszka Pawlowska (1913-1915) Dies of Diphtheria in Detroit

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Three Year Old Franciszka Pawlowska (1913-1915) Dies of Diphtheria in Detroit

Franciszka Pawlowska (1913-1915) was the 5th of 10 children by my great grandparents, Adam Pawlowski (1879-1959) and Marianna Grzeskowiak Pawlowski (1879-1941). She died of diphtheria in 1915. This is his story. 

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From Pew to Bar and Back Again: John "Jack" Hanley (1885-1946)

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From Pew to Bar and Back Again: John "Jack" Hanley (1885-1946)

Whether praying in the pews or tending the family bar, John "Jack" Hanley (1885-1946) was a man of faith and familial duty. This is his story.  

 

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Paraskevi Tsardoulias (1925-1945) and the "Εθνική Οργάνωσις Νεολαίας" of Greece

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Paraskevi Tsardoulias (1925-1945) and the "Εθνική Οργάνωσις Νεολαίας" of Greece

This is Paraskevi Tsardoulias (Παρασκευή Τσαρδούλιας). She is my 1st cousin 2x removed. She was a member of the Εθνική Οργάνωσις Νεολαίας, a National Youth Organization of Greece. This is what I know of her story.