Faught Lake: Could it be Foch Lake?

In an earlier blog post called Road Trip Through Our Family History, I mentioned some photos that I found labeled as Faught Lake. If you remember the photos also suggested that this lake was named after my 2nd great grandmother Mary Anna Faught. Since I found these photos and wrote the previous…

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Re-thinking Research: The Parents of William Hawley

As all beginning genealogist, I relied on online public family trees to start my research. Over the last year, I have been going back over my research, verifying information, adding sources and filling in the gaps. During my research, I started to add sources for my second great grandfather William…

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Finding George Faught

George Faught, my 3rd great grandfather, was born on July 12, 1837, in New York, the youngest child of Lawrence Faught and Bridget Fogarty. By June 11, 1860, George was living with his mother Bridgette and two older siblings William and Ann in Lexington, Sanilac, Michigan. George’s father Lawrence had passed…

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McKenzie Schoolhouse: Two Brothers, One Schoolhouse and Years of Memories

I referenced a photo I found of an old water pump that sits on the original of the McKenzie Schoolhouse, in a previous blog post called Road Trip Through Our Family History. In today’s blog post, I will provide additional details about the McKenzie Schoolhouse and it’s wonderful history and connection to my McKenzie family. Jeremiah McKenzie and…

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William Burt: Are we a witness??

I referenced a photo I found of my grandmother Edna Jean (Burt) McKenzie standing next to a sign for “The Witness Tree”, in a previous blog post called Road Trip Through Our Family History. In today’s blog post, I will provide additional details about William Burt and explore a possible family connection. First,…

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Sylvester P. Mason: American Soldier

Sylvester P. Mason was born on about 1815 in Danube, Herkimer, New York. His father’s name was George Mason.On June 23, 1834, at the age of 19, Sylvester enlisted in the U.S. Army in Albany New York. Sylvester P. Mason enlists in the U.S. Army on June 23, 1834, in Albany, New…

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Niergarth School in Rust, Montmorency, Michigan

I referenced a photo I found of the Niergarth schoolhouse, in a previous blog post called Road Trip Through Our Family History. Today’s blog post will provide a little more information about how this country schoolhouse played a part in the life of my Great Grandmother, Lavina Hawley. Lavina May…

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Road Trip Through Our Family History

I remember a trip took when I was young, 1988 based on the photos, with my parents and grandparents (Alexander and Edna McKenzie). We often took long drives, sometimes to find that “perfect garage sale”, sometimes just to drive. On this trip, we visited several places in and near Montmorency County, Michigan….

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Mary Anna Faught: One Tough Lady

Mary Anna Faught was born in Bridgehampton, Sanilac, Michigan on January 18, 1870, the first and only child of George Faught and Elizabeth Miller.  The family was enumerated on the 1870 census living in Bridgehampton. George is a farmer and Elizabeth is at home keeping house and taking care of her…

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Elusive Ancestor: Sarah Anne Healy

Sarah Ann Healy (1851 – 1919_ Sarah Anne Healy was my second great grandmother. She was born around 1851 in Ireland. Sarah immigrated to the US from Ireland when she was in her late teens in order to avoid being sent to a convent.  This story was told to me by Edna Jean (Burt)…

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Family Story Friday: The candy store account

I am introducing a new blog series today! Family Story Friday. This is where I will share your stories, so keep them coming. Today’s blog post is a story told by my mother Linda (Royer) Szymanski about her father Alfred Joseph Royer. I don’t ever remember my parents living in…

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Boys will be boys and thank goodness for uncles

Sharing a story about my grandfather Alfred Joseph Royer in my last blog prompted my “aunt” Robbie, who is technically my maternal first cousin 1x removed, to share a story of her own. I love hearing the family stories please everyone keep them coming….. Please contact me if you have…

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A Near Miss and the love between brothers

If you had an opportunity to read my last blog post “Thriller Thursday: Brother Shoots Brother” you will remember that I shared a story about two brothers that weren’t really “feeling the love” to say the least. Today, I would like to take the opportunity to share a different type…

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