Notable Relatives

Jun 236 min read

The U.S. - Dakota War of 1862

In 1862, President Lincoln had more to contend with than just a Civil War. In 1845, shortly after their marriage in Illinois, Jonas and...

Jun 163 min read

Reading's Piano Maker

John B. Schoener was born in Reading, PA in 1807. He was the second child and second son of William B. and Catherine (née Boyer)...

Jun 94 min read

William B. Schoener, Jr. - Part 2

William's story continues. For Part One, click here. Besides mulberry trees, William also had a vineyard a peach orchard that contained...

Jun 33 min read

William B. Schoener, Jr. - Part 1

Welcome to my 250th post! William B. Schoener, Jr. was born on 29 February 1812 in Reading, PA. He was the fourth child and third son of...

Apr 225 min read

The Life & Times of Daniel Shaner, Jr, Part 2

Daniel's story continues after moving to Washington Territory. Click here for Part 1 In early 1886, Daniel moved his family west from...

Apr 75 min read

"Little Short of Madness"

DeWitt Clinton and the Erie Canal In the early years of the United States, transportation of goods between the coastal ports and the...

Mar 258 min read

Trapped in the Sierra Nevadas

The story of how an intended shortcut led to unspeakable tragedy. Solomon Blue, Sr. married Telitha Ann Morris in Montgomery County, Ohio...

Mar 113 min read

A Colonial Colonel

Lewis DuBois was born in early 1744, and baptized on 9 September 1744 at the Reformed Dutch of Fishkill, New York. His father, Elias,...

Mar 46 min read

The Pioneer Cartographer

Simeon De Witt was born in Wawarsing, Ulster County, New York on 25 December 1756. He was one of 14 children born to Dr. Andries and...

Feb 56 min read

D-Day's Oldest Soldier

Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt Jr. was born at the family estate in Oyster Bay, New York on 13 November 1887. He was the eldest son of...

Jan 295 min read

The Ensign & the USS Grunion, Part 2

Click here for Part 1 On the morning of Wednesday, 30 September 1942, Postmaster and Mrs. W.H. Cuthbertson received a telegram from...

Jan 225 min read

The Ensign & The USS Grunion, Part 1

William "Red" Hugh Cuthbertson, Jr. was born in Denver, Colorado on 30 April 1915. He was the son of William Hugh and Anna Deborah (née...

Jan 159 min read

The World War I Pursuit Pilot

Quentin Roosevelt was born in Washington, D.C on 19 November 1897. He was the youngest child of Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit (née...

Nov 20, 20237 min read

Major Blue And Spanish West Florida

During the War of 1812, Andrew Jackson virtually ended the Creek War with his decisive defeat of the Creek Indians at the Battle of...

Oct 23, 202310 min read

Nicholas, Lydia And The "New Orleans"

Nicholas Jacobus (or James) Roosevelt was born on 27 December 1767, in New York City. He was the son of Jacobus Roosevelt (1724–1777)...

Oct 16, 20235 min read

From Patriot to Whiskey Rebel

Barnabas Blue was likely born about 1757 in New Castle County, Delaware and became an early settler in Berkley County, Virginia (now...

Sep 10, 20235 min read

The Roosevelts, Part 4: Eleanor

For Part 3, click here Eleanor's parents were Elliott and Anna Hall Roosevelt. Elliott was the younger brother of Theodore "Teddy"...

Sep 4, 20235 min read

The Roosevelts, Part 3: FDR

And now, for probably the most well-known of the "Hyde Park" Roosevelts. (Click here for Part 2) Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born on 30...

Aug 28, 20237 min read

The Roosevelts, Part 2: TR

As I usually do when talking about famous relatives, I will pass along information that may not be common knowledge. (For Part 1, click...

Aug 21, 20232 min read

The Roosevelts, Part 1

Nicholas Roosevelt (Nicholas van Rosenvelt) was born in New Amsterdam (later New York City) and baptized on 2 October 1658 in the...