Maartje Hoogvorst DeJong
I just noticed a discrepancy. The Dutch website where I found records of our ancestors (translation here) says the following: Jan Dirksz…
William Cowan (1815-1898) Biography
(William and Nancy Parish Cowan's home in Monmouth IL) Patrick McGuire wrote this biography in the fall of 2005 for the historiography…
Effie’s Half Brother: Earl Rhining
Edward "Earl" Rhining was Effie Henry's half brother. He was born on February 16, 1887, in Beardstown IL, child of Lewis Rhining…
Effie’s Aunt Luella Estella Cowan Beach
Birth: Aug. 28, 1854, Monmouth IL.Death: May 20, 1934, Taylor County IA. Luella Estella (Cowan) Beach was Effie's mother Emma Eugenia (Cowan)…
Albert Henry, Where Are You?
Click here for a more recent post on this subject. Albert Henry's childhood is shrouded in mystery. He was born 10 May 1885…
Mount Greenwood Cemetery
I tried to visit Mount Greenwood Cemetery back in 2010 but it was closed. I'm using this post to collect research for…
Ken Hine Jr.’s Childhood Memories
My mother sat down with my father, recently, and typed as he recalled scenes from his childhood. This is great stuff that…
Effie Henry’s Mother’s Family
Effie Josephine Rhining was born October 16, 1893 in Beardstown IL, to Emma Eugenia Cowan and Lewis Rhining. We don't know much…
Letters Home, from Hazel (1929)
Wheaton, IL. Sept. 19, '29 Dear Folks, I suppose you got my letter to-day, but I just couldn't wait until you answered.…
Letters Home, from Hazel (1929)
Hazel was a Freshman at Wheaton College in 1929, and wrote letters home to Hammond, frequently. I have about six or seven…
First van Vuuren Settlers
While poking around on Ancestry.com, I found a page from the 100th Anniversary book of the First Reformed Church of South Holland, which…
Van Vuren Sisters Identified…Sort Of
I've spent many an hour staring at these faces, trying to deduce which van Vuuren sister is which. I recently discovered a labeled…