Kellan vs. Kellan: When Family Disputes Turn Legal

Family legal disputes can lead to fascinating court records, especially for genealogists. They often reveal not just family connections, but personal relationships, and financial circumstances in a family's story. In 1913, the family of Arthur Kellan, my paternal great-uncle, was involved in a case that made its way to the Illinois Supreme Court. It was a contested will with questions of mental capacity, family loyalty, and inheritance. For anyone researching their ancestors, records like this give a unique look at family relationships and how the courts helped settle disagreements.

The summary below was created with ChatGPT4o using an actual copy of the court case cited.

Summary of Kellan v. Kellan, 258 Ill. 256 (1913):

This 1913 Illinois Supreme Court case involved a will contest between Edward L. Kellan (appellant) and several other relatives over the estate of Mary E. Newport, who died in July 1909 in Chicago.

Background:

• Mary Newport left two wills:

  • May 31, 1909: Divided most of her estate equally among children of her siblings. Edward Kellan and others received $200 each.

  • June 28, 1909: Gave nearly all her estate to a smaller group of relatives, cutting Edward and others to just one dollar each.

• Edward Kellan contested the second will, claiming mental incapacity and undue influence, particularly by Louis Kellan and others.

Trial Outcome:

• Two jury trials were held. The first jury ruled in favor of the second will, but the decision was set aside. The second jury upheld the will again, and the court entered a decree accordingly.

Key Issues and Court Ruling:

1. Mental Capacity: The court found sufficient evidence that Mary Newport was of sound mind when she signed the second will. Testimony from doctors, nurses, and friends supported her lucidity, especially after a successful goiter operation.

2. Undue Influence: Although there was a suggestion that Louis Kellan tried to influence Mary, the jury found no conclusive evidence of undue influence. The court agreed.

3. Excluded Evidence: The court properly excluded certain hearsay and speculative testimony, including a postal card allegedly showing manipulation. The justices noted such evidence had little bearing given the strong evidence supporting Mary’s testamentary capacity.

4. Instructions to Jury: The trial judge’s instructions were upheld as fair and legally sound. An attempt to shift the burden of proof to the will's proponents was rightly rejected.

Conclusion:

The Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's ruling, validating the June 28, 1909 will. The verdict was not against the weight of the evidence, and Mary Newport was deemed mentally competent and not under undue influence when she executed it.

Family Connections:

• Arthur Kellan is my paternal great uncle.

• Henrietta Kellan, his mother, was the sister of Mary E. Newport.

• Edward Kellan is Arthur’s brother and one of the main contestants in the will case.

• Dora Clark is Arthur's sister.

• Louis and Henry Oest were Mary and Henrietta’s brothers, making them Arthur’s uncles.

• Children of Louis and Henry Oest were also beneficiaries of Mary’s original will.

• In the second will, Mary left most of her estate to a smaller group including Arthur and cut Edward down to a token $1.

Why Only $1?

The case provides several insights into why Edward Kellan was left only one dollar in Mary E. Newport's second will.

According to the testimony:

1. Mary disliked Edward Kellan: She reportedly formed a negative opinion of him. Witnesses testified that she believed he had used money wrongfully that had been left to him.

2. Mary’s own words: After regaining consciousness from surgery, she reacted strongly upon hearing Edward’s name mentioned in the first will. She threw up her hands and said:

   “He is the last man on earth I would want to get the children’s money; he won’t have the pleasure of going through mine.”

3. Postcard from Louis Kellan: A postcard from Louis Kellan to his sister hinted at intentional disinheritance. It said, “Had aunt fix things. Cut Ed and Ellen off for one dollar.” This suggests Edward's exclusion was planned and discussed by other relatives.

Court cases often provide valuable information that most genealogists are lucky to find. I imagine this particular case caused hard feelings among Arthur and his siblings. Family wounds like these can run deep.

Was Hopkins Rowley a Patriot or a Vigilante? The Answer Lies in Vermont’s Records

Green Mountain Boy with Musket and Document" image created using DALL·E by OpenAI, generated via ChatGPT, May 2025

While researching Vermont’s early days, I came across a fascinating article on JSTOR by Michael A. Bellesiles called “The Establishment of Legal Structures on the Frontier: The Case of Revolutionary Vermont.” It tells how Vermont’s early settlers didn’t wait for distant governments to create order; they built a legal system that worked for them, right in the middle of a revolution.

Why Vermont Took Justice Into Its Own Hands

The land we now call Vermont was caught between New York and New Hampshire. New York tried to control the region by setting up courts in counties like Cumberland and Gloucester. But those courts were a mess. They were slow, corrupt, and run by land speculators who didn’t even live there. Most cases dragged on or went nowhere.

The settlers had enough. They wanted justice that worked for real people, not just the rich or powerful. So they created their own system, one that prioritized fairness and speed over technicalities.

Community-Driven Justice

Vermont’s new courts were different. They were led by regular people who were not trained lawyers and they focused on solving problems quickly. Lawyers were often distrusted, and strict legal rules took a back seat to common sense.

The courts also played a huge role in the local economy. On the frontier, cash was scarce, so debt disputes were common. Vermont’s courts helped people settle these issues fairly, keeping communities stable and functioning.

Ethan Allen: Lawmaker with a Musket

Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys weren’t just freedom fighters; they also helped enforce Vermont’s laws. In 1779, Allen even had several New York officials arrested in Vermont to stop them from interfering. But instead of acting like tyrants, the Vermont leaders offered peace to anyone willing to support the new government.

A Legal System That Worked

Some people claimed Vermont used force to control its people, but the court records tell another story. Locals used the new legal system often and effectively. It wasn’t perfect, but it was fast, practical, and respected.

In fact, Vermont’s homegrown courts were ahead of their time. They were more democratic and responsive than many other systems in early America. What others saw as rough or unsophisticated was actually just well adapted to life on the frontier.

The Real Revolution

The article’s author, Bellesiles, argues that Vermont’s real revolution wasn’t just about independence from Britain or New York. It was about creating a system of justice that met the needs of the people. And that’s what made Vermont truly stand out in those early years.

My Family Connection

My fourth great grandfather, Hopkins Rowley, lived on the Vermont frontier during the Revolution and served as a Green Mountain Boy, walked the line between patriot and vigilante, but context matters.

Patriot:
Hopkins Rowley, as a Green Mountain Boy, fought to protect the New Hampshire land grants against British rule and New York’s competing claims. That makes him a patriot in the eyes of most Americans. He supported local control, defended settlers’ rights, and resisted outside interference.

Vigilante:
However, to New York authorities and Loyalists, Rowley and his comrades were vigilantes, unofficial enforcers who disrupted courts, arrested officials, and even used intimidation to defend their land and beliefs. The Green Mountain Boys often acted outside formal law, especially before Vermont declared independence.

As a Green Mountain Boy and early settler, Hopkins Rowley directly benefited from Vermont’s homegrown legal system. Unlike the corrupt and distant courts of New York, Vermont’s courts protected settlers like him in key ways:

• His Land Was Safe: Rowley held land through a New Hampshire grant. Vermont’s courts honored those titles, protecting him from losing his land to outside claims.

• His Actions Were Defensible: As someone who may have resisted Loyalists or New York officials, Vermont’s courts shielded him from prosecution and treated his actions as patriotic.

• His Disputes Were Settled Locally: Whether it was a boundary disagreement or an unpaid debt, Rowley could count on fast, fair, and local resolutions.

• His Voice Mattered: With local citizens serving as judges and jurors, Rowley was part of the legal process, not just subject to it.

Hopkins Rowley was a patriot, a man shaped by a place where formal justice failed and local communities took charge. Vermont’s homegrown legal system didn’t just protect men like him, it was made for them.

 How Vermont’s Legal Chaos Became a Genealogist’s Dream

If you’ve ever groaned over “legal gobbledygook” in your research or this blog post, you’re not alone. Colonial courts, rival land claims, and Revolutionary chaos can make your eyes glaze over. But here's the secret genealogists know: all that legal confusion leads to records, glorious records! Their efforts to build a local justice system gave us something truly priceless: a paper trail.

Why Legal Disputes Equal Genealogy Gold

As Vermont settlers like Hopkins Rowley pushed back against outside authority, they weren’t just waving flags, they were building a whole new legal system from the ground up. They needed courts to settle debt, confirm land ownership, and keep order in a raw, cash-poor society. And every disagreement, every deed, and every decision left behind documents.

These records hold the keys to unlocking our ancestors’ lives:

Military Records

Search for:

• Revolutionary War service files

• Militia rosters of the Green Mountain Boys

• Pension applications (even if your ancestor didn’t apply, a widow or child might have)

Try:

• Fold 3

• Vermont State Archives

• National Archives

• Vermont Historical Society’s collections

Land Records

Search for:

• New Hampshire land grants

• Vermont confirmations and town charters

• Deeds and property transfers

Try:

• FamilySearch → Vermont Land Records Collection

• Local Vermont town clerk offices (like Shoreham or Addison County)

• Vermont State Archives

Court Records

Explore:

• Early county court proceedings

• Civil and criminal cases

• Justice of the peace records

Try:

• Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA)

• New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS)

Town and Vital Records

Search:

• Births, marriages, and deaths

• Town meeting minutes (especially if your ancestor served in a civic role)

• Early church and burial records

Try:

• FamilySearch Vermont Town Records

• Local historical societies and libraries

• Town offices in Hebron, Shoreham, or wherever your ancestor lived

Published Sources and Local Histories

Don’t overlook:

• County and town histories

• Published rosters of Vermont soldiers

• Biographies and Revolutionary War studies

Try:

• Vermont in the Revolution by John E. Goodrich

• The Green Mountain Boys by Allen French

• JSTOR articles for scholarly background and sources

Why This Matters

You don’t need to be a lawyer to appreciate these sources. Each one tells a story of a land purchase, a debt settled, a jury called, a pension granted. Vermont’s homemade legal system may have been rough around the edges, but it preserved the lives of ordinary people like Hopkins Rowley in ink and parchment.

So, the next time someone says, “Ugh, early American legal history is so confusing,” just smile and say: “Yes! and it leads to records. Glorious records.”

Sources

Michael A. Bellesiles, “The Establishment of Legal Structures on the Frontier: The Case of Revolutionary Vermont,” The Journal of American History, March 1987.

Gillies, Paul S. The Law of the Hills: A Judicial History of Vermont. Vermont Historical Society, 2019.

AI Disclosures

This blog post used the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools at ChatGPT4o. While the content reflects my ideas, writing, and research. the AI was used for headings, grammar, and spelling editing.

ChatGPT4o suggested blog post titles based upon my writing and ideas and I selected the one with edits to enhance the blog experience.

Image created using DALL·E by OpenAI, generated via ChatGPT

Preparing for Summer Planting: What the 1850 Census Reveals About Thomas Begole’s Farm

The above image was created using DALL-E on CPT4o

The 1850 Agricultural Census intrigues me because most of my family history comes from agrarian roots. Watching farmers prepare and plant their crops here in Michigan made me reflect on what it must have been like to farm in 1850 without the benefit of modern John Deere equipment. Using ChatGPT-4o, I created a prompt to help me with my research, "using the information on this 1850 agricultural census transcription, provide information about how Thomas Begole who was born in 1776 and died in 1854 at the age of 78 in Wayland, New York would have prepared for summer planting. Provide historical context."  I had already used AI to extract the information in a list form and that is the transcription I used for this prompt. 

I could have done all the research myself on what farming was like in 1850 New York, but I didn’t think I needed to dive that deep right now. What is the saying, work smarter, not harder? Using AI made the process easier and it helped me get the blog post written faster. That being said, the 1850 agricultural census was the impetus for this blog post about Thomas Begole's farm. 

I imagine frost had disappeared and Spring was in full swing in Steuben County, New York. 74-year-old Thomas Begole, my fourth great grandfather, was likely hard at work preparing his Wayland, New York farm for another season of planting. Born in 1776, the same year the Declaration of Independence was signed, Thomas lived through a remarkable stretch of American history. By the time of the 1850 agricultural census, he had built a hardworking little farm that gives us a real feel for what everyday life was like in the countryside before the Civil War.

New York was still transitioning from frontier land to established farms and Thomas worked 45 acres of improved land that had been cleared, plowed, and planted. He also had 34 acres of unimproved land, possibly used for pasture, woodland, or left waiting to be developed. Combined, his 79 acres made for a solid farm, valued at nearly $3,000 (about $122,000 in 2025), which was a significant investment in rural America during the mid-1800s.

Spring into Summer: Preparing the Land

Summer planting required months of preparation. With only $100 worth of implements and machinery, Thomas’s tools would have been basic, such as plows, harrows, and hoes. Draft animals, such as his two horses, were indispensable for plowing and hauling. Before planting seeds, Thomas likely relied on oxen or horses to break up the soil and prepare it for crops like oats and corn.

His 60 bushels of oats harvested that year point to a spring sowing. Oats were typically planted early, often in March or April, and were an important feed crop for his livestock. Though his 3 bushels of corn yield was minimal, this might have been due to poor growing conditions, limited acreage devoted to the crop, or perhaps a shift in focus to livestock and wool production.

Tending to Livestock and Wool

Thomas’s agricultural efforts extended beyond the fields. He managed a mixed herd of 3 dairy cows, 5 other cattle, and 26 sheep. These animals required not only pasture and shelter but also winter feed, evidenced by the 10 tons of hay he stored. Summer was not only a time for planting but also for maintaining pastures and hayfields to prepare for the next winter.

His flock of sheep produced 100 pounds of wool, likely sheared in late spring or early summer. Wool production was an important cash commodity and a staple of northern farmsteads. Additionally, 100 pounds of butter made in the home likely supplemented the household’s income or trading needs.

Orchards and Self-Sufficiency

Thomas’s orchard products were valued at $20, a modest sum but enough to suggest some fruit production. Apples were by far the most common orchard crop in upstate New York during the mid-1800s. Farmers grew them for fresh eating, hard cider (which was a staple drink), vinegar, and preserves. Orchard maintenance was a year-round endeavor, with pruning and grafting typically done in late winter and early spring. By summer, the trees would be carefully tended in anticipation of a fall harvest.

A Life Rooted in the Land

When I think of Thomas Begole, an aging but still active farmer in 1850, it’s clear that life on the land was not easy, but it was deeply purposeful. At age 74, he likely worked alongside younger family members or hired help to manage the daily demands of farming. 

Looking back from the comfort of today, I can appreciate how men like Thomas built their lives from the ground up, turning wilderness into something lasting. His preparations for summer planting in 1850 are a reminder of a time when food, clothing, and opportunity was all gotten from the land.

Making a living from the land has never been easy, whether using today’s technology or working with the simple tools of the 1850s. Learning about Thomas Begole’s farming life helped me appreciate the strength and determination it took to build something lasting. These early farmers played a big role in shaping the communities we know today.

If you’re curious about your own family’s story, try taking a look at an agricultural census or other historical record. You never know what kind of stories you might uncover.

Genealogical Notes

Thomas Jefferson Begole, born 12 January 1776 in Maryland to William Rivers Begole and Rachel Starr Begole. He married Ann Matelda "Nancy" Bowles, the daughter of Thomas Bowles and Eleanor Price Bowles, on 21 November 1803 in Washington county, Maryland.

By 1814 Thomas and his wife were living in Wayland, Steuben, New York, according to the History of the Settlement of Steuben County, NY.

The 1820 and 1840 show them living in Dansville, Steuben, New York, about six miles from Wayland.

The 1850 Census shows them living back in Wayland until Thomas' death on 18 January 1854, with Ann Matelda Nancy dying in May of 1850 in Wayland.

I descend from his daughter Eleanor, who married Samuel B. Poor.

AI Disclosures

The image used on this blog post was created by AI software, DALL-E on CPT4o. The visual was designed using prompts written by the author.

This blog post used the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools at CPT4o. While the content reflects my ideas, writing, and research. the AI was used for headings, grammar and spelling editing, census extraction, and historical context. The author checked for accuracy. 

10 Ways I Use Artificial Intelligence in my Genealogy Research (with prompts)

Image generated using DALL·E, an AI tool by OpenAI, via ChatGPT

Over the past year, I’ve been exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) can help me in my genealogy research and I have to say, I’m impressed. AI isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and it seems to be getting better all the time. While I still rely on traditional records, archives, and good old-fashioned digging, I’ve found that AI can be a powerful partner in my family history work. These are ten practical ways I’ve personally used AI, plus example prompts you can try for each one.

1. Transcribing Handwritten Records

AI handwriting recognition tools help decipher hard-to-read cursive, especially in older wills and letters.

Prompt Example:

Analyze this historical will. Provide a summary of the key provisions, identify named individuals (heirs, executors, witnesses, etc.), describe the relationships and any notable social or legal language, and point out anything unusual or historically significant. Transcribe the inventory list. Use only the information provided. Do not add anything. Create a docx document.

2. Translating Foreign-Language Documents

Many of my maternal ancestors early records are in German. AI translations give me a readable first draft.

Prompt Example:

“Transcribe this 1845 baptismal record for Johann August Fredrich, from this scanned image from German into English." 

3. Extracting Information from Records

AI helps extract information from various certificates like Birth, Marriage, Death, Draft Registration, Census Records, etc. This prompt is very detailed because I want to capture all the information on the certificate. I check that the transcription is accurately extracted and then include the extraction in the notes section for that fact in Roots Magic.

Prompt Example:

Please extract the key information from this Indiana death certificate of Caroline White.  Only extract the information given, if no information is available for a fact leave it blank. Format the extracted data in a bullet list for each certificate with clearly labeled fields such as:

Name of Deceased

Date of Death

Place of Death

Age at Death 

If married, spouse name

Cause of Death

Dates attended by Doctor

Occupation (if listed)

Birth Date and Place

Parents' Names and Birthplaces

Informant

Burial or Cremation Info

Funeral Home (if listed)

Certificate Number or Registration Info

Any other relevant notes

Also include a proper citation/source for each certificate (e.g., [State] Death Certificate, Year, Certificate Number, Repository or Archive).

Create a separate DOCX file for the certificate with this information, suitable for downloading.

4. Organizing Genealogical Information

I use this for family files I may have been sent from other researchers via email, in a journal, or from a website. It saves me time and all I have to do is check the information for errors before adding it to my Roots Magic software.

Prompt Example:
“I have a genealogical file with family history data. Please help me extract key details (like names, birth/death dates, places, relationships), identify any patterns (such as migration trends, occupations, or naming conventions) without adding anything not in the upload and create a docx document."

5. Providing Historical Context

Understanding the world my ancestors lived in helps make their stories richer and more accurate. I have done this for my lighthouse ancestor, railroad engineers, postmaster, and other historical times.

Prompt Example:
“What was daily life like for a farmer in Manistee county, Michigan in the 1870s? Include common crops, economic conditions, and typical family routines. Provide your sources and return in a docx file for downloading.”

6. Describing Photographs

AI can help with identifying possible time periods based on clothing, hairstyles, and background. Describing family history photographs is a favorite use of AI for me.

Prompt Example:
“Here is a picture of Adeline "Addie" Glover, age 5, describe this image providing a paragraph that could be useful when publishing the story in a family history blog. Create a docx file for downloading."

7. Summarizing Long Documents

When a record is long, I ask AI to give me a summary to decide if it’s worth full transcription. I use this for information articles as well as long land and probate records. Recently, I came across a court case and summarizing it helped me to identify important details in the case.

Prompt Example:
“Summarize this 24-page court case from 1908. Key details I’m looking for include names of people, relationships, residences, and key information. Add a timeline of events and create a source. Return a docx file for downloading."

8. Outlining Family History Blog Posts and Presentations

AI helps me brainstorm structure and flow when planning a post, article, or talk.

Prompt Example:
“I want to write a blog post about my great-grandmother’s life in rural Howard county, Indiana. She was born in 1835 Germany, immigrated to the United States in 1859, raised eight children, and ran a farm alone after her husband died. Outline a blog post with headings and key points?”

9. Locating Unfamiliar Record Types

When I’m stuck, AI can suggest fresh sources to check based on location and time period.

Prompt Example:
“I’m researching an ancestor who lived in Gorsin, Bromberg, Posen, Preussen,  from 1805 to 1861. I’ve already checked family records, baptismal and marriage records via church records. What other record types and resources might be useful for this time and place? Create a docx document.  Then, I add this to my research plan for Christoph Fredrich.

10. Polishing and Proofreading Writing

Even the best writing can use a little editing. I run my work through AI for grammar and clarity. I used to use Microsoft Word editor, but I like using ChatGPT now.

Prompt Example:
“Please proofread the following paragraph for grammar, clarity, and flow keeping my style of writing. Suggest any improvements."  I copy and paste the writing example. As I get better at writing and using AI I notice I have less edits.

A Few Thoughts to Remember

• AI can lend a hand. It’s not perfect, but when paired with human insight and good research practices, it becomes a powerful tool in the genealogist’s toolkit.
• Double check your work whether it is a extraction, transcription, or a summary. Just as you do in genealogical research you must do with AI created material. Don't take AI's product to be 100% accurate. Once I was creating a timeline for my father's military service. All my facts stated he was in the Army. AI returned information saying he was in the Air Force, which was the Army Air Corps at that time. 
• Try and try again. If AI didn't return what you expected you can add to the prompt until it does. Again, the more you use AI the more it will get to know your style and anticipate what you want.
• You can add a role to your prompt. Example: As a genealogist, As a blogger, etc. I only use this for specific roles that are identified by the prompt. 
• If AI is returning information based on its research and not yours, ask for sources. Analyze these sources as you would when researching.
• Remind AI not to add information to your prompt return. This rules out inaccuracies.
• Add how you want to access the information returned by AI. Do you want paragraph form, outline, spreadsheet, timeline, etc.? Just let AI know. If you forget, which I sometimes do, just add it.
• Don't be afraid of AI. It’s not perfect, but when paired with human insight and good research practices, it becomes a powerful tool in the genealogist’s toolkit.

Download an Artificial Intelligence created one page .pdf summary of this blog post: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hF3AXpt1jTcdPaLueytW-ZLk6GGhfYn-/view?usp=sharing

AI Disclosure Statement

This blog post used the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools at ChatGPT4o. While the content reflects my ideas, writing, and research. the AI was used for grammar and spelling editing, and the creation of the summary.

Dear Grandpa Glover, From the Granddaughter You Never Met

Lately, I’ve been sorting and scanning old family photographs. As you can imagine, spending time with these images, especially of people I never had the chance to meet, makes me wonder what it would have been like to know them in person. One of those faces belongs to my paternal grandfather, Harry Glover, who lived from 6 May 1883 (142 years ago today) to 6 September 1950. I never met him, but through stories, family history research, and old photos, I’ve begun to feel a quiet connection. To explore that feeling, I decided to write him a letter, something personal, reflective, and from the heart. 

Dear Grandpa Glover,

Even though we never had the chance to meet, I’ve thought of you often. My name is Brenda Rae Leyndyke, and I’m the daughter of your son, Bruce. I live in Kalamazoo now, but I spent many years in Battle Creek, where your sister Adeline lived and where your mother, Hattie, lived for a short time. People tell me I look like Grandma Glover, and I take that as a real compliment.

Your son, Bruce, my dad, lived a long, full life. He passed away at the age of 93. You never met my mother, Audrey, but she and Dad were married for over sixty years. They were a great match, especially because they both loved sports. I didn’t inherit that sports bug, though. I’ve always been more like you in that way.

Over the years, my dad shared stories about his life growing up in Hazel Park, and about you and Grandma. One story he told with a chuckle was about falling out of your Reo car. He wasn’t sure who was more rattled, you or him. How did you feel when that happened? He also told the story of the only time you spanked him, after he swore at school. I’ve often wondered if that was something you wanted to do, or if it was just part of being a good parent.

Dad talked a lot about his love of sports as a kid, and I was always curious why you didn’t attend his games. I wonder what kept you away. Was it work, shyness, or just the way things were at the time? He did say you loved to fish. Did you have any other hobbies? I imagine you out on a quiet lake, casting a line. I like to picture sitting beside you in a boat, peppering you with questions. You’d probably have told me to hush so we wouldn’t scare the fish!

One place where I feel especially close to you is Point Betsie. I’ve read that you lived there with your family, and I would love to know more about what your life was like during that time. Were you able to be a teenager there, or were you expected to help run the lighthouse? What was your mother, Hattie, like? I have her Bible, and it’s one of my most treasured possessions.

You have a grandson, Neil, my brother, and he works as a cost estimator for PepsiCo. I discovered that you were a cost estimator too, for Chrysler Corporation. You probably wouldn’t recognize the car industry now! We even have cars that run on electricity!

Dad started his first teaching and coaching job the September you died, seven years before I was born. He went on to teach for forty years and coached for nearly fifty. I think he got that passion from Grandma. I even found a photo of her on a high school basketball team.

Grandma lived fifteen more years after you passed. She married a former Marquette classmate, Ray Bell. Sadly, she died of cancer. I had cancer too, at age 22, thyroid cancer. I always wondered what kind she had. Dad said it was throughout her neck, and I’ve often wondered if it may have been thyroid cancer too. I wish I had gotten to spend more time with both of you. You could have told me many stories, I am sure. My dad was a wonderful man with qualities I am sure you and Grandma instilled in him.

I’m curious how you met Grandma. Did you know her before you married your first wife, Emma? There are so many things I would love to ask you. I’ve been researching your family history for the past fifteen years. Did you know your grandparents, Samuel and Adeline Glover? I’ve learned some remarkable things about our family. Did you know you have ancestors who came over on the Mayflower? You come from a long line of patriots.

One of my favorite memories was taking Mom and Dad to Marquette. We visited your grave, and Dad placed flowers there. It was a quiet, powerful moment. Sadly, Grandma Glover wasn’t buried beside you. Ray Bell was too cheap to send her back to Marquette, and she’s buried in Canada instead. I have pictures from that trip that I cherish.

There’s still so much I’d love to know. Dad said you were a reserved man, and maybe you wouldn’t have welcomed all my questions. I understand that. I’m the same way. I don’t always like talking about myself either. But maybe you would have told me stories about your parents or your brothers and sisters. I especially wonder what it was like when your brother, Merle, joined the Canadian army in World War I. He went on to become a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. He must have made the family proud.

My dad tells of the times you would take him to meet your brother, Claude, as he pulled into the Munising railyard. My dad made it sound like you were close to Claude. I'd love to hear more stories of you and him growing up.

Even though I never got to meet you, I feel like I’ve come to know you through Dad’s stories and the traces you left behind. You’re a part of me, of who I am, and where I come from.

Forever thinking of you,

Your granddaughter,

Brenda Rae

Photo Source: Photograph of Harry Glover from the personal family photo collection of Brenda Leyndyke, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Privately held by author.

Honoring My Ancestors on Newbury’s First Settlers Monument

Photographs courtesy of Botteville, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Newbury, Massachusetts, was settled in 1635 by English colonists seeking religious freedom and new opportunities in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Located along the Parker River and near the Atlantic coast, Newbury was well-suited for farming, fishing, and trade. The individuals listed on this monument were among the first settlers who established the community, built homes, organized a church, and laid the foundations for what would become a thriving town. Their descendants erected this memorial to honor the resilience, faith, and pioneering spirit of these early colonists.

As a genealogist, I was thrilled to discover that three of my own ancestors are listed on the First Settlers Monument in Newbury. I can imagine them interacting with their neighbors, supporting one another through the challenges of early colonial life. It’s likely that their families intertwined through friendship and perhaps even marriage. Over generations, their descendants spread far and wide throughout the United States. They now live in family trees across the country, including mine.

Below is the list of those honored on the monument, with my ancestors highlighted:

·       Robert Adams

·       Giles Badger

·       John Bailey

·       Richard Brown

·       Thomas Brown

·       Richard Bartlet

·       John Cheney

·       Aquilla Chase

·       Nathaniel Clark

·       Thomas Coleman

·       Tristram Coffin

·       Robert Coker

·       John Cutting

·       John Davis

·       Richard Dole

·       Richard Dummer

·       John Emery

·       William Gerrish

·       Thomas Hale

·       Abel Huse

·       William Ilsley

·       James Jackman

·       Henry Jaques

·       John Knight

·       Richard Knight

·       John Kent

·       Percival Lowle

·       Stephen Long

·       Richard Morgan

·       Hugh March

·       William Marston

·       Nathaniel Merrill

·       William Moody

·       Anthony Morse

·       William Moulton

·       Edmund Moores

·       Nicholas Noyes

·       James Noyes

·       James Ordway

·       John Osgood

·       Thomas Parker

·       Richard Pettingell

·       Daniel Pierce

·       John Pike

·       William Pillsbury

·       Francis Plumer

·       John Poor

·       Samuel Poor

·       Joseph Noyes

·       Edward Rawson

·       Edward Richardson

·       Robert Savory

·       Richard Sears

·       Thomas Smith

·       Anthony Somerby

·       Henry Short

·       Thomas Swett

·       William Sawyer

·       Steven Swett

·       George Tomson

·       Jonathan Thurlow

·       Daniel Thurston

·       Abraham Toppan

·       Thomas Whittier

·       Edward Woodman

·       Thomas Wiggins