I’ve taken a recent detour in my genealogical research to investigate the Wild West Outlaw Mike Roark. Originally, say about a year ago, I ran into his story on the Facebook group for Wild West History Association (WWHA). I wondered, idly, whether he might have been a relative of my Roark cousins in Oregon. They’re…
Author: Justin Durand
Lawrence Howery
I thought today I might take a few minutes to write about the life of Lawrence (Alloway) Howery. I often get messages from other genealogists who are confused by him and his story. With some luck, I’ll be able to say enough about him I can send this link to people who ask, and not…
Notable Kin
The person links below are to FamilySearch. Other links are to sites with additional information. American Revolution These men fought to liberate the thirteen original colonies from England between 1775 and 1783. California Gold Rush Civil War Clergy Colorado Gold Rush Colorado Pioneers Colorful Characters Danites The Danites were a group of Mormon vigilantes. Gateway…
Genealogical Narrative
I read a fun paper last night. Fun because of the way it conceptualizes “genealogy”. For me, method and technique are always more interesting than mere facts. “Genealogies are not institutions or even families. Genealogies are components of rhetoric about families and, sometimes, about the institutions they lay claim to.” And, “In the case of…
Washington to Odin
Here’s a fun one. Even in the world of fantasy genealogy, some claims stand out. Every so often we hear the claim George Washington, the first American president, was a male-line descendant of Odin. Of course it’s not true, and of course it’s a fascinating idea. It all goes back to 1879, when Albert Welles…