Welcome to Family Finds
An Adventure in Genealogy
In addition to stories about my ancestors, I share tips for conducting online family history research. Genealogy is a great past time, join me on my journey to uncover and document my ancestors lives.

Power
In 1941 an electric power company built hydroelectric dams on the Holston River to produce power. In the process, they displaced many Tennesseans, alive and dead. My ancestors were among the dead.
Unusual Source
While researching a 5th great grandfather, I discovered him in an unusual source, a diary of a historical figure I had never before heard of, Herman Husband.
Valentine
Among my grandmother’s keepsakes is an old Valentine. I wonder who sent this mystery Valentine and why my grandmother saved it.
In The Kitchen
When I was a child, I would sit in the kitchen at my uncle’s home and read his old books, one in-particular I liked, “The Housekeeper’s Handy Book.”
Favorite Photo
I share the photo books created by my sister, they feature my favorite photos. They are handmade miniatures and very sweet.
Namesake
My great grandparents had three daughters: Elsie, Roxie and Edith. For many years I assumed they were namesakes of popular fictional characters.
Family Legend
Take a favorite family legend and find the records needed to validate the story. I share my successes and tips for doing research.
Beginnings
I have been interested in family history since my paternal grandmother, Pearl Osborne LaFara, shared her research with me when I was a child.
Wedding
I read about the use of wedding announcements as a source of genealogy information. This was an intriguing idea, so I sought out wedding announcements for my family. There were not many, but I will share a few I did find.
Tombstone
My great, great grandparents’ tombstone is not the simple tombstone of a simple farming couple, but a monument unlike anything found at the graves of my other ancestors.