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 pastime, join me on my journey to uncover and document my ancestors’ lives.

So Far Away
My great-uncle Frank immigrated to the United States from Japan in 1905 to further his education, so far away
Close to Home
My grandparents. Earl and Pearl, met at church, close to home, in 1914,
Long Line
It occurs to me that genealogy could be analogous to the mathematical theory of long line topology.
William and Uva Lafara: Favorite Photo
I have many favorite photos among my collection of family artifacts. Currently, my favorite photo is of two little children from 1916 who were a complete mystery to me until last spring.
Immigrant Ancestors, Fresh Start
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week1: Fresh Start.
The varied reasons my European ancestors immigrated to North America for a fresh start.
John B. Osborn: At Worship
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 17: At Worship
John Baldwin Osborn was regularly referred to as Deacon. He was a man not only at worship but a man of character who served his church for nearly 50 years.
Catherine Landon: Out of Place
I realized I did not have a date of death for my great, great grandmother, Catherine Landon Lafary. A fresh search uncovered the date and much more. Out of place, but once discovered, everything fell into place.
My Experience with DNA
I tested my DNA back in 2013, expectations were high. But, for me, the DNA test results have been interesting, but not particularly useful.
Genealogy Brick Walls
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 14: Brick Wall
We all have a brick wall, that one ancestor who defies all research. I decided I would work at my brick walls by generation, I broke through the last of my 3rd great grandparent brick walls, now I am working on 4th great grandparents.
In The Paper
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 13: In The Paper
It’s fun to find articles in the paper mentioning one of my relatives. Mostly they are birth, marriage, divorce and death events. But, it’s the oddball articles in the papers I like the most.