I have researched ancestors who possibly witnessed historical events. They were present or close by, and I wonder how their story became lost to my family.
Witness to History
read more
Iroquois Theater Blog Posts
Frank Takeo Flucawa
by Barb LaFara | October 23, 2014 | Biography, Family, Immigrants, Indiana, Quakers | 0 Comments
Born Takeo Furukawa on 15 March 1883 in Tottori-Ken, Tokyo, Japan, little is documented of his early childhood. Family oral history stories say that the young Takeo experienced hunger, poverty and the loss of his family. Additionally, the stories tell of friendship, spiritual learning and scholarship.
David L. Osborne: His Indianapolis Homes
by Barb LaFara | November 12, 2016 | Family, Indiana, Indianapolis, Maps, Online Research, Tips | 0 Comments
My great grandfather, David Louis Osborne, lived at over 20 addresses around Indianapolis between 1876 and 1942. I thought it would be interesting to see all the old buildings and homes where he lived in my hometown of Indianapolis.
The Marriage of David and Jennie Osborne
by Barb LaFara | November 19, 2016 | Biography, Family, Indianapolis, Marriage, Minneapolis | 0 Comments
My great grandfather, David Louis Osborne (1848-1942), was a widower with two young sons in 1886 when he married Jennie Warbington (1857-1918) in Minneapolis on the 27th of May. I decided it was time to put sources to the story.
Do You See A Resemblance?
by Barb LaFara | March 28, 2017 | Family, Indiana, Indianapolis, Online Research, Photographs, Schools, Tipton | 0 Comments
While working on a family photo project I decided it would be fun to compare side-by-side my father and his parents, at similar ages, to try and discover a family resemblance.
Probate of Jesse King 1868
by Barb LaFara | April 22, 2017 | Biography, Family, Maps, Ohio | 0 Comments
Jesse King was born in Ohio (probably in the vicinity of Chillicothe) in 1805, he was a son of Philip King and Mary Leah Wright, both of Pennsylvania. Philip King was a farmer, he married Leah Wright in 1801 in Somerset, PA, they had six children, of whom Jesse was the third.
Letter from Sarah Tucker Lafary
by Barb LaFara | October 3, 2018 | Biography, Family, History, Marriage, War of 1812 | 0 Comments
A handwritten letter from Sarah Tucker Lafary to the then president of the United States, Grover Cleveland. It was her last appeal for a War of 1812 pension, sadly the pension was denied. The letter gives a glimpse of a woman who had no formal education, a poor farmers wife, then widow, mother of nine, she probably just wanted some independence through an income of her own.
Sarah Smith: Challenge
by Barb LaFara | January 29, 2019 | Biography, Family, Marriage, Ohio | 0 Comments
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 2: Challenge
So much about genealogy research is a challenge, perhaps the most common challenge is the ‘brick wall,’ meet Sarah Smith. 18?? – 1846
Laferre to LaFara: Unusual Name
by Barb LaFara | February 4, 2019 | Family | 5 Comments
The surnames in my tree are typical of common western European names. However, the name that is unusual among these names is MY surname: LaFara.
Luella Pressell: Surprise!
by Barb LaFara | February 17, 2019 | Family, Indianapolis, Marriage | 0 Comments
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 6: Surprise!
Just when you think you know everything about an ancestor, surprise! I thought I knew most everything about my paternal great grandfather David L. Osborne, 1848-1942.
Rumple Family Photo 1895
by Barb LaFara | March 5, 2019 | Family, Ohio, Photographs | 2 Comments
For all of us who are procrastinating about labeling photos I have one thing to say, “Be considerate of the genealogist of the future!” My maternal grandmother was very good about labeling old family photos, and there is one, in particular, I found very informative.
Conrad Rumple: Bachelor Uncle
by Barb LaFara | April 1, 2019 | Biography, Family, Mercer, Ohio, Van Wert | 0 Comments
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 10: Bachelor Uncle
My uncles are the marrying kind, sometimes more than once!
I had to go back four generations for a bachelor uncle, my great-great-great uncle Conrad Rumple, 1833-1911.
Conrad was an older brother to my great-great grandfather on my matrilineal line, William Rumple, 1839-1912.
George Lafary and Catherine Landon: Large Family
by Barb LaFara | April 12, 2019 | Family, Marriage, Ohio | 0 Comments
My great-great grandparents, George Lafary and Catherine Landon, had a relatively small family, three of their six children survived to adulthood. However, they both came from large families of nine siblings and nearly all survived to marry and have children.
In The Paper
by Barb LaFara | May 4, 2019 | Family, Indianapolis | 1 Comment
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.
Genealogy Brick Walls
by Barb LaFara | May 8, 2019 | Brick Wall, Family | 1 Comment
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.
Catherine Landon: Out of Place
by Barb LaFara | July 10, 2019 | Biography, Family, Indiana, Marriage | 0 Comments
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.
Immigrant Ancestors, Fresh Start
by Barb LaFara | January 7, 2020 | Family, Immigrants, Ohio, Virginia | 0 Comments
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week1: Fresh Start.
The varied reasons my European ancestors immigrated to North America for a fresh start.
William and Uva Lafara: Favorite Photo
by Barb LaFara | January 10, 2020 | Family, Indiana, Photographs | 0 Comments
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.
Close to Home
by Barb LaFara | January 25, 2020 | Family, Indianapolis, Marriage | 2 Comments
My grandparents. Earl and Pearl, met at church, close to home, in 1914,
So Far Away
by Barb LaFara | February 2, 2020 | Family, Immigrants, Schools | 0 Comments
My great-uncle Frank immigrated to the United States from Japan in 1905 to further his education, so far away
Same Name
by Barb LaFara | February 7, 2020 | Colonial America, Family | 4 Comments
I get excited when I discover an ancestor with the same name as a friend, or co-worker, or neighbor. Maybe we are related!
Receive notifications of new posts at Family Finds:
First name and email address are required.