Susan Wallin Mosey

Skeletons in the Closet

Whenever I research someone’s family history, whether it’s for fun or for profit, I try to find out how they feel about “skeletons in the closet” before I start.  Everyone thinks they want me to find a few—but perhaps that’s one of those things that sounds better in theory than it turns out to be in practice.

Robert Erickson, Champion Plowman

My Uncle Bob was a champion plowman, back when that kind of thing was a big deal here in the Midwest.  I don’t want his story to be forgotten.  How many young men of his generation ended up meeting four presidents, and competing in Europe (twice!) solely because of a remarkable ability to plow a straight furrow?

Big Sister Without a Name

Family Stories Collection: This special collection contains a selection of family history stories submitted by our readers. Originally published Feb 27, 2014. My father, Robert Milo Wallin (1923-1993) spent nearly all of his life thinking he was the oldest child …

Big Sister Without a Name .

Passage to America

Family Stories Collection: This special collection contains a selection of family history stories submitted by our readers. Originally published April 30, 2014. Once you become known as the Official Family Historian, a wonderful phenomenon begins to occur.  Relatives, especially older …

Passage to America .

Marriage Records, circa 1848

Family Stories Collection: This special collection contains a selection of family history stories submitted by our readers. Originally published April 6, 2014. Recently I found the 1848 Ohio marriage record for my husband’s 2nd great-grandfather, John Garver (1821-1901) and his …

Marriage Records, circa 1848 .