In 1997, after acquiring Family Tree Maker genealogy database software, my childhood interest in genealogy was rekindled.  At that time, however, commercial  genealogical websites such as Ancestry and FamilySearch either did not yet exist or were in their infancy and relatively unknown and with limited records, so I began publishing this website to share my research.  The nature of genealogy is such that it is always ongoing, so this site will be continually under construction.  I apologize that you may encounter some broken links at the upper reaches of what has been published so far until the completion of the generation I am currently working on.

I am a member of the Iowa Genealogical Society. Please support your local society!!

October 2025 update:  Separated surname index to its own page & changed contact e-mail.  Added blog to index page and started preparing a list of helpful cousins to acknowledge those who have given me significant assistance in my research over the years.  I have about 40 more people to add to the 10th generation back (8th great grandparents), which I hope to finish this winter and at that time I will be taking a pause to run up some lines to interesting or famous ancestors before proceeding through the entire generation of 9th great grandparents.   Based on experience that generation should take somewhere in the range of 4-6 years to complete.

Special Thanks to Helpful Cousins:

Jackie Conry

Helen Dillman Duskin

Jacque Duskin

Elise Edens

Alfred Ellis

Jean LaCoss

Roger Lineberry

Bob Samplawski

Daniel Todden

Chris Vinzant

& my #1 research assistant - Mom

I apologize that because I didn't start this list years ago, some deserving people will probably be left off.  I will be adding to it as I recall or am reminded in the future.