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Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Oct. 19: Oct. 19 John Wilson, (my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1910 in Bath Township, Greene County, Ohio; d. Dec. 28, 1868, in Madison County, Ohio. John was the son of wealthy landowner Valentine Wilson and his first wife, Elanor Judy. Valentine had six children by Judy, nine by his second wife Nancy Donnels Roberts, and four by his third wife Susan Humble. That's right — John had five siblings and 1

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Sept. 28: Sept. 28 Myrtle Kidd, (my first cousin once removed on my father's side), b. 1917 in Rowan County, Ky.; details of death uncertain. Myrtle is the daughter of John William Kidd and Dora Kidd Kidd. Dora was the sister of my grandfather Elmer Kidd. Dora and John shared a surname and were second cousins. Sept. 29 Martha Susan Hall, (my first cousin four times removed on my mother's side), b. 1854 in Morgan County, Ky.; d. 19

Birthdays in my family tree for the week of Sept. 14: Sept. 14 Wayne Monroe Wilson, (my second cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1901 in Kentucky; I have no details about his death. Wayne's parents are William Monroe Wilson (1865-1908) and Ella Byron Wilson. His father died when he was just 7. Our common direct ancestors are Isaac Wilson and Theodocia Lee Wilson, my 4-G grandparents and his great-grandparents. Elaine Rose Pucko Thomas, (wife of Billy Ray Tho

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Aug. 24: Aug. 24 Addie B. Hall, (my first cousin four times removed on my mother's side), b. 1874 in Robertson, Ky.; d. November 1875. Addie was the daughter and one of nine children of James Edmund Hall and Elizabeth Jane Coyle Hall. Archibald B. McBrayer, (my first cousin twice removed on my father's side), b. 1883 in Wagner, Rowan County, Ky.; d. Sept. 30, 1910, in Rowan County, Ky. Archibald was one of eight children and six s

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Aug. 10: Aug. 10 William M. Wilson Jr., (my second cousin four times removed on my mother's side), b. 1841 in Madison County, Ohio; d. uncertain. William was a grandson of Valentine Wilson, a well-to-do landowner in Ohio during the early- to late-1800s. William was the son of William Delano Wilson and Nancy Moore Wilson. Simpson Thornsberry, center, is photographed with his wife, Amanda Kidd, and his son, William Thornsberry. I'm

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Aug. 3: Aug. 4 Melvina Manerva Catron Lambert, (my 3G aunt-in-law on my mother's side), b. 1842 in Wythe County, Va.; d. Aug. 11, 1876 in Moccasin Precinct, Elliott County, Ky. Melvina married Elias Lambert, who died in 1926 in Rowan County, Ky., at age 89. My paternal grandmother was a Lambert and likely a relative of Elias, but I've not established the connection. Rather, Melvina is the grandmother of Alexander Lambert, who marr

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of July 6: July 6 Martha Ann Black Trent (grandmother-in-law of Allie Wilburn Williams, my great uncle on my mother's side), b. 1877 in Rowan County, Ky.; d. April 8, 1949, in Rowan County, Ky. Among the children of Martha Ann and husband Julius Ceasar Trent (cool name, huh?) was Theodore Trent. (Juluis and Martha Ann are pictured at left.) And among the children of Theodore and his wife, Clara Essie Conn Trent, was Geneva Trent Will

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of May 25: My grandfather, Oliver Wilson, bounces me on his knee, not long after my parents adopted me. May 25 Oliver Wilson (my maternal grandfather), b. 1918 in Morehead, Rowan County, Ky.; d. Nov. 19, 1988, in Bath County, Ky. My papaw was never famous, never earned a college degree (or a high school diploma, for that matter), and couldn't bankroll a library or hospital. But he worked hard, loved his family and helped take care of

Birthdays in my family tree for the week of May 18: May 18 Delphina Kidd (my first cousin twice removed on my father's side and my first cousin three times removed on my father's side), b. 1926 in West Liberty, Morgan County, Ky.; d. Dec. 11, 1980, in Lytten, Elliott County, Ky. Delphina's grandfather, Peter Fannin-Kidd, was the half brother of Edmund Kidd, my 2G grandfather. May 19 Mary E. Jennings (wife of Marion Kidd, my first cousin twice removed on my father's side), b.

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of May 4: May 4 Joseph Brinson (my wife's 2G uncle on her father's side), b. 1893 in South Carolina; d. Nov. 24, 1943, in South Carolina. The son and one of six children of John James Brinson and Isabella Thornley Brinson, he was born in Berkeley County and lived most of his life in adjacent Charleston County, according to census records. Isabella was John's first wife. She died in 1895 at age 32, and John James married Elizabeth Rac

Here are five more photos from my genealogical research to keep you entertained. 5. Unce Jack, raconteur This is my mom's brother, my Uncle Jack Brooks. I'm not sure about the circumstances in which this photo was taken. (Uncle Jack, if you see this and can recall, you can leave a comment below.) I believe it was taken in Ohio, shortly before Jack's father, my maternal grandmother's first husband, passed away from complications of a brain tumor. Little Jack looks large and in

I started (halfway) serious genealogy research because I loved hearing stories about my ancestors. Once I got started, looking at photos of them shot up the charts to rank a close second. Between albums I've looked at most of my life and digital photos on sites like Ancestry.com of relatives I never met, I've amassed hundreds of images. These are some of my favorites. 5. Elden demonstrates gun safety This is my dad, audtioning for the part of NRA safety instructor. Actually,

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of March 2. March 2 Mary A. Brinson (my wife's 3G grandmother on her father's side), b. 1844 in St. Stephen's Parish, Charleston County, SC; d. April 20, 1918, in Bonneau, Berkeley County, SC. Married Thomas W. Brinson and had at least two children. One, John James Brinson, was married three times and has 12 children. March 3 • Adda Lacy Williams Porter (my 2G aunt on my mother's side), b. 1896 in Rowan County, Ky.; d. Dec. 1, 1974.

Birthdays from my family tree for the week of Jan. 19 Jan. 19 Valentine C. Wilson (my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1834 in Somerford, Madison County, Ohio; d. Aug. 23, 1861, in Madison County, Ohio. The son of Valentine Wilson, a prominent landowner in Ohio who had 19 children by three different wives. Valentine C. Wilson graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio with the class of 1860, making him the first classical graduate in hi