A Real Braidwood Person

I recently received a message from a lady in Michigan. She traces her genealogy back to Scotland and is a “Braidwood.” Thought that this might be of interest to Braidwood, Illinois historians. Her name: Stacy Kmetz

Stacy

Hi, Tom! I came across your post and have read some of your stories…interesting to me because I am a Braidwood. I live in Michigan in what is considered the old Scottish Settlement in a house my Great-great grandfather built when he and two of his brothers came from Scotland in 1842. Enjoying reading about a place similar to our little town where my memories began and continue to be a historical place close to my heart as a Braidwood descendant. Thanks for writing about this namesake! Stacy Kmetz

Tom

Thanks, Stacy. Where do you live in Michigan? Can you tell me more about your ancestors? I think that it would be interesting. You can also view my recently published book, “The Skinny Kid from Braidwood,” on Amazon. I am aware of two other towns named Braidwood, one in Australia and the other, obviously, in Scotland.

Thanks for the message, Stacy.

Stacy

The Scottish Settlement is a few miles east outside of our little town called Almont and occupies the corners of three counties. There is an Almont in Canada as well as a restaurant called the Almont in East Ayrshire, Scotland. Doug (I’ll circle back to him) believes this is more likely how our town got its name, but there are tales that have been written that may overshadow the truth, but who knows. 

The cemetery as well as the country school house still stand…1/3 of the cemetery is Braidwood and many of them were schooled in the little school house (now a home) that sits caddy corner across the road to the north. The old church was moved somewhere north in the countryside around Imlay City. 

My husband and I have gone back to the 1500’s on my Braidwood side, so first I would have you go to a new website we created with Doug Baldwin, a fellow descendant and author, that will answer many questions you have. Our website is the “Scottish Settlement Project” and would be a great place for you to start. After clicking on the menu icon, click on first wave names list. Once into Braidwood, scroll through the name history and you will find my genealogy. at the bottom you will find our contact information.

As you mentioned, I have some , but rather outdated, contact information on my family from India, Australia, Canada, Scotland, etc., as well as from many different states here in the US.

I would also encourage you to look up Doug Baldwin, also a descendant of the settlement, but an author, too. He has written a series of three books: one on the settlement itself, one on the families, one on the churches. He is still researching these and editing and such, among many other projects, but he’s a great guy and fun to talk to. His email is on the website, also. He is based in Saginaw, MI, but has great interest in all who came from Ayrshire to this wonderful little pocket of the world, I still call home.

I have been told that if two Braidwoods find each other (and this just happened to me) they are related (and we were). It’s just a matter of connecting all of the dots, back through the lines of our ancestors (and we did). I spoke to a 92-year-old that remembered my great grandfather, my grandfather, and my father back when she was a young girl and she knew them by name. Her grandfather, along with his youngest brother, my great grandfather, was one of the three who came over in 1842. I would love to trace my genealogy to James Braidwood who gave your town a name, for it is a popular name in my family. 

If you know of any Braidwood’s from your research, I’d love to connect with them as I have with you, one who shares such similar memories of being from a small town…the way it used to be. Looking forward to hearing from you! Stacy