Hometown of the Kennedy Family “The dash between dates holds the essence and spirit of the deceased. It doesn’t take long for memories to fade. Precisely why every family needs a historian to capture and relate stories of each member.” Sharon Mosier, Educator I am swimming in genealogic facts: birth and death dates, names of … Continue reading Jim Kennedy (1836 – 1919): the First Kennedy to Arrive →

Typical sailing ship that sent immigrants to America in 1836. It isn’t very often that one has the opportunity to talk with a deceased ancestor. The circumstances have to be near perfect. My chance to visit with one of my 16 great, great grandparents did happen on a morning a few weeks ago between sleep … Continue reading “Granny, why did you get on the boat?”  →

The name “Van Duyne” is often synonymous with the City of Wilmington. Seldom do you read a box score or school rosters without seeing that name or an immediate relative. It all started in Holland with the births of Pieter Klaver (b.1837) and John Van Duin (b.1835), fathers of the bride and groom. In addition … Continue reading Pieter Klaver Transplants Trees in Wilmington →

To: Cal, Addee, Evan, Nikki, Declan, Matilda, Kennedy, Amelia, Lexi, Cameron, Patrick, Emme, Claire, and Lily. "We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect."Anaïs Nin Dear Grandkids: Of course, you are writing your book. You just haven’t put your stories into a document yet. The first five years of your story … Continue reading Grandkids, Are You Writing Your Book? →

When a mother died during childbirth in the 1920s, it was probably a common occurrence. But to the children who witnessed it and the husband who depended on her, life would never be the same. Grandmother Margaret Klaver Kennedy (34) died at home during the birth of her 5th child on March 18, 1924. Maternal mortality rates … Continue reading Death and Despair in a Farmhouse →

“There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes “What … Continue reading What Is Water? Early Realities that Never Evaporate →

“I really don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.”Abraham Lincoln Lincoln was right. It is amazing how much we can dislike and fear others when we don’t know them. Especially if they look different and are from different groups or tribes.  Sports and Music Years ago, when I was coaching young … Continue reading What I Love about Joliet: Harmony in Diversity →

Sarah Edwards Jeffrey, 1883-1974 Her husband died in 1913 when she was 29. She was left with an infant daughter, a small house in Braidwood, and no means of financial support. The headstone provides the dates, born 1883, died 1974. Missing are the vast experiences, joys, and most of all, the struggles.  Mrs. Sarah Edwards … Continue reading Not Just a Widow on Walker Street →

“Do not hire a man who does your work for money, but him who does it for love of it.” Henry David Thoreau Dad worked for his brother-in-law Nick Van Duyne for a while. Dear Grandkids: Several of you are in the midst of making decisions about your work future. The process of seeking employment after graduations … Continue reading Work to Live, or Live to Work? →

“Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.” Sigmund Freud Does it not seem as though symbolic rock throwing in the form of diatribes, insults, and rudeness appear to be the dominant form of social media communication? Symbolic rock throwing may even cause more anger and hurt, while … Continue reading Lost Opportunities: Absence of Civil Discourse →