Genie Road Trip

So, as I was running through anniversaries related to this date I came upon the fact that today is the 114 anniversary of the birth of my 1st cousin 4 times removed, Lorna Holden DeBoer. She was the daughter of Kendric Charles Holden (son of Charles and my Chapin’s youngest sibling) and Minnie Isabel Porter (George’s middle sibling). She married John DeBoer in 1921 and they had two children Gaylord and Eleanor. Eleanor in turn married my Great Uncle Darcy (my Great Grandmother Crystal’s brother).

And it seems a great time to express my thanks to the Holden and Porter family who have shown an interest in our common relatives and inspired me to continue researching. As I’ve mentioned before, Lorna penned a book on her aunt, Xantippe, which fellow researchers pointed out to me early on. In my early days as a librarian in Rockford I had the great luck to reconnect with Phyllis (Porter) Dolislager as well as take an informative life writing workshop from her. And the Porters and Holden’s have been tremendous donors to the Rockford Area Historical Museum—where I found countless bits of family memorabilia, family history, and photographs. So many of you have come forward to help with, share, or just be a great audience for my research and I really appreciate it. And that includes Carole, Janet, Uncle Aaron, Uncle Louis, Kathy and my original Porter source, Grandpa Bailey.

Thank you all!

Happy hunting,

Jess

This photo was copied from the Rockford Area Historical Museum and is a picture of Lorna Holden.

But really…. let’s get back to the beach.

These are the Shea sisters… My Great-Aunt June and Grandmother Ethel Shea at what looks like the base of Inner Lighthouse at Grand Haven, MI on Lake Michigan. These two instigated my search for Henry Massy and have cheered me on in my research for years.

And, as a side note on my lovely and spunky grandmother, I knew she had to be a little different when I realized none of my friends had ever seen their grandmother in a bikini. Well, there was that, the ruby red lipstick, and her exotic home decor… that’s my Gran!

Happy hunting and enjoy the sun!

Jess

Ye gods… They’re all so young! 

This may be my single favorite picture from my childhood and my brother—who was never camera shy—has a lot of great pics as a kid. We’re celebrating you today, Little Brother!

This was taken in 1980 at our home in Lansing, MI. That couch is one of my earliest memories and despite many attempts at getting rid of it… it kept coming back. I can’t even tell you how many family members and friends lived briefly with it at dorms, first apartments, etc. I think even Jay’s oldest kids played on it at one point.

Happy hunting!

Jess

Sometimes it’s not about the beach… but the family outings are key.

My Uncle Mike and my Aunt Sandy on the left, my mother holding my brother, and Mike and Sandy’s middle child (and closest to me in age), Eric, on the right—all riding the train at Potter Park Zoo in 1981. This was a memorable outing that included members of both sides of my family converging on Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, MI.

Happy hunting!

Jess